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October 17, 2002—In this issue:
1. MOBILE & WIRELESS PERSPECTIVES
- Readers Respond to Microsoft SMS Mobile Support
- Was 3G in Europe a Mistake?
2. ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Hey Denver and San Francisco! Got Security Concerns?
- Planning on Getting Certified? Pick Up Our New eBook!
3. INSTANT POLL
- Results of Previous Poll: Platform Support in SMS 2003
- New Instant Poll: Games on Your PDA
4. RESOURCES
- Tip: Track Microsoft Knowledge Base Articles
- Event Highlight: Caribbean & Central American Mobile Summit & Exhibition
5. NEW AND IMPROVED
- Use a Full-Screen Keyboard on Your PDA
- View Photos from Your Cell Phone
6. CONTACT US
- See this section for a list of ways to contact us.
1. MOBILE & WIRELESS PERSPECTIVES
(contributed by John D. Ruley, [email protected])
In the October 10 edition of Mobile & Wireless UPDATE, I discussed Microsoft's forthcoming Systems Management Server (SMS) 2003 release. I mentioned that Microsoft is looking for input about mobile-device support. Current plans are for SMS 2003 to support as-yet unreleased Pocket PC 2003, Windows CE .NET, and Windows XP Embedded devices—but not today's Pocket PC 2000 and 2002; Windows CE 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0; or Windows NT Embedded. In other words, Microsoft doesn't plan to support today's installed base of non-PC devices.
Readers Sami Hanninen and Geoffrey McNaughton provided feedback. Both are glad that Microsoft is making an effort to provide mobile device support (McNaughton's first comment was "Hooray!"), but both also want to see support for the existing installed base. Hanninen wants to see support for Handheld PC (H/PC) and Windows CE 3.0 devices, and McNaughton expects support for at least today's Pocket PC 2002 devices. Both readers have several additional SMS suggestions, such as improving SMS 2003's software and hardware inventory, and adding the ability to enforce security policies. I've forwarded their comments to Microsoft. I'd like to provide more feedback, so if you have an opinion about SMS's mobile device support, please tell me about it. You can reach me by email at [email protected].
The September 26, 2002, issue of "The Economist" features an article titled "Time for Plan B" that details some of the problems European companies are facing as they attempt to launch so-called third-generation (3G) networks. According to the article, a central problem is the instability of the Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) network protocol, which is specifically required in European 3G licenses.
In the 1990s, Europeans benefited from standardization on the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) protocol, which enabled first-generation (1G) digital cell phones to send digital data, basically throughout Europe. That standardization might now be working against Europeans. The "Economist" article goes on to note that a competing standard to WCDMA—called CDMA2000—is finding some success in Asia and the United States. In Japan, a new CDMA2000-based service appears to be taking business away from NTT DoCoMo, which is based on WCDMA.
Just this once, maybe we should be happy that the United States doesn't enforce one standard for digital data!
2. ANNOUNCEMENTS
(brought to you by Windows & .NET Magazine and its partners)
Time is running out to register for the Windows & .NET Magazine Security Road Show 2002, coming next week to Denver and San Francisco. Register now and hear Mark Minasi and Paul Thurrott address the topic on everyone's mind: security. Sign up today before it's too late!
http://www.winnetmag.com/seminars/roadshow
"The Insider's Guide to IT Certification" eBook is hot off the presses and contains everything you need to know to help you save time and money while preparing for certification exams from Microsoft, Cisco Systems, and CompTIA and have a successful career in IT. Get your copy of the Insider's Guide today!
http://winnet.bookaisle.com/ebookcover.asp?ebookid=13475
3. INSTANT POLL
The voting has closed in Windows & .NET Magazine's Mobile & Wireless Solutions nonscientific Instant Poll for the question, "Would you value support for Pocket PC 2002 and Windows CE 3.0 devices in Microsoft SMS 2003?" Here are the results (+/-1 percent) from the 20 votes:
- 75% Yes - 25% No
The next Instant Poll question is, "Do you play games on your PDA?" Go to the Mobile & Wireless Solutions Web site and submit your vote for a) Almost constantly, b) Often, c) Sometimes, or d) Never.
http://www.mobile-and-wireless.com
4. RESOURCES
(contributed by John D. Ruley, [email protected])
Windows & .NET Magazine editor Warren Pickett turned me on to a Web site that you can use to track Microsoft Knowledge Base articles. You can have the site automatically alert you when new articles appear. Among the topics you can set the site to track is Pocket PCs. You can track a wide range of other Microsoft topics as well. Check it out!
http://www.kbalertz.com/
November 4 through 5, 2002
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
At the Caribbean & Central American Mobile Summit & Exhibition, you'll learn general strategies for attracting new customers and generating revenues. Through case studies, you'll also learn about the mobile market in Jamaica, Bermuda, Antigua, Barbuda, El Salvador, and the Dominican Republic. You'll also hear about local Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) success stories. For more information, go to the following URL.
http://www.ibctelecoms.com/caribbean
For other upcoming events, check out the Windows & .NET Magazine Event Calendar.
http://www.winnetmag.com/events
5. NEW AND IMPROVED
(contributed by Carolyn Mader, [email protected])
Avaion released FatFinger, a stylus-free, hardware-free, full-screen keyboard for Palm OSs. FatFinger provides finger-sized, touch-type keyboards that let you use your fingers to input text. The software works with any Palm application and lets you toggle quickly between alpha, symbol, and numeric keyboards. Pricing is $14.95. Contact Avaion at 763-559-7037 or [email protected].
http://www.avaion.com
Summus and Snapfish announced the availability of Snapfish Mobile to wireless carriers that support Wireless Application Protocol (WAP). Snapfish Mobile is powered by Summus' BlueFuel platform, which lets wireless users access multimedia services on a range of mobile devices. Snapfish Mobile is a personal photo-sharing application that lets you view, store, manage, and print all of your photos from your mobile phone. You can also share and email photos. For pricing, contact Summus at 919-807-5600 or Snapfish at 304-420-5615.
http://www.summus.com
http://www.snapfish.com
6. CONTACT US
Here's how to reach us with your comments and questions:
- ABOUT MOBILE AND WIRELESS PERSPECTIVES — [email protected]
- ABOUT THE NEWSLETTER IN GENERAL — [email protected]
(please mention the newsletter name in the subject line)
- TECHNICAL QUESTIONS — http://www.winnetmag.net/forums
- PRODUCT NEWS — [email protected]
- QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR Mobile & Wireless UPDATE SUBSCRIPTION?
Customer Support — mobile_&[email protected]
- WANT TO SPONSOR Mobile & Wireless UPDATE?
[email protected]
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