PDA and Mobile Today is Growing

Brian Leinfuss

By: The Editor
PDA and Mobile Today is pleased to announce
that Brian Leinfuss has joined the writing
team.

Brian, who holds a number of degrees including an
MS in Information Systems and has co-authored some technical
books, is currently working on his MBA in management. (continued...)

He lives in New Jersey with his wife Janis and 2
pet dogs that keep the couple pretty busy between
work and attending classes.

After working in IT for a couple of companies,
he now enjoys working as a project manager for
a New Jersey based software company.

His position dictates that he travel 75% of
the time all over the U.S. Through this
experience he has come to know first hand
about many issues relating to the mobile device
technology he uses everyday.

"I thoroughly enjoy trying new electronics
and reporting about them to friends, family and
now you.", says Brian.

Welcome Aboard Brian!

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Free D-Link Wireless Router

By: The Editor
Last week, we had a free deal on a WiFi finder that is good until the end of this month. This week we have another rebate offer from TigerDirect.com on a free wireless router for your home or office.

Until April 18th, a couple of days from this writing, you can get the DI-514, 4 port wireless router for free after rebates. There are 2 rebates on this product. One for $30 good until June 30/05 and one that is good until Monday April 18th at midnight. You can still get a good deal at $10 after the rebate but until Monday you just pay the shipping. (continued...)

The DI-514 combines the proven stability of 802.11b wireless technology and D-Link’s own robust firewall security features. The DI-514 is ideal for those creating their first wireless network, as well as for more advanced users looking for additional management settings and policy-based content filtering. Filters can be set based on MAC address, IP address, URL and/or Domain Name.

Surf wirelessly on your wifi equipped notebook or PDA using your Internet connection and this router. If you haven't worked "unwired" you don't know what you're missing. Now's your chance to try it out at no cost.

Get Full Details at TigerDirect.com

The 802.11b standard is dated but if you want the newer 802.11g wireless router, D-Link has $20 rebate that will allow you to buy it for only $29.95.

More Details at TigerDirect.com

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Why VoIP is not Going to Fail

By: John Savageau
VoIP is an almost constant topic in our daily dose of business and tech-related news. VoIP, or Voice over Internet/IP is really an old technology re-emerging with a new face and marketing spin. In reality, we've been using VoiP for years, just as the Internet community used email for years before it was embraced by the business and consumer communities in the mid-1990s. Whether you want to reference Voice over Internet or Voice over IP protocol, at the most simple level it is merely a matter of interfacing voice or audio input with a microphone device, digitizing the input, slicing it into packets, sending it over an Internet network to a destination address, reassembling packets at the other end - voila! you have Voice over Internet or IP.

Sound too simple? This is precisely what the telephone industry does not want you to know. It is simple, so simple a loosely knit group of people can slap together a bit of code, call it Skype, and within 18 months sign up nearly 80 million people around the world. And guess what? IT WORKS! Bet Time Warner or Verizon Hawaii wishes they had that market clout! (continued...)

Now, much like the Internet itself, the user community is defining and writing the future of global voice communications in the privacy of their own homes. Not in Palo Alto, not in Bangalore - in simple bedrooms and informal hobby shops scattered around the world. Hard to believe your next personal or business communication system may be written and published by a high school student in Uruguay.

Get this... Whatever lobbying telephone companies may attempt in trying to prevent VoIP applications through use of tactics such as E911 non-compliance, taxation, regulations, etc., there may actually be no way for governments to ultimately regulate VoIP. The only way for the phone companies and government to ultimately control voice applications may be to simply shut down the Internet. Otherwise there will be a new application born every day which is designed to go around temporary blocks established by companies wishing to filter VoIP from their networks. Why do I say that?

Consider email. Many Post and Telecommunication Administrations (PTAs) around the world initially attempted to control use of email within their countries. Many reasons were given, such as national security, infringing on the rights of the state-owned monopoly post office, and a thousand other reasons why email was not acceptable within the "special" situation within an individual country.

The result? The community got creative and bypassed their governments. Instead of accessing email from local ISPs and email hosting providers - they simply got accounts on Yahoo, Hotmail, or other freemail service and accessed email through a public web browser located in a different country. The email debate is no longer an issue. This will soon be the case with VoIP.

Here is another interesting idea to consider. In the case of email, now nearly any desktop computer can be configured to serve as an email host - simple stuff, even for a relative beginner. With public domain VoIP servers now on the street such as "Asterisk" your next door neighbor high school student could potentially be the next telephone company. So as soon as the regulators start going after Vonage and the rest of the public VoIP companies, another hundred free phone services ala Skype, compatible and interoperable with a thousand other free phone services will emerge.

A full understanding of the concept of presence will further enlighten the masses on this approach. Just think of the potential impact on traditional voice services if Yahoo, AOL, MSN, and other instant messaging or presence service providers with VoIP aspirations actually meet the growth expectation telecommunications analysts! MSN's instant messenger claims to add nearly 30,000 users each day!

So what can the average telephone company do to defend themselves from VoIP? Probably nothing. The Voice over Internet/IP "train has left the station." The best chance they have is to concentrate on building physical networks, partner with one or more VoIP and presence management companies, and resign themselves to the position of a telecom infrastructure provider. A bit of concentrated lobbying may delay VoIP diffusion within a geographic location, but VoIP is a truly disruptive technology which will have a major impact on the way we communicate in a global network and society.

VoIP is in our future.

About the Author:
John Savageau is the Senior Vice President, Operations, at CRG-West. CRG-West operates major telecommunication facilities such as the One Wilshire Building in Los Angeles and Market Post Tower in San Jose. Contact John Savageau at savageau@pacific-tier.com

Read About VoIP Technology

New and Used VoIP Products

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OQO Model 01 -- A Desktop Computer in a PDA Form Factor

Want desktop performance in a PDA sized computer? Ever wish you could run regular windows applications like Word, Excel or Windows XP professional on a handheld?

Well, now you can but at a cool $1999.00 price tag, it's not for everyone.

The OQO Model 01 Ultra Personal Computer
Features: (continued...)
- 1GHz Transmeta Crusoe
- 20GB hard drive (shock-mounted)
- 256MB DDR RAM
- Dimensions: 4.9" x 3.4" x .9"
- Weight: 14 ounces
- 5" W-VGA 800 x 480 transflective display (outdoor readable)
- 3D accelerated graphics with 8mb video RAM
- Thumb keyboard with mouse buttons and TrackStik®
- Wi-Fi® (802.11b)
- Bluetooth® wireless
- 4-pin FireWire® (1394)
- USB 1.1
- Audio out
- Microphone
- Digital pen
- Removable lithium polymer battery
- Battery life up to three hours, depending on usage
- OQO docking cable includes:
- 1280 x 1024 VGA video output
- Additional USB
- Additional FireWire (1394)
- Ethernet
- DC power
- Audio out
Source: InformationWeek

Read the Full Article and View Screenshots

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New Garmin iQue M5 Pocket PC Version

By: The Editor
If you're like me, you move around alot and hate asking for directions.

Garmin has had integrated GPS and PDA handhelds for the Palm OS for a couple of years.

Now it has introduced the Garmin iQue M5 which is the Pocket PC version of its popular PDA line-up.

Garmin is a manufacturer of many GPS products and is well known for its portable product line. As such, it has excellent map support for the new iQue M5. I like the all-in-one form factor because it's clean and uncluttered unlike products that require adaptors and socket-type add-ons.

Main Features: (continued...)
- Check e-mail and view documents--then sync seamlessly with your laptop
- Includes MapSource City Select North America data CD-ROM with full coverage/full unlock
- Pocket PC running Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition with integrated GPS and Que navigation applications
- Powered by a 416 MHz Intel PXA 272 microprocessor; includes 64 MB RAM, 64 MB ROM, and data back-up protection
- Embedded Bluetooth transceiver lets you network with computer systems and Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones, PDAs, printers, etc.

This new Garmin, also features a replaceable battery pack. This was a criticism of the Palm-based versions.

It has a street price of around $599 U.S. which is not bad when you consider what you'd have to pay for a regular handheld with external GPS options.

You also get a product which is a brand name synonymous with the GPS industry.

Overall, I'd say that the M5 is a good choice for people on the road, outdoor types or just ordinary gadget freaks that use GPS direction functions a lot.

View The Product Manual, Screenshots, Detailed Information and User Reviews About the iQue M5 on Amazon.com

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BBC -- Bluesnarfing -- How WideSpread is BlueTooth Data Theft?

This a great article with a video by a reporter from across the pond that discusses the issue of data theft over the air via security holes in the BlueTooth communications architecture.

"Wi-Fi is only one of a number of ways that devices can communicate wirelessly. Another method which is now getting recognition is Bluetooth, which uses short-range radio waves, and allows your wireless keyboard to talk to your PC, or your wireless headset to connect to your mobile phone. But is there anything stopping someone else connecting to your phone, and using or abusing it? Spencer Kelly has been finding out just how safe your Bluetooth device is from attack"
Source: BBC World Online
Read the Article and Watch the Video

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PalmOne Ships New Tungsten PDA, Cuts Zire Price

"PalmOne Wednesday started shipping an updated version of its popular Tungsten E PDA that adds Bluetooth connectivity, non-volatile storage, a stronger battery and a brighter screen.

The company said its new Tungsten E2 will sell for $249 and is available now. The Tungsten E, which it replaces, was at the low end of its Tungsten series of PDAs, which were aimed at power users and enterprises. "

Learn More
Source: InformationWeek

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Long Arm of the Law Reaches New Internet (RIAA, Internet-2, i2hub Lawsuit)

By Rick David
Have you heard of the new Internet? It’s called Internet 2 and this time they’re not fooling around. The Abilene Network , begun in 1999 provides the main backbone and they’re a pure optical network wired for speed.

According to their website, (on the plain old regular Internet) “The Abilene Network, which currently connects over three million users, 220 research and education institutions, and 34 state education networks, operates at a speed 15,000 times faster than the average household broadband connection and with a capacity to send 9.7 million five-paragraph e-mails in one second.”

This means we’re soon going to get nuclear powered spam!(continued...)

Everyone knows speed is addictive. Not only for Indy 500 racecar drivers, but also for computer science mega-geeks who will one day finally rule the world. They’re shooting for speeds in the Terabyte range; that’s a trillion bits of information every second.

“We now wish to be called “Tera-geeks, you puny sub-creatures!”

“Do I need all that speed for my email?” one might ask. You do if you’re attaching astrophysics, fusion energy computations, and bioinformatics with your message. The present Internet can’t handle this kind of math. But will Internet 2 be used only for noble purposes? I haven’t heard of any holographic lap dances yet, but some people are definitely not happy with what Internet 2 users are doing.

Like the beginning of the first Internet in the 70’s and 80’s, Internet 2 is the domain of universities and research organizations for the purpose of advancing the aspirations and higher thinking of humanity. University students are already benefiting from the technology by illegally downloading movies and music at warp speed. A full-length movie only takes five minutes to download on the Internet 2 instead of an hour or more by cable modem. Songs come at a pithy twenty seconds.

“Not so fast!” says the record and movie industry. They’re nipping this one in the bud. The RIAA announced that it’s suing 405 individual students for copyright infringement violations using the “i2hub”. The movie industry is suing an undisclosed number of students as well. What’s i2hub? It’s like a Napster on crack. But you need to use it on Internet 2 to really fly - and that’s not open to the general public yet.

According to the Motion Picture Association of America, there were 7070 users sharing 99.2 TB of files in one recent snapshot of time. "Ninety-nine terabytes is enough storage space to hold all the movies that are available in a local Blockbuster store, yet people are swapping those movies entirely free," said an outraged and very frustrated Dan Glickman, President of the MPAA.

The RIAA will sue a handful of students per university to plant the seeds of fear widely. UC San Diego, UC Berkeley, & the University of Southern California are among the 18 Universities where students are being served papers.

Can they stuff the electronic genie back in the bottle? If they can’t, the RIAA and MPAA are not going down easy. Imagine 405 students calling home telling Mom & Dad to be ready to put up the house because they thought the Internet 2 was a private network and they just wanted to fill up the iPod they were given for Christmas. The highest offenders, according to the RIAA, were caught with up to 13,600 MP3’s, and 72,700 total files (such as audio, software and video).

“Son, what were you thinking, I’ve got “Planet of the Apes” at home!

About the Author:
Rick David writes a humor column called, "Don't Laugh It Could Happen To You"

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The Telephone – A Brief History

Alexander Graham Bell

By Jason Morris
During the 1870’s, two well known inventors both independently designed devices that could transmit sound along electrical cables. Those inventors were Alexander Graham Bell and Elisha Gray. Both devices were registered at the patent office within hours of each other. There followed a bitter legal battle over the invention of the telephone, which Bell subsequently won. (continued...)

The telegraph and telephone are very similar in concept, and it was through Bell’s attempts to improve the telegraph that he found success with the telephone.

The telegraph had been a highly successful communication system for about 30 years before Bell began experimenting. The main problem with the telegraph was that it used Morse code, and was limited to sending and receiving one message at a time. Bell had a good understanding about the nature of sound and music. This enabled him to perceive the possibility of transmitting more than one message along the same wire at one time. Bell’s idea was not new, others before him had envisaged a multiple telegraph. Bell offered his own solution, the “Harmonic Telegraph”. This was based on the principal that musical notes could be sent simultaneously down the same wire, if those notes differed in pitch.

By the latter part of 1874 Bell’s experiment had progressed enough for him to inform close family members about the possibility of a multiple telegraph. Bell’s future father in law, attorney Gardiner Green Hubbard saw the opportunity to break the monopoly exerted by the Western Union Telegraph Company. He gave Bell the financial backing required for him to carry on his work developing the multiple telegraph. However Bell failed to mention that he and his accomplice, another brilliant young electrician Thomas Watson, were developing an idea which occurred to him during the summer. This idea was to create a device that could transmit the human voice electrically.

Bell and Watson continued to work on the harmonic telegraph at the insistence of Hubbard and a few other financial backers. During March 1875 Bell met with a man called Joseph Henry without the knowledge of Hubbard. Joseph Henry was the respected director of the Smithsonian Institution. He listened closely to Bell’s ideas and offered words of encouragement. Both Bell and Watson were spurred on by Henry’s opinions and continued their work with even greater enthusiasm and determination. By June 1875 they realised their goal of creating a device that could transmit speech electrically would soon be realised. Their experiments had proven different tones would vary the strength of an electric current in a wire.

Now all they had to do was build a device with a suitable membrane capable of turning those tones into varying electronic currents and a receiver to reproduce the variations and turn them back into audible format at the other end. In early June, Bell discovered that while working on his harmonic telegraph, he could hear a sound over the wire. It was the sound of a twanging clock spring. It was on March 10th 1876 that Bell was to finally realise the success and communications potential of his new device. The possibilities of being able to talk down an electrical wire far outweighed those of a modified telegraph system, which was essentially based on just dots and dashes.

According to Bell’s notebook entry for that date, he describes his most successful experiment using his new piece of equipment, the telephone. Bell spoke to his assistant Watson, who was in the next room, through the instrument and said “Mr Watson, come here, I want to speak to you”.

Alexander Graham Bell was born on 3rd March 1847 in Edinburgh, Scotland. His family were leading authorities in elocution and speech correction. He was groomed and educated to follow a career in the same speciality. By the age of just 29 in 1876 he had invented and patented the telephone. His thorough knowledge of sound and acoustics helped immensely during the development of his telephone, and gave him the edge over others working on similar projects at that time. Bell was an intellectual of quality rarely found since his death. He was a man always striving for success and searching for new ideas to nurture and develop.

The telephone – important dates

1. 1874 – Principal of the telephone was uncovered.

2. 1876 – Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone, beating Elisha Gray by a matter of hours.

3. 1877 – The very first permanent outdoor telephone wire was completed. It stretched a distance of just three miles. This was closely followed in the U.S. by the worlds first commercial telephone service.

4. 1878 – The workable exchange was developed, which enabled calls to be switched between subscribers rather than having direct lines.

5. 1879 – Subscribers began to be designated by numbers and not their names.

6. 1880’s – Long distance service expanded throughout this period using metallic circuits.

7. 1888 – Common battery system developed by Hammond V. Hayes, allows one central battery to power all telephones on an exchange, rather than relying on each units own battery.

8. 1891 – First automatic dialling system invented by a Kansas City undertaker. He believed that crooked operators were sending his potential customers elsewhere. It was his aim to get rid of the operators altogether.

9. 1900 – First coin operated telephone installed in Hartford, Connecticut.

10. 1904 – “French Phone” developed by the Bell Company. This had the transmitter and receiver in a simple handset.

11. 1911 – American Telephone and Telegraph (AT & T) acquire the Western Union Telegraph Company in a hostile takeover. They purchased stocks in the company covertly and the two eventually merged.

12. 1918 – It was estimated that approximately ten million Bell system telephones were in service throughout the U.S.

13. 1921 – The switching of large numbers of calls was made possible through the use of phantom circuits. This allowed three conversations to take place on two pairs of wires.

14. 1927 – First transatlantic service from New York to London became operational. The signal was transmitted by radio waves.

15. 1936 – Research into electronic telephone exchanges began and was eventually perfected in the 1960’s with the electronic switching system (SES).

16. 1946 – Worlds first commercial mobile phone service put into operation. It could link moving vehicles to a telephone network via radio waves.

17. 1947 – Microwave radio technology used for the first time for long distance phone calls.

18. 1947 – The transistor was invented at Bell laboratories.

19. 1955 – Saw the beginning of the laying of transatlantic telephone cables.

20. 1962 – The worlds first international communications satellite, Telstar was launched.

21. 1980’s – The development of fibre optic cables during this decade, offered the potential to carry much larger volumes of calls than satellite or microwaves.

22. 1980’s, 1990’s, to present – Huge advances in micro electronic technology over the last two decades have enabled the development of cellular (mobile) phones to advance at a truly astonishing rate. A cellular (mobile) phone has its own central transmitter allowing it to receive seamless transmissions as it enters and exits a cell.

Some people believe the impact of the telephone has had on our lives is negative. Whatever your beliefs, it is un-doubtable that the invention and development of the telephone has had a massive impact on the way we live our lives and go about our every day business.

About The Author:
Jason Morris is co-author, search engine optimization and marketing consultant of Business Phone Systems Direct. An established communications company, offering advice and implementation of high quality business phone systems.


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eBay -- $10,000 for 1965 Copy of Electronics Magazine

Intel Corporation is offering to pay $10,000 for a copy of an April 19, 1965 issue of Electronics Magazine. The issue features an article by Intel co-founder Gordon Moore talking about his famous "Moore's Law". I can't think of a better reason to clean out the attic, can you?
See the Ad On eBay

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Free WiFi Finder at TigerDirect

By Steve Bralovich
TigerDirect.com is Offering a Mail-in Rebate of $20 on the $19.99 Kensington WiFi Finder. Your price is $0 dollars after the rebate. The offer is good in the U.S. until April 30/2005.

Kensingston 33063 WiFi Finder for 802.11b/802.11g Networks
Click for Full Details

I've had one of these for several months and it's really a handy tool for the road warrior. Just press the button and it sniffs out any wifi network within a couple of hundred feet. (continued...) I've even used it to figure out if certain restaurants are wirelessly equipped from outside the building! I believe I payed close to $30 dollars for mine, but with this offer you won't have to. If you're into wireless like I am, don't leave home without it.

Finds Wireless Networks Instantly!
Detects WiFi Signals Up To 200 Feet Away; Filters Other Signals Out!
Your life on the road just got a lot easier. With one of the most powerful WiFi detectors on the market today. You no longer need to cross your fingers as you wait for your notebook to boot up. Just press a button and the Kensington WiFi Finder lets you know if your location is "hot"...instantly. No software or computer needed. What could be easier?

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Nokia 6680 -- New 2 Camera Phone for Europeans and Others

For people living in Europe, Middle East and Africa, Nokia has a cool new phone that sports some very interesting capabilities for video sharing.
Features:
- Two integrated cameras: 1.3 megapixel and VGA
- High-speed connections with 3G and EDGE
- Two-way video call capability for face-to-face communication
- Video sharing capability
- Nokia XpressPrint printing solution including PictBridge printing
- Fast, convenient email access
- High-resolution, 262,144-color display
- Music player with stereo audio"

Visit Nokia.com for More Details

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Cellphone Abuse - Tips to Curb Employee Abuse

By: Aaron Siegel
Looking for a way to save your enterprise or government organization tens of thousands of dollars a month or more on wireless mobile communication use? First off, it’s going to take some discipline and innovative management for your cellular communication services to become more cost efficient and less prone to abuse. Cell phone and handheld usage can bleed a corporation’s IT communications funding dry without so much as a turn of the head, or at least until it’s too late. (continued...)

They're Everywhere ...
It’s more common than not for a large organization to have employees carrying company owned devices such as cellular phones, pagers, PDAs, and Blackberry devices. All these wireless devices meant to increase employee productivity are more than likely draining funds and ultimately decreasing actual corporate productivity. It’s an ever increasing telecommunications expense on a road to disaster.

One is Better ...
One way to better manage corporate employee mobile communication cost is to buy ALL cellular services through ONE provider. Buying through one provider gives your organization the chance to receive volume discounts. If you are giving your employees the opportunity to purchase their company wireless device themselves on the corporate account, you are opening the door to higher rates and actually taking away control from the company as a whole.

Close To Home ...
Secondly, audit not just the usage, but who uses the mobile communications. You need to investigate exactly who is a necessity mobile user and who is not. An office employee who spends most of their time within corporate headquarters and who is not prone to traveling; may very well be responsible for inflated mobile usage. An employee calling friends and even relatives overseas is not entirely uncommon. This kind of abuse has been known to accumulate to a bill well over a $2,000.00 in a matter of days with just one employee.

Allowance, Not Just For Teens Anymore ...
It’s important to weed out vanity from necessity. If the hardship of striping cell phones and their usage from employees is too hard to bear, consider revising this strategy. A method that can be effective is allotting an allowance to employees on their usage. In other words, set up a preset amount of acceptable minutes per month per employee type. If any employee goes over their allotted amount of minutes, it is garnished from their paychecks. Many companies have deployed this method to curb abuse with much success.

Reward the Good ...
In addition to an allowance program, a rewards program could be put in place as well. To sweeten the sour, award the employee with the least amount of minutes a percentage of the company savings. Let it be announced beforehand and you may find employees trying to conserve so they can take home a larger paycheck. To make it more viral, perhaps first, second, and third place winners every month. That will ensure that employees know more than one employee each month will go home with a fatter paycheck. Increasing the odds always helps feed the fever. Works in Vegas, right?

Easier Said than Done ...
Now, keeping track of who is who and who calls what can equal to a big headache and ultimately take more time and money to manage. Luckily there are some companies out there that make a living from auditing and managing wireless bills or supplying the firmware to do so. While costs associated with such services vary, they are valuable and more importantly; save money. Some of the companies that provide these services include Let’s Talk www.letstalk.com, Traq www.traq.com, and Vercuity www.vercuity.com.

Carriers Feel Your Pain ...
Aside from these companies that audit, track, and manage wireless usage, the mobile communications industry has seen the aches and pains of employee abuse. Many cellular carriers now offer more cost effective wireless options for large employers knowing of employee abuse and the minutes (money sacrificed. In other words, lower rates for the higher volume to curb the cost of abuse whether or not it is taking place.

One of the better cell phone providers for corporate services is Nextel. They offer over the phone ordering exclusively for corporate volume clients for all products and services which include some good plans for busy mobile users.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
This article was provided courtesy of TopSavings.Net, an online resource for IT professionals seeking communications services and products.

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CellPhone - Why Should I Upgrade

By: Declan Tobin
We hear from friends or just general chat by people wanting to upgrade their cell phones. There are a number of very good reasons to upgrade but unfortunately the main reason people upgrade and without thinking is because the cell phone manufacturers are blitzing us with advertising on a daily basis with new features. I bet you can pinpoint a few friends who have new cell phones and have no idea as to how to go about using all the key features.

Upgrading your cellular phone needs some careful thinking. Many of us upgrade for fashion purposes to keep up with modern looks, understandable if you have a cell phone from the early years you might want something a little more portable and flexible in use. (continued...)

Upgrading still costs money so choose wisely. There are many different upgrade options today such as Camera cell phones; PDA Cell Phones, GPS Cell phones and now we have the new line of 3G cell phones available. Honestly the best place to choose a cell phone is on the Internet, it’s your decision and not the sales rep at some store twisting your arm for a sale and blinding you with useless information.

You need to know the differences and the different functionality of the cell phones before you just go ahead and upgrade. By doing a little research you get to choose exactly what fits your needs and budget. GPS phones (Global Positioning Satellite) are widely used by people with a love for climbing or adventure walking in remote regions.

GPS phones can be pinpointed to a specific area should you be lost or in need of assistance, long distance drivers and employers also find good use for these phones. Employers can trace the whereabouts of employees or the phones themselves if lost or stolen.

PDA phones are ideal for people who like using pocket organisers. These phones are expensive but have similar functionality to that of a PC, ideal for office workers or sales reps.

Camera phones are self explanatory, simply a phone that can take photos. There is more to camera cell phones but in a nut shell that’s what they do. They are classed more of a fun phone to have and prove very popular among all age groups. Once you have an idea of what the different phones do and can’t do you are better placed to come up with an upgrade decision.

Flip phones are very popular at the moment, these are the phones with the pop up screen, they are available in Camera, PDA and GPS format but be aware they are not for everyone, I personally do not find them very user friendly but that’s my opinion, I like to just answer the incoming call without messing around with the phone.

The phones on today’s market a very light weight compared to the large style from years ago, those of you who still use these type phones today should look at upgrading and come to terms with the technology of today.

General advice:

If you experience a bad reception on a regular basis you should check with your cell phone carrier first before changing the phone, most of the time it tends to be a bad signal due to the cellular phone carrier rather than the fault of your phone, many people just jump and buy the phone only to find that they same problem is reoccurring. In certain area’s you may need a small cell phone antenna or booster costing very little to get a better reception.

Powering down very quickly:

If you find that your cell phone powers down too quickly the chances are you need a new battery, once again many people exchange the whole cell phone instead of just the battery. The conception that batteries are almost as costly as the cell phone is untrue. You can get batteries at very competitive pricing along with third party battery from different suppliers.

No Power:

If you find that you have no power in your cell phone even after charging for hours, it could be one of three things. Firstly the battery in the cell phone could be completely dead, secondly the recharge supply unit could have a problem and last of all it could be the cell phone itself, by eliminating the first two you could save yourself money. It may all seem common sense but you would be surprised at how many good working cell phones are thrown out.

About the Author
Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of Prepaid phone plans which includes Cell prepaid plans, Carriers, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your phone interests and needs. Visit http://www.no1-in-cell-phones.com for more information and reviews on cell phones.




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Getting A Great Refurbished Laptop

By Cody Kahl
Are you sick of all the high priced notebooks out there? Does getting a used laptop seem like a better choice to you? Refurbished laptops are everywhere these days, and the word itself seems like a “buzz word” of the industry. But do these used machines actually hold up to the strict standard of the word “refurbished”?

In this article I will discuss exactly what process a used notebook should go through before it is called “refurbished”, as well as the advantages and disadvantages purchasing one brings. (continued...)

Ok, so you see refurbished or recertified laptops being touted everywhere online these days, but are they all the same? The answer is no. Each company has a different process of restoring a notebook, and they aren’t all equal. This is what a good restoration process should look like:

- An examination of all hardware components
- Diagnostic and performance test
- Cleanup
- Cut & scratch repair (not always necessary)

What this process should equate to is a machine that runs just as good as when it was brand new, (and sometimes look just as good).

The most important thing you can do if you are looking at a particular “recertified” laptop is find out about the company selling it. Are they reputable? How long have they been in business? What process do their refurbished laptops go through?

These are the most important questions you must ask. I’ll be honest here; there are many companies that claim that their notebooks are recertified, but this is really a lie. There is a risk involved when buying a reconditioned notebook, and checking a company out before you purchase can go a long way towards your peace of mind.

That being said, good deals and quality notebooks can be found, and are found daily.

Before I conclude this article I would like to go over a few of the advantages and disadvantages buying a refurbished notebook can bring. For one, the obvious advantage is that you can save a lot of money on a mobile PC that runs just as good as ever -- as long as the laptop is of good quality. This is the advantage that appeals to everybody when it comes to getting a reconditioned laptop.

As for disadvantages? Well, as I said above, there is a risk when purchasing these notebooks. By doing proper research you can minimize this risk, but it will always be there. Another down side to these machines is that you are limited to whatever is available. With a new notebook your options are endless –- With a refurbished one, you have to take what you can get.

All in all, I think buying a refurbished laptop can be a great idea; provided you take the time to ask questions such as the ones above. If done correctly, you can get a great portable PC that will last you a long time to come, and save you a lot of cash as well.

About the Author:
Cody Kahl is creator and writer of Toshiba Laptops Guide – A site
dedicated to providing only the best used toshiba laptops information.
Cody believes in quality, and this free resource proves it.

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Are Your Teeth Going Blue?

By Dale Davidson
You enter your office,your files, and images are transferred from your cell phone to your desk top wirelessly. The address books in your PC, cellphone and your desktop are synchronized wirelessly.You send photos from your cell phone to literally any receiver elsewhere in the world,through a wireless connection to your laptop, you may even transfer info form your cell to your printer, without wires.

Such is the wireless world that is on us!

You sit in front of your wireless keyboard and click your wireless mouse. Listen to a CD playing on the player in your notebook, while it is another room, play games all without any wires.

Imagine connecting up to 8 PCs without wires.

These are all made possible by Bluetooth Technology.

Bluetooth was developed during the last decade as a cutting edge open specification that enables short range wireless communication between PCs. handhelds, Personal Digital Assistants, mobile phones, digital cameras, printers, headsets and other computing and electronic devices. (continued...)

The name is taken from a 10th century Danish King...Harald Blatand or translated Harold Bluetooth.

Advantageous, because of its low cost and power consumption, Bluetooth operates on the 2.4 Ghz radio frequency, using a fast hopping spread technique. Simplistically, after receiving or sending data packets, it hops to a new channel, 1600 hops in one second, and there are 79 different channels.

Such fast cycling avoids interference from other signals, making the BlueTooth system more robust than others.

Beacuse it operates on radio waves, Bluetooth can operate through walls or from your briefcase, and does not need any directional sight for transmission, unlike infra-red, although infra-red may offer faster transmission.

The Bluetooth logo, is slowly becoming a part of everyday life.The logo program was designed to provide the industry with a mechanism to identify all Bluetooth enabled devices that meet Compliance and provide seamless operation and ease of use of enabled devices.

Over 3000 of the electronics companies including Sony-Ericcson, Hewlett-Packard, Nokia, Apple and Motorola have adopted the Bluetooth adopters agreement and are members of the Special Interest Group. This group is commited to development and implememtaion of BlueTooth

The Technology at present provides a 10 meter personal bubble Or Personal Area Network that supports transmission of both voice and data from multiple devices. As mentioned up to 8 devices can be connected in a piconet. A piconet is only a collection of devices connected via BlueTooth Technology.

Up to 10 piconets may exist with the WPAN.

One of the bigger advantages of Bluetooth is the low power consumption, which is less than a few percent than that of of modern mobile phones, in fact, power consumption can be automatically modified as needed as Bluetooth devices can identify each other,and modify needed power consumption based on signal strength or traffic volumes.

Bluetooth will soon begin showing-up in the Automobile industry, as manufacturers implement hands-free technology.

The hands-free profile allows your vehicle to communicate with a mobile Bluetooth device that comes in the vicinity. Bluetooth and voice recognition can provide drivers with voice-activated access to voice-mail, email and other information.

It is also expected that diagnostic information may even be extracted from your car using Bluetooth.

As you approach your automobile, the mirrors are adjusted, seats are moved to preset position,the doors are unlocked, and the interior lights are turned on without you having to do anything.

As with any new and emerging technology, there are some obstacles to be overcome before full adaptation, however the pace is increasing. Because the genesis of Bluetooth was to replace or eliminate cables, roaming features are not supported as in the 802.11b standard. Some members of the SIG are interested in seeing an increase in speed, distance and bandwith, thus increasing the potential platforms and applications used in the PAN market.

Security, is one area, where a great deal of emphasis is being placed as the specification evolves.

Mobile phone manufacturerrs have developed software upgrades for phones that are susceptible to types of hacking such as bluesnarfing which occurs in older model telephones, where a connecting can be made and information accessed with the user's knowledge, or Bluebugging or Blue jacking.

Devices are enable with 3 different security levels, the highest of which requires authentification and authorization before access is granted to any service available on the device.

Your mobile phone becomes useless if is lost because it can only be used by you.

Bluetooth has built-in encryption and authentication making it secure in any environment.

Another great feature, is the ability to switch to an undiscoverable mode, in which a device will not be identified. It was expected that 670 million devices would be Bluetooth enabled,so the future is looking brighter

Bluetooth is now showing up in Washer-Dryer, Microwave ovens, and refrigerators.

Apple Computer is rumored to be working on the next generation of the sensational iPod, which may offer wireless capability, using BlueTooth. The exciting possibiliy may allow downloading and listening to your player without touching any wires.

The possibilties are almost becoming almost unlimited, as new applications are developed daily, and the future may be indeed brighter and bluer.

To see some of the coolest Bluetooth devices visit BlueTooth Products at Amazon.com

About the author:
Dale Davidson is the publisher of an on-line newsletter "the eShopper on-line that provides free info, products and services to on-line consumers. With an extensive background in electronics, and membership in the IEEE, ASME among others, the newsletter provides regular info on from consumer electronics products. Can be reached via email or visit website: http://www.eConsumershop.com

Today Screens for Your Pocket PC

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Jumping to Mobile Gaming

By: Richard Hsu
Just imagine if you could have fun playing your favorite color games anytime, anywhere - while waiting in line for bus and movie tickets, riding in cars, buses or trains…

Welcome to the world of mobile gaming. Mobile gaming is getting hot...more and more people are playing games on their cell phones as wireless carriers introduce improved models of cell phones with big, bright color screens to their customers. Some experts predict that the number of people playing mobile games, especially young people, will increase by leaps and bounds in the next three years. So catch the hot wave now! There are all kinds of games available: action/adventure, puzzles, casino, sports, etc. They are fun, intuitive and entertaining. Presently, some of the most popular, compelling games are: Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell and Prince of Persia Mobile Pet.

Many major cellular carriers offer online services for mobile games (continued...) (and ring tones/graphics) that you can download directly to your cell phones. There are more and more leading online services, such as eWirelessGames.com and cellmedia.com, which can provide similar services at an affordable cost.

Before you can start, you need to understand a few things about mobile gaming.

First, you need to find out if your current or new cell phone is Web-enabled and text message capable. If you are not sure, contact your carrier's customer service department for help.

Next, you need to subscribe a data service with your wireless phone carriers. Available data services include usually include game downloads, ringtone downloads, picture transmission, text mesages and email. Most carriers offer data services and bill you in term of the amount of data you download. Some carriers offer the option of pyaing by hte minute.

T-mobile, for instance, charges $29.99 a month for unlimited usage for its T-mobile Internet while data service from Verizon Wireless is offered for an additional $5 monthly access charge, plus airtime and other applicable charge.

With your phone capable of and subscribed to data service like text messages and Mobile Web, you are now ready to download your favorite games. The downloading process is usually simple and easy to follow.

Here are few more things to keep in mind:

When choosing mobile games at a mobile gaming site, make sure that the games you like are compatible with your cell phone. It is a good idea to check for a compatibility chart available from the mobile gaming site from which you will purchase your downloads. (See a compatibility chart at eWirelessGames.com)

You must also know the limits of your cell phone's built-in memory. Find out how many games you can download. Typically, you can download about 5-6 games, depending on your cell phone model, and you must remove your existing games before you can download additional games.

One last thing, check for special deals available at these wireless gaming sites. You may get a discount if you order in large volume. For example, eWirelessGames.com offers pre-purchase bulk credits for those who order ring tones/color graphics.

Enjoy your mobile gaming!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Richard Hsu is a wireless gaming enthusiast and manager at eWirelessGames.com.

View a Selection of Popular Games for Your Pocket PC

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