Mobile & Wireless UPDATE, Pocket PC Edition—brought to you by the Windows & .NET Magazine Network
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(below POCKET PC PERSPECTIVES)
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June 27, 2002—In this issue:
1. POCKET PC PERSPECTIVES
- Pocket PC Phone Edition
2. INSTANT POLL
- Results of Previous Poll: 802.11b WLAN Security
- New Instant Poll: Pocket PC Phone Edition
3. ANNOUNCEMENTS
- July Is Hot! Our Free Webinars Are Cool!
- Win a Free Digital Video Recorder from SONICblue!
4. RESOURCES
- Tip: Enabling ClearType on a Pocket PC 2002 Device
- Event Highlight: Microsoft .NET Mobility and Wireless Solutions Conference
5. NEW AND IMPROVED
- Receive Voice-Prompted GPS Navigation
- Make Your Compex irdaNET Pocket PC-Compatible
6. CONTACT US
- See this section for a list of ways to contact us.
1. POCKET PC PERSPECTIVES
(contributed by Steve Milroy, [email protected])
Many carriers and vendors offer Palm and RIM devices that have built-in phone functionality. But only now are we starting to see the first generations of Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition. In this installment of Mobile & Wireless UPDATE Pocket PC Edition, I present an overview of the technology and discuss a couple of devices entering the market.
Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition is a version of the Pocket PC OS that includes built-in phone and calling features. Because this OS requires specialized devices and hardware functionality, most of these features aren't typically available for existing Pocket PC devices. If you want to draw a comparison with the Windows Smart Phone technology, Pocket PC Phone Edition is about phone-enabling the Pocket PC, whereas Windows Smart Phone software is about bringing Windows to the smart phone.
Pocket PC Phone Edition has many of the features you use in your regular mobile phone, such as the ability to make and receive calls, caller ID, speed dialing, call logs, and Short Message Service (SMS). In addition, Pocket PC Phone Edition supports direct integration with Microsoft Outlook, so you can dial from your contacts list and use a stylus or your finger to use phone features. The phone's integration of Pocket PC and personal information manager (PIM) functionality helps you make the most of the platform. For more information about Pocket PC Phone Edition features and functionality, go to the following URL.
http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/pocketpc/phoneedition/default.asp
A couple of carriers and manufacturers are releasing Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition devices in various US markets. Verizon Wireless has released Audiovox's Thera device, which supports Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) voice and data and 1xRTT technology for voice and high-speed data in selected markets. The wireless connectivity integrates Sierra Wireless features, which provide voice and data services, directly into the device. This device offers some nice features, but the $800 price tag and limited battery life during phone functionality are disadvantages. For more information about the Thera device, go to the following URL.
http://www.verizonwireless.com
VoiceStream is about to release a Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition device that uses the company's Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM)/General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network. This Phone Edition device, which High Tech Computer (HTC) manufactures, is due in the next couple of months. It has a sleek design and promises significantly longer battery life than other Pocket PC devices. I had an opportunity to use this device, and I found it pretty impressive. For more information about this device, go to the following URL.
http://www.voicestream.com/pocketpc/default.asp
If you already have a Pocket PC, you won't be entirely left out in the cold. Hewlett-Packard (HP)—formerly Compaq—has been working on its Wireless Pack to provide phone functionality for existing iPAQ devices. However, the Wireless Pack makes the iPAQ fairly bulky and difficult to use as a phone. The Wireless Pack is due in the United States in August. For more information about the Wireless Pack, go to the following URL.
http://www.compaq.com/products/handhelds/pocketpc/options/wireless_packs.html
Because these devices represent the first generation of phone-enabled Pocket PCs to enter the market, expect to see minor problems as carriers and manufacturers refine their devices. The great benefit of Pocket PC 2002-based devices is that as Microsoft develops new Phone Edition updates and enhancements, you'll be able to use the flash device ROM to easily upgrade to the latest OS features.
In the next couple installments of Mobile & Wireless UPDATE Pocket PC Edition, I'll look at some features of ruggedized Pocket PC devices and some solutions for ruggedizing existing consumer devices. See you then.
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Because next Thursday is the Fourth of July, Windows & .NET Magazine won't be sending out a Mobile & Wireless UPDATE. The newsletter will resume on July 11.
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2. INSTANT POLL
The voting has closed in Windows & .NET Magazine's Mobile & Wireless Solutions nonscientific Instant Poll for the question, "Are 802.11b wireless LANs (WLANs) secure enough to support your company's critical applications?" Here are the results (+/-1 percent) from the 39 votes:
- 15% Yes, the built-in security is sufficient
- 69% Yes, with supplemental security measures
- 15% No, not even with supplemental security measures
The next Instant Poll question is, "What are your thoughts about Pocket PC Phone Edition?" Go to the Mobile & Wireless Solutions home page, and submit your vote for 1) I can't wait to buy one!, 2) I'm cautiously optimistic that it will be cool, 3) I don't see how the technology will benefit my environment, 4) I actively despise the concept.
http://www.mobile-and-wireless.com
3. ANNOUNCEMENTS
(brought to you by Windows & .NET Magazine and its partners)
Check out our latest Web seminar offerings from Windows & .NET Magazine. "Storage, Availability, and You," sponsored by VERITAS, will help you bring your Windows storage under control. "Easing the Migration: 15 Tips for Your Windows 2000 Journey" will help you plan and implement a successful Win2K migration. Find out more and register today!
http://www.winnetmag.com/seminars
Visit the Connected Home Virtual Tour and check out our summer feature on networking your home. Sign up for prize drawings, too, and you might win a free digital video recorder from SONICblue. Take the tour today!
http://www.connectedhomemag.com/virtualtour
4. RESOURCES
(contributed by John D. Ruley, [email protected])
To enable ClearType systemwide on Pocket PC 2002 devices, tap Start, Settings; select the System tab on the Settings display; then tap the Screen icon. Select the Enable ClearType check box, tap OK, and press your device's reset switch. After the device resets, ClearType will be enabled in most applications.
You can also enable ClearType on PCs running Windows XP Professional. Open Display from the Control Panel, and click Effects on the Appearance tab. Select the "Use the following method to smooth edges of screen fonts" check box, and select ClearType from the drop-down list. Press OK, then Apply. On notebook PCs (or desktop systems that use LCD displays), the effect on text can be dramatic; on CRTs, it's generally not worth the trouble.
Dallas, Texas
July 9, 2002
The Microsoft .NET Mobility and Wireless Solutions Conference, hosted by Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, will showcase Microsoft's strategy for .NET and its ability to enable anytime, anywhere, and any-device connectivity to a company's most important information resources. For registration information, go to the following URL and enter Event Code 100377164.
http://msevents.microsoft.com/events
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])
Pharos Science and Applications released Ostia 3.3, Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation and routing solution for Pocket PC PDAs. The software gives PDA users voice-prompted GPS street navigation. Ostia also features door-to-door routing, automatic or manual rerouting, the ability to display as many as 10 maps simultaneously, and text prompt for next turn. For pricing, contact Pharos Science and Applications at 310-212-7088 or [email protected].
http://www.pharosgps.com
Compex released a Pocket PC 2002 Patch for its infrared (IR) Wireless Access Point (AP), Compex irdaNET. The patch makes the Compex irdaNET Pocket PC-compatible. The Compex irdaNET lets IR devices connect to existing LAN and Internet environments through IR technology. For pricing, contact Compex at 714-630-7302.
http://www.cpx.com
6. CONTACT US
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