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C H A P T E R
4
MAXIMIZING YOUR DEVICE
Maximizing your device is the official title of this chapter. According to Webster, “maximum” means the highest degree or point reached or the greatest quantity.
This is appropriate because no single wireless device
seems to be enough anymore.
For most users, a basic digital mobile phone offers more
features than they can ever use. Why not just maximize
the use of THAT device? Don’t worry, I show you how to
do just that in this chapter. But soon, you might want, or
need, a smarter device such as a wireless handheld that
offers you computing capabilities on-the-go, such as
being able to get e-mail anywhere, hear and record digital audio, or even video-conference with your office.
As you’ll also see in upcoming chapters, wireless is no
longer device dependent. By the next decade, the concept of disparate devices might seem as antiquated as
using a combination of candles, gaslights, and coal
lanterns to light your way in an age of electricity for
everyone.
In this chapter, you can find out
•
How to get the most from your current phone,
pager, or PDA
•
When to upgrade to a smart phone or wireless
handheld
•
Why Bluetooth, a new local area wireless system,
is going to be everywhere
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•
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Why even “mouse potatoes” will jump for joy with new wireless entertainment that
goes beyond the device
In summary, this chapter covers the latest in wireless hardware, software, and services. Get
ready, get set, and go ahead, cut the cord!
Whether you’re a cell phone fanatic, a pager person, a handheld honcho, or new to wireless, the tips and examples found in the following sections will help you get your money’s
worth from your current device.
MAXIMIZING MOBILE PHONES
How do you maximize your current handset’s features? The challenge can start even
before you buy the phone. The most important features on a wireless phone are battery
life and screen readability.
Getting the Most from Your Phone
Here are some tips to maximize phone screens, batteries, and other features to get make
your mobile strut its stuff:
•
The next time you buy, be sure to try the screen (in sunlight and a dark room)
before you purchase. If you don’t like your current phone’s screen, try compensating by activating voice-command features (if available) or adding voice messaging
if the text print is too small to read.
•
Try a system such as AT&T’s Wireless #121 Service. You get current updates on
stock, news, lottery, traffic reports, sports, and more just by pressing #121 on your
handset. And the good news is that it’s included in your service so you pay standard usage charges only, such as airtime and roaming. AT&T calls it VoiceTouch
service, and it’s provided by TellMe Networks. Note, other carriers also offer voice
information and content services, but some charge an additional monthly fee.
•
Voice concierge services or virtual receptionist systems help you place calls, check
messages, and receive faxes. One of the ones I like is Wildfire. For more information go to www.wildfire.com; you even get to hear the receptionist. One of the
features is that she’ll track you down and forward your calls (you can screen
before answering) if you want.
•
Pronto from i3 Mobile turns any mobile phone (wireless or analog) into a mobile
personal assistant. It even lets you create buddy lists so you can notify the whole
soccer team or announce your new baby to up to 50 people with one message.
Pronto charges a monthly fee. For more information, go to www.Pronto.com.
Too Many Features
Confused about your handset’s features or your carrier’s services? Then be sure you do at
least two things:
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Review your handset user guide—Lost the guide? Then go to the handset manufacturer’s Web site or another Web site, such as www.cellularphonenews.com/
manuals.htm, to download the user guide for free.
•
Check your carrier’s Web site for cheat sheets—AT&T Wireless offers a wallet card
you can download and carry with you. You can even tape these cards to your
phone or handset case for easy reference.
Battery Always Dying?
If it seems like your battery always dies before you can finish dialing a number, there are
a few things you can try to extend your phone’s battery life:
Check your battery and signal strength frequently—Charge your phone nightly;
most Europeans put their phones in chargers as soon as they walk in the house.
•
Carry backup power—Use something like Electric Fuel’s no electricity Instant Power
zinc-air fuel cell, which can charge almost any cell phone or PDA up to three times
without an external power source. The firm is also offering new travel charging kits
with up to three additional charging adapters for use with alternative power
sources. For more information, go to www.electric-fuel.com.
•
Try a new charger—For example, try the Motorola FreeCharge, which cranks like
Great Grandpa’s old phone. The 11 oz. charger with a flashlight is rolling out now
for about $65. For more information, go to www.motorola.com.
4
•
•
Gorillas and Phones
Hollywood film star Leonardo DiCaprio is organizing a campaign to get people
thinking gorilla-friendly when purchasing their next mobile device.
What’s the connection between the movie heartthrob and animals? It’s a metallic
ore that can be refined to get tantalum to make capacitors that store energy in
mobile devices. The official name is Columbite Tantalite (Coltan for short). The
gorilla population in the area where Coltan is being mined is being reduced from
8,000 to 650. Some experts predict that the quest for Coltan could mean these
rare gorillas will face extinction in the next decade. DiCaprio is urging consumers
to be gorilla-friendly and avoid devices made with Coltan.
For information on which digital technology makers are environmentally savvy, go
to one of the sites for the funds involved in this environmental cause
(www.gorillas.org).
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Confused about batteries or chargers? Refer to Chapter 8, “Connecting on the Go,” or
go to www.accessorysolutions.com, where you’ll see a glossary on battery types and
chargers.
Case too Fragile?
Are you so active that your sun and fun threaten to wipe out your handset? Then, take a
look at new, tough mobile phone cases such as NiteIze Boxit. A universal case, it comes
with two easy-to-change lids and will fight dirt and moisture. It even floats! You can hear,
talk, and even dial through the case. It also comes with antenna extensions and plugs. For
more information on this case, go to www.niteize.com, and for other cases, check out your
favorite accessory store.
Mobile Radiation Scare You?
If you’re one of those folks who wants to zap out radiation before it zaps you or your kids,
consider a new phone shield named the 2002 product of the year by SARdata, a consumer
advocate group. G-Tel Wireless is distributing the shield, which has been tested in an FCCapproved laboratory. On its home page, it says the company is the first to offer a cell
phone safety device that can shield up to 98% of cell phone radiation. For more information, go to www.g-telwireless.com or www.SARDATA.com. You can find additional information on mobiles and health in Chapter 5, “Wireless: Safety Net or Health Hazard?”.
Using Your Mobile Phone at Home
Mobile phones don’t cease functioning when you walk in your front door. So, why is it that
the second we kick back in an easy chair to call some friends or relatives, we immediately
reach for the land line? Your cell phone can be just as good, and there are products that
can make it even better for home use.
CellSocket
Tired of missing your mobile calls at home? Can’t find your cell in your purse or pocket?
You can use your leftover monthly minutes especially for night or weekends with a cool
accessory called CellSocket. This desktop docking station turns your wireless phone into
an additional line. Plus, you can make and receive cell voice calls on a standard phone in
your home, office, dorm, or even your RV or boat. It also features an optional antenna to
boost your cell phone’s signal for optimal indoor use.
For more information, go to www.cellsocket.com. One of my colleagues, Lisa Osborn,
CEO, Traffic 411.com says, “The CellSocket acts like a charger too, so when I get home I
place my phone in the docking station, and it enables me to never miss a call. Plus, I save
lots of money now on long-distance charges since I can use unused free night and weekend minutes from my cell phone.”
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Vox.Link
MAXIMIZING PAGERS
Pagers might seem like a dying breed in a world filled with cell phones, PDAs, and all manner of other digital gadgets. You can, however, still get some use out of these venerable
little boxes by following these tips:
Check with your service provider’s Web site so you understand what capabilities
your device offers, including e-mail, faxes from a message center, and online portals.
•
Use a call center solution Web site, such as www.clientelplus.com, to get troubleshooting tips for paging devices, including how to deal with water damage.
•
Learn how to set up and use advanced features on two-way pagers (check the
device’s Web site), or check out a site such as refreq.com.
4
•
Another firm offering a cell phone base station is Vox2.com, which calls its system
Vox.Link. It notes on its home page that you can choose one of six distinctive rings to identify cell phone calls. It’s available at Radio Shack stores or at www.radioshack.com, or you
can go to the firm’s Web site at www.vox2.com.
See suggestions from other pager users and pros at sites such as eopinions.com and
DIYnet.com (Do It Yourself Network).
MAXIMIZING YOUR SMART PHONE
Is your phone smart? Although there is an industry-standard definition, it’s generally
understood that smart phones feature the capability to send and receive data in addition
to basic voice services. If your phone is digital instead of analog, you should be able to use
some of these tips to upgrade your handset.
Smart Phone Case Studies
Go to the helpful portal on customer relationship management (CRM) solutions at
www.destinationCRM.com to get some case histories and more information on how the
next generation of smart phones is moving from novelty to must-have in the enterprise
zone for such functions as remote surveys; checking inventories; and deliveries for your
sales, marketing, and customer relations team members. Entrepreneurs can choose a
smart phone so that they not only can keep up with e-mail on the go, but also send messages to contractors, get updates from remote offices, and hook into client files and histories in just a couple of clicks.
PC Ephone
I first saw the PC Ephone in the fall of 2001 at a Comdex press conference. The company
describes its product as the first wireless convergent device that combines the capabilities
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of a handheld personal computer with full Internet access, a cellular phone, a PDA, and an
organizer all in one. For more information, go to www.pcephone.com.
Smart Phone Sales
Most research firms believe that smart phones will increase dramatically versus conventional wireless phones in the coming years. Datacomm Research states that, looking back
to 1999 when it saw .2 million smart phones compared to 250 million conventional wireless phones, it can predict a growth in 2003 to 330 million smart phones and 40 million
conventional wireless phones.
What Can Smart Phones Do?
The primary driver of smart phones is the increasing opportunity to use wireless data
applications such as messaging, mobile commerce, financial services, intranet (within the
corporate environment), Internet, entertainment, and better navigation. Most of us would
agree that one of the keys is also the ability to send and receive e-mail.
Upgrade Tips
•
Find an accessory that helps you communicate better, such as a hands-free headset, an add-on camera, a GPS system, or a plug-in module or modem for your
handheld.
Pagers to the Rescue
Motorola is also working with the Personal Communications Industry Association
(PCIA) to expand its LifePage Program, which provides patients and doctors with
wireless communications services so that patients awaiting organ transplants can
get necessary notification and exchange e-mails (www.pcia.com/foundation/
lifepage.html). The system has been working for more than two decades now,
and an expanded program will enable all parties to communicate more efficiently.
PocketBlue—a product that works with Palm VX handhelds, RIM’s Blackberry 950
and 957 pagers, and Symbol’s SPT 1733 handheld computer—lets police officers
use wireless devices to access data from various databases. The product is being
developed by Aether Systems, which also develops PacketCluster Patrol (a new
wireless and silent communications technology that connects laptops in patrol cars
to headquarters or other data banks). The software runs over CDPD networks or
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Upgrade software or add programs to your smart phone or wireless handheld,
such as word processing, personal information management features, and other
updates your carrier or handset manufacturer features on its Web site.
•
•
Upgrade your battery or charger system.
•
Sign up for additional services from your carrier, such as instant messaging, text
messaging, and wireless Web access.
•
See whether your device can be modified or maximized with software or accessories for your profession or trade. Talk to your CTO or IT division head, or invite a
wireless systems integrator to do a workshop in your workplace.
Swap your phone for a more intelligent model or handheld wireless device the
next time your plan is up for renewal.
4
MAKING PHONES, PAGERS, AND PDAS SMART
•
What’s the difference between a regular mobile phone, a smart phone, and a PDA? The
best article I found on this is at The Motley Fool’s Web site (www.fool.com) in its wireless
buyer’s guide section. “There’s no black-and-white answer to this one,” says the guide.
The article explains that in the next few years (and I’d add by 2003) all phones will be
smart phones to a certain degree and a plethora of other wireless devices will offer voice
and data capabilities. The Fool.com explains that “most regular mobile phones can receive
data, but only in the form of text pages limited to around 150 characters.”
conventional radio frequencies. These new wireless systems enable police or other
public safety officers to be mobile, work without waiting for dispatchers on twoway radios, and work silently in stealth operations.
ChoicePoint is a new technology that enables images and statistics of missing children or persons to be distributed to police and other public safety agencies
through Motorola interactive pagers.
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Of course, you’ve probably noticed that most wireless carriers are offering two-way paging on phones, or what they call two-way direct or some other fancy term for two-way
audio or text messaging. Many experts feel this will someday replace pagers. Pagers, too,
are getting smarter, and if you go to Blackberry.net, you’ll see pagers featuring phone
capabilities.
Sample Smart Phones
The challenge in upgrading to a smart phone is finding out what the handset does and
then matching it with services your carrier offers, or vice versa. Smart phone is a generic
term—not an industry standard—so you’ll also see reviews referring to these same models
by terms such as digital, Web ready, and multi-function. Some even talk in terms of the services the devices can receive, such as 2.5G or 3G-Ready or optimized for 1XRTT.
Two of the best sources I like for finding smart phone models include
•
Mobile Computing & Communications—The April 2002 issue (at www.
mobilecomputing.com) includes a chart that compares handsets by weight, talk
time, wireless Web, 1xRTT or GPRS capability, voice dial capability, and price. It
compares 60 digital cell phones from numerous manufacturers. Of note is that at
least 10 models listed do NOT offer wireless Web access, so I assume they are not
as smart as the other 50 or that they offer some other benefits instead.
•
About.com’s Portable Entertainment Guide by Ric Manning—Manning profiles
some top models, including the Ericsson R280d, the Microsoft Stinger, the
Mitsubishi T250, and the Motorola Timeport P8167. For more information, go to
http://portables.about.com/cs/smartphones/index.htm.
Smart and Digital Phone Makers
To help you more easily find a smart phone, I’ve included a list of manufacturers who may
call their next-generation handsets smart phones or digital phones, or even something
else. Check out their sites for specifics:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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Audiovox Communications Corp. (www.audiovox.com)
Ericsson (www.ericsson.com)
Kyocera Corp. (www.kyocera.com)
LG InfoComm U.S.A., Inc. (www.lginfocomm.com)
Motorola, Inc. (www.motorola.com)
Nokia Corp. (www.nokia.com)
Panasonic (www.panasonic.com)
Samsung Telecommunications America (www.samsungusa.com)
Sanyo North America Corp. (www.sanyo.com)
Siemens (icm.siemens.com)
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Why Upgrade to a Smart Phone or Mobile Handheld?
I, however, believe that it will be digital video and audio formats (what many call streaming media) and mobile imaging that makes forking over more bucks for a new device
worthwhile. You’ll be able to record meetings and capture your kids’ precious moments
anytime and anywhere, and the clearer color screens will make mobile entertainment
almost too good to resist.
What will drive this new love affair with smarter mobile handhelds? Most experts agree it
will be messaging applications such as instant messenger (IM); short message services
(SMS); wireless data such as news, entertainment, and games; and the ability to take your
desktop with you wherever you go.
Smart Voice Command Center
4
Are you a small business person who works so long the stars are out by the time you leave
your office? Now with a space-age communications system from ArialPhone, you can set
yourself free from the drudgery as you imagine you’re piloting your own rocket ship.
To call someone using this device, you just say the person’s name and the device’s voice
recognition technology dials the number. ArialPhone’s Tom Pirelli uses a souped-up system
to control his entire home/office enterprise, including ordering TV stations, opening and
closing doors, and automating his 5,000-song music library, according to an article in the
The Chicago Sun-Times.
Landlines Sliding
More consumers than ever are disconnecting their home land lines and opting to
use their wireless phones not just on the go but at home, too. According to
Business Week’s April 1, 2002 issue, “Wireless accounted for 12% of all telephone
minutes in 2002, and that’s expected to hit 25% of all minutes in 2003.” The article explains that, although less than 5% of the U.S. population has disconnected
their home phones in favor of wireless, the rate is growing and, “more people are
using mobile phones for second and third lines.”
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Want more information on the ArialPhone (and yes, despite the spelling, it’s named after
Disney’s Little Mermaid)? Then, go to www.arialphone.com, or order it from one of my
favorite telecommunications catalogs, www.hellodirect.com.
UPGRADING TO A WIRELESS HANDHELD
If you’re buying your first PDA or smart phone/PDA combo, it can be daunting. What if
you don’t have the latest model and still want to turn your handheld into a wireless wonder? Here are some tips and sources to further maximize your device and upgrade it with
add-on modules, sleighs, or whatever the manufacturer calls these plug-in attachments.
Modems and Wireless Cards
Be aware that external modems add physical weight and extra cost to your device. You
have to pay for not only the device but a new wireless Internet service (WISP) in addition
to your regular ISP. They also use power, so you might have to replace batteries or
recharge more frequently. Plus, you might have more batteries to replace or recharge more
often.
For sources on the latest add-on modems and cards, go to your handheld’s Web site.
Compaq.com includes lists and sources for all upgrades for its iPAQ models. Plus, you’ll get
previews of the latest models and attachments, such as cameras and printers, that the
maker offers. Some sites even offer wireless kits.
For a good comparison chart, go to http://www.compaq.com/products/handhelds/
pocketpc/index.html. You might decide you want a new model rather than adding wireless to your old style.
Palm Sources
Palm offers clip-on modems and Springboard slot modems for almost all the Palm or
Handspring devices. Check out SierraWireless.com for models or NovatelWireless.com. You
can also look to such providers as GoAmerica, Verizon, and Earthlink for deals. Jay E. Gold,
columnist for the PDAMD.com site that offers great advice for healthcare professionals
who want to make their handhelds wireless, says, “The MobileModem from Motient
(www.motient.com) converts your old PalmV/Vx into a mobile e-mail/alert unit that automatically alerts you with e-mail on the go ala Blackberry.”
Gold acknowledges the battery challenge by saying, “With an extended battery that can
easily go 24 hours, this may be the solution for those of you with BlackBerry envy who
can’t bear the thought of parting with your Palm.”
Pocket PC Options
Pocket PC modem options include clip-on styles for the Jornada and PC card options (as
noted previously) for the iPaq, Casio, and URThere models. For information on PC cards,
go to SierraWireless.com, Novatel Wireless, or Enfora.com. A lot of my pals seem to like
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the SierraWireless Aircord 300, which almost all the wireless networks support. You’ve
probably heard of the Merlin wireless PC Card modems from Novatel and its Minstrel line
of wireless handheld modems, but the company also offers Sage Wireless serial modems
and Lancer 3W ruggedized modems. Enfora’s PC card is called SpiderII, and it also offers a
Pocket Spider modem.
Some online modem and PC card add-on sources include www.mobileplanet.com, which
offers some charts for Casio and Compaq models, and the Solutions Stories at
SierraWireless.com.
4
At SierraWireless.com, you’ll find dozens of case studies of how its add-on modems save
money and improve productivity for cities, companies, and entrepreneurs. Plus, it shows
some terrific ways to combine notebooks with PDAs for integrated mobile solutions. For
example, Glendale, California, city inspectors now combine Fijitsu notebook computers
and HP Jornada 690s for quicker response to customer’s building permit and inspection
requests. The bottom line in the case study, as the site explains, is that in the first 2–3 days
per month, the mobiles pay for their monthly airtimes based on productivity and efficiency
gains.
Success Stories
If you’re confused about the options, go to these sources or ask your wireless carrier. More
carriers are offering solutions that connect in-building devices with on-the-go mobiles. A
great article on CDMA and GSM PDA modems is at www.mbusinessdaily.com. You can
search for it by inserting the title “PDA Modems Proliferate.”
Ask Before You Buy
Here are some questions to consider before you go wireless with an old handheld model.
You might want to upgrade to a new Pocket PC or Palm OS device instead of spending
money to soup up your old version:
•
Are you going to use this device instead of a phone some of the time?—If so, consider upgrading to a handheld that features a built-in phone. Figure 4.1 shows the
new AudioVox Thera and the HP Jornado 928, which both feature built-in phone
capability.
•
Can you talk your company or even your team at work into going wireless as part
of a pilot program for your firm?—If so, they might pay for the handheld or trial
versions so you don’t have to shell out the big bucks.
•
What features do you absolutely NEED?—Will you be doing word processing? Do
you need a device with a built-in keyboard, or can you use an add-on keyboard?
Handhelds with built-in keyboards are generally more expensive.
•
Where will you be using your device?—Will you use it on the road, in your office,
in a field office, or in your car? Your answers can influence your product and wireless choices.
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Figure 4.1
AudioVox’s Thera (left) is a wireless Pocket PC that works on CDMA networks; on the left is the HP Jornada
928, which also features a phone.
HANDHELD WIRELESS ACCESSORIES AND UPGRADES
The following sections discuss some wireless accessory and upgrade options.
Keyboards
Whether you call them thumboards or keyboards, having a portable attachment that
slides onto your PDA so you can literally type like you would on a PC is a great benefit.
One of the best sources I’ve seen for discovering the latest keyboard models for both the
Palm OS and Pocket PC is PriceScan at www.pricescan.com. The site lists at least two dozen
models ranging in price from $10.39 to more than $100, depending on styles. Of course,
you can also go to your handheld’s Web site to see what it offers as a keyboard add-on
for your wireless device.
Targus Thumbpad
One style that caught my attention was the Targus Thumbpad that folds up into a single
piece measuring approximately 4”×3”×1/2”. This device excels at, and is designed for, short
messages and personal information management systems. So, you won’t want to type
your next book on it.
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Fastap
Foldable Keyboards
Watch for the launch of flexible keyboards that go way beyond the foldable ones you’ve
probably seen for PDAs. One of these products, the Flexis FX-100, is popular with
TechTV.com reviewers who list it as one of the finalists for the TechTV Best Of CES 2002
awards.
4
Compatible with most new Pocket PC devices and many Palm-based PDAs, the keyboard
from Man & Machine offers incredible tactile feedback, according to one review on
TechTV.com. It measures 9”×3’ and is flexible and water resistant. It includes no moving
parts and ships in a small neoprene case with a clip. You roll it up, shove it into the case,
and are ready to go. To see it, go to TechTV.com and search for “Flexis FX-100,” or go to
www.man-machine.com.
The Fastap is a keypad that fits in a mobile phone to give you a more powerful interface;
it’s perfect for short message services. Try an interactive demo at www.digitwireless.com,
and ask your carrier when it will be featuring this product. It’s the size of one-third of the
area of a credit card—so, small is good in this case.
Devices for the Blind
Some of you techies out there might remember that Ray Kurzweil created the first reading
machine for blind people. The inventor, who is well known for such books as Spiritual
Machines, won the Lemelson-MIT prize in 2001 for his work in inventing technologies in
areas as diverse as pattern recognition, artificial intelligence, and speech reading. Kurzweil
is now working in the arena of virtual reality, and he has one of my favorite innovators on
his site, a firm called LifeFX.com (more on them later in this chapter). For more information
on Kurzweil, go to www.kurzweilai.net and look at www.lifefx.com to see how some of
these concepts adapt to the PDA world.
Palmtop Helps Blind
What’s new in the field of reading for the blind? A handheld computer is being used by villagers in India that also can help the blind and visually impaired in the future. According
to Itasiaone.com, the “Simputer” is a rugged personal digital assistant that can read aloud
the contents of a Web page. It is being developed by Encore Software and uses parts manufactured by electronics specialist Sharp. The device features a Linux operating system. For
more information, go to www.ncoretech.com.
Guiding Lights
Steven Leeb, founder of Talking Lights, Inc., vows in an article on mpulse (the
www.cooltown.hp.com newsletter) that “every light will be a talking light” in the future. Dr.
Leeb, an associate professor of engineering at MIT, says his start-up company is developing a system that uses a network of fluorescent bulbs to transmit information that is heard
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through an earpiece, seen on a handheld device, or processed as data or control signals
by a computer. The technology is getting its first wide-scale test at Spaulding Rehabilitation
Hospital in Boston, where patients with traumatic brain injuries are using PDAs that receive
instructions via overhead lights. For more information, go to TechTV.com and search for
“talking lights.” Or go to the National Institute of Child Health and Human development
Web site at www.nichd.nig.gov.
Dialpads Go Virtual
You don’t need a keypad attached to your PDA or even a smart device to call home. Take
a look at the Pocket PC 2002 Phone software in Figure 4.2 to see how easy it is to use;
note the call log and speed dial features.
Figure 4.2
Pocket PC phone software allows you to send short messages and longer e-mails, and even beam contact
information. (Photo courtesy of Brighthand.com.)
Phone/Handheld Combos
Scores of wireless handhelds now feature built-in telephony capabilities. Now there’s no
need to add on phone modules or sync with your mobile handset to handle your voice
mail.
Wonder what these devices look like? Take a peek at Figure 4.3, and you’ll see Pocket PCs
featuring phone capabilities from Siemens, SyncSys, LUXian, Sagem, Trium, and mm02 (not
all these might be available in your region).
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4
Figure 4.3
Pocket PC users can choose from several models with telephony capabilities. For more details, go to
www.brighthand.com.
Uses for the Pocket PC
Want to see more than 100 case studies of how companies use Pocket PCs? Then turn
to Microsoft’s Mobile Device section on the Web at http://www.
microsoft.com/mobile/enterprise. Ranging from the Association of Train Operating
Companies to Nabisco to Vail Resorts in Colorado, the success stories include such applications as sales force automation, meter reading, mobile transactions, patient care, loan
processing, and package productivity. You’re sure to find a case study that can help you
optimize Pocket PCs in your company. One of the best I saw is a video case study about
Wagamama, the popular noodle restaurant that uses Compaq’s iPaq Pocket PC 2002
devices to speed up ordering. Customers even see an image of the food they are ordering
and view the ingredients of the meal they are about to enjoy.
Wireless Palm Tips
Subscribe to Palm’s enewsletter to find out what the community leaders are doing, or join
Palm’s discussion groups. You can also collect Palm “bucks” to get more goodies with the
virtual bucks you collect by upgrading.
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UPGRADING TO NEXT-GENERATION PDAS
The latest wireless handhelds include added features such as digital audio and video playback, packet versions of desktop software, more memory, and even color screens.
Handspring Treo Review
According to TechTV’s review of the Handspring Treo from a February 2002 article on its
Web site, “Mesh the Handspring VisorPhone with the Visor Pro and the result is the Treo.”
Handspring’s new Treo line is a series of PDA/phone hybrids that feature a see-through
flip-lid design. The first version of Treo debuts for GSM networks like Cingular and
VoiceStream, but you can expect a CDMA version to appear eventually as well. Handspring
integrates a speakerphone and a standard 2/8” mini-jack for standard hands-free kits. For
more details, go to TechTV.com and do a search for “Handspring Treo.”
HP Jornada 560
HP’s Jornada 560 series has a huge hardware improvement over the 540 series, says
TechTV’s lab in its first look in Fall 2001. The new Jornada is now 6.1 oz. less than its predecessor and about the same size at 5.2”×3.1”×.6”. The biggest changes are inside, where
you’ll find a 206MHz StrongARM processor and 32MB of flash ROM. This model is among
the first to adopt the new Pocket PC 2002 operating system from Microsoft. You’ll find
32MB of ROM, with 24MB occupied by the OS and applications and 8MB reserved for
users to store their own applications and data. The 16-bit color reflective TFT display
Women and Wireless
Space-age fashion shows featuring wireless wearables are increasingly popular at
industry conferences. Tall, android-like models (male and female) strut their technostuff and give you a peek at the lifestyle in 2030 and beyond. But is it style that
women want, or does function outweigh form?
When I contacted Helen Marie Graves, research analyst for Consumer Electronics
Association (CEA), she was quick to support wireless as a tool for women worldwide. At the 2002 CES show, Graves was a panelist at a terrific seminar titled
“What She Wants: Winning the Loyalty of the Female Consumer,” which was about
selling to women.
“Retailers ignore women at their own peril,” says fellow panelist Kim France, editorin-chief for Lucky Magazine.
Despite figures that show the numbers of women and men buying electronic products are evenly split, retail stores are often seen as intimidating by women. Perhaps
that’s why DeeDee Gordon at Look-Look’s youth market research firm says that
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boasts a resolution of 240×320. TechTV saw crisp images and vibrant colors that rival the
Compaq iPAQ. You’ll also see a large LED for reminders and a voice recorder as with the
previous versions.
Research in Motion (RIM) will provide AT&T Wireless with Blackberry handheld devices that
can place phone calls and check e-mail messages, according to a story on TechTV.com.
The handheld will work over AT&T’s high-speed network using general packet radio service (GPRS) and its GSM voice network. The device looks similar to a regular Blackberry but
offers the capability to attach an earpiece and a microphone to enable it to work as a
hands-free phone.
4
RIM is also working with Nextel Communications to develop a voice-enabled version of
the Blackberry handheld that runs over that operator’s iDEN network. The new handheld
will use the Nextel Direct Connect digital two-way radio service rather than operating as a
standard mobile phone does. This system uses a system that is voice over IP (VoIP) based
so that users will be able to call only those people who have Direct-Connect-compatible
phones and devices. The Nextel-RIM device will support numeric paging and Nextel wireless Web services.
Blackberry Phone
Watch for new systems from RIM and Motorola too because these two firms are signing a
licensing agreement “allowing specific iDEN and RIM technologies to be incorporated into
‘certain devices’ from each company,” according to a story on ComputerWire via COMTEX.
girls and women are turning online to buy gadgets. “After all, there are no pushy
salespeople, no techo-jargon, and you can find out more by yourself,” she says.
Gene Kelsey, vice president and general manager of the brand strategy group at
Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company, points to Club Panasonic at
www.Panasonic.com as a resource for both male and female buyers.
Maybe it’s the growing number of female CEOs in the IT arena—such as Laura
Rippy, CEO, Handango; Patricia Russo, CEO, Lucent; Susan Swenson, President and
COO, Leap Wireless; and Carly Fiorina, Chairman and CEO, Hewlett Packard—that
will help retailers realize that they should never underestimate the power of a
woman.
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Palm i705 Review
Here’s an excerpt from TechTV.com’s review of the Palm i705:
The Palm i705 offers design cues from the m500 launched early in 2001 and the
wireless features of the VII…while the new model fills a void in the modern Palm
lineup, the company has chosen to play it safe by opting for mostly cosmetic
changes, leaving us waiting for more. For Web browsing and downloading e-mail
attachments, for example, the product lags in speed and flexibility. An always-on
antenna, however, is an attractive plus.
For more details on e-mail, instant messaging, and hardware on the Palm i705, go to
TechTV.com and do a search for “Palm i705.”
TRENDY HANDHELD DEVICES
The following sections discuss some of the trendier handhelds available today.
Hiptop
The Hiptop, from Danger Research, tries to combine several mobile gadgets into one ultraportable unit. It does a nice job, but can it really live up to its claim? TechTV says that the
pre-alpha version looks much like the Motorola Accompli 009 with data entry through a
keyboard. Applications include e-mail, a Web browser, image browsing, instant messaging, and a PIM.
A Palm Reading
International Data Corporation researchers project that by 2003 market share will
be divided at 70% Palm devices and 28% Windows CE (2% not accounted for).
In January 2002, Reuters news service forecasted that Palm will roll out a $2,500
server-based system that will allow companies to securely transfer information to
and from workers in the field. The Palm i705 can, “surf the Web, grab e-mail, and
communicate without wires,” according to Reuters, who says that Palm hopes, “corporate executives will see the devices as a must-have business tool and order lots
of them.”
Palm is pitching to customers the capability to add customizable features to its
devices via a memory card expansion slot.
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Wildseed (Formerly GITWIT)
Cybiko
Since first seeing it at the CES in Las Vegas in January 2001, I’ve been a Cybiko fan. This
handheld product is aiming at the youth market, and its Xtreme product for wireless gaming is a big hit. Plus, it offers wireless messaging, and some say it’s like a “teenage PDA.”
For more information, go to www.cybiko.com.
The Wildseed firm is pioneering intelligent faceplates and has a deal with
CinemaElectric.com, a mobile entertainment firm, for its SmartSkins that cover phones.
This partnership could lead the way to digital cinema experiences on wireless phones. For
more information, go to www.wildseed.com and www.cinemaelectric.com.
Other Wireless E-mail Devices
4
Some of you might have seen other e-mail devices that are often called e-mail and Internet
appliances. If you’re just looking for a device you can use to send e-mail to Grandma, you
might consider the Earthlink Mailstation models.
Earthlink Mivo Appliances
This system operates on the 900MHz frequency that some cordless phones use. It includes
an integrated keyboard, antiglare screen, and intuitive button layout. For more information, go to www.earthlink.net.
A Bright Insider’s Advice
My colleague Steven G. Bush is well known in the PDA world as the editor of
Brighthand.com. So, I turned to him to ask his advice on selecting your device. His
answer was direct: “Device selection is not a simple task.”
He says it’s important to understand the kind of network you’re going to use, such
as personal area networks (PANs), local area networks (LANs), and wide area networks (WANs), as well as your demands for security and which wireless applications you’ll use. “Wireless applications will eventually be what it’s all about,” Bush
explains.
He adds that many current applications also run on wireless networks but might
not be optimized to do so effectively and securely. That’s why some of the most
popular wireless applications today include the Wireless Access Protocol (WAP),
SMS, HTML applications, proprietary solutions, I-mode, and Terminal Services. Bush
is also a big believer in Bluetooth. He reminds us that until Bluetooth came along,
there were basically just two options for connecting your devices: Hook them
together with cables or let them wink at one another using infrared light.
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Landel Mailbug
The Mailbug, similar to the Earthlink appliance, lets you check e-mail without a computer.
You must subscribe to the accompanying service for $9.95 per month, though. For more
information, go to www.mailbug.com.
Next-Generation Wireless Widgets
There are plenty of entirely new types of devices on the wireless horizon. In the following
section we’ll take a look at gadgets that can do anything from locating your meandering
children to shoes that conform to how you use them.
Wherify
Creators of a GPS (global positioning system) Personal Locator, this firm is moving into a
new SMART-PAK battery pack that enables you to turn your mobile phone into wireless
personal location devices. You might have seen its product for children, which is a wristwatch–type system that lets parents identify their child’s location, within a few feet, in
about a minute via Internet or any phone. For more information on these products, go to
www.wherify.com. Ellen Roth, VP Marketing, promises that you’ll soon see Wherify products in your local retailers, but meanwhile, you can preorder on the Web site or by calling
1-877-LOCATE1.
FitSense Speedometer
The FS-1 Speedometer gives you instant feedback while you walk and run. Styled like a
watch, it displays your pace, distance, calorie burn, and heart rate. A “foot pod” on your
shoe tracks the speed and distance, not just step count. For more information, go to
www.fitsense.com.
ThinkShoe
Soon you can have shoes that think. The Raven features VectraSense ThinkShoe technology, is powered by Motorola Digital DNA, senses your activity, and adjusts the shoe to
your performance. It is said to provide 300% more cushioning. For more information, go
to www.vectrasense.com.
Lightglove
Replace your joystick, mouse, and more with a wireless device that you strap around your
wrist and under your hand from Lightglove LLC, a Virginia-based firm. Using tiny light
sources and detectors, it can serve as your next-generation interface for computing.
Initially, it will cost $400, but the company anticipates the price to drop to about $99 with
full-scale production. See it at www.lightglove.com.
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Bodymedia
CORDLESS ENVIRONMENTS
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Immersive video and audio technologies are revolutionizing the electronic entertainment
experience, according to a recent article on TechTV.com. Researchers at the University of
Southern California’s Integrated Media Systems Center in Los Angeles are making major
advances in how we watch and hear television, movies, music, and more, and wireless
plays a big role. For this research, students control what they see by merely moving their
heads. TechTV.com quotes Albert “Skip” Rizzo, a clinical psychologist working with USC
who believes immersive audio and video innovations create much more realistic environments than traditional virtual reality and can even have an impact on, “how psychology
will be done in the future.”
Bodymedia creates the SenseWear Pro Armband, which is a sleek, wearable body monitor
that gathers information on movement, heat flow, and skin temperature and which can be
coupled with a heart rate monitor. It also features software and transceivers that can be
useful in designing other wearables. For information, go to www.bodymedia.com.
CUSTOMTAINMENT: THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENTERTAINMENT
Wireless technologies will allow new ventures into such areas as tele-immersion (see
Chapter 2, “Your Device of Choice”), 3D environments, robotics, and location-based entertainment. Experts believe that tele-immersive systems have the potential to significantly
change educational, scientific, and manufacturing paradigms. Personally, I feel it will be a
real boon for training and what I call “customtainment” (customized information, entertainment, and more).
Wireless headsets, wearables, stereo-immersive surfaces, and geographically distributed
environments combined with evolving peer-to-peer and next-generation interfaces will
make customtainment affordable in public spaces, schools, and even our own homes.
Although much of this still falls into the category of being on the distant horizon, many
new technologies are practically on our doorstep. The following sections break them down
with references to specific products that you might soon find yourself purchasing to make
a part of your digital lifestyle.
Portable MPEG4 Players
The portable MPEG4 player folds up like a cell phone, but it plays full-length motion pictures in files compressed using the MPEG4 format. I first saw it online and then got a peek
in person at CES. According to the Web site for Impactra Co. Ltc., a digital solution provider
based in Seoul, Korea (www.impactra.com), there are two models—Motion L and Sync I (see
Figure 4.4).
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Figure 4.4
Using a swivel-design on the MPEG4 player, Impactra from Korea allows great viewing of full-length
movies and music videos. For more information, go to impactra.com.
These devices not only store and play back motion picture files, but also provide features
of a digital audio player that supports MP3, AAC, and WMA files (all digital music formats
popular on the Internet). In addition, both models provide voice recording features and
simple PDA features, such as PIM, e-mail, and games. Users can also attach an optional
digital still camera. The firm is also planning to introduce a cellular phone feature.
The good news is that the Impactra plays motion picture files continuously for 4 hours and
up to 7 hours in the case of music files using a reinforced lithium polymer battery. To
download the content, you connect it to your PC via the USB port. The product is available
directly to consumers, and sources say the firm is brokering deals with carriers and consumer electronics makers.
Wireless Web Tablets
Central to the concept of entertainment anywhere are new wireless technologies like
Microsoft’s Mira, which enables you to take your new light-weight desktop monitor (flatpanel display) and carry it anywhere, in a tablet PC format. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates
explains, “This is the idea of using a PC without sitting down at a keyboard.” Gates believes
that devices without screens will become peripherals to those with screens. Sources say
that Mira will use a Microsoft Terminal Server, which is software that controls the exchange
between a central computing device and a central server. Some experts feel this might
actually be the next stage for the Microsoft XBox.
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New-Era Remote Controls
These new portable video screens will demand a new kind of remote control. Soon these
and other wireless devices might be capable of serving as remotes for controlling entertainment, household management, and more. The best Web site reference I see for couch
potatoes to stay up-to-date on their latest zappers is www.remotecentral.com. It includes
reviews, tips, and even a Clicker Picker that lets you check out options.
4
Pocket Remote
Some experts feel the Web tablet concept bridges the gap between laptops and desktops.
Personally, I feel that the Web tablet is part of the “disintermediation” of computing and
one of the links to the next stage of pervasive customtainment where PC/TV mobile
devices, communication appliances, and video-on-demand handhelds glowingly create a
new virtual Yellow Brick Road to an electronic “Oz” that is always-on from Kansas to
Calcutta.
The Pocket Remote TV remote controller is a Pocket PC and Pocket PC 2002-compatible
application that lets you use your PDA as a universal remote control for your TV, VCR,
cable, satellite, DVD, and other equipment. For a great description and features, refer to
www.pocketgear.com and search for “TV remote controller.”
Philips Remote Controls
Philips continues to expand its lineup of remote controls (see Figure 4.5). At the 2002 CES
in Las Vegas, Philips won the 2002 Innovation Award for the pricey Pronto Nec TSU500.
For those on a budget, it offers the more affordable lines of Pronto Tsu2000 and Pronto
Pro TSU6000. Philips’ intelligent remote controls lead us into the next generation of interfaces because they replace all remotes no matter how complex your home theater system
may be. For details on various types of wireless input and control devices, refer to
www.remotecontrol.philips.com/products. You’ll find multimedia input and control
devices and more.
Invoca Remote Control
No more pressing buttons. With a voice-activated universal remote, you control your TV,
VCR, DVD, cable, satellite, and accessories with the sound of your voice. Wouldn’t it be
great to have a similar unit in the office that does what you want it to, such as turn on your
fax machine, turn off your computer, and even lock your door behind you? Check out
Invoca’s product line at Invoca.com.
Wireless Surround-Sound and Sight
The convergence of Internet, digital media, entertainment, and consumer electronics is
bringing all types of new devices to the marketplace. One of Tech TV’s favorites is
SONICblue, which is becoming a leader in the portable audio category.
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Figure 4.5
Philips has produced a significant line of high-end, powerful remotes that allow you to finally take control
of your home theater.
SONICblue
TechTV includes SONICblue’s RioRiot digital audio player in its Best of CES award winners
and also names the Rio Advanced Digital Audio Center as a category finalist in its Home
Audio Best of Show award. RioRiot is capable of storing an entire music collection because
it is built around a 20GB hard drive that can hold 5,000 songs or 400 CDs worth of digital music. It includes an FM tuner, music management software, and more.
You can order it at www.SONICblue.com (their estore). For a full review, go to TechTV.com
and search for “RioRiot.” Watch for more from SONICblue, Inc., in the home entertainment
arena, especially in systems that offer media players and storage.
MP3 Video Player
Like MTV evolving from radio, soon plain-old digital audio will seem boring without some
sort of accompanying visuals. Watch for Vosonic Technology’s V-MP3 Player, which offers
a view to a future where we can take our music videos along anywhere. The unit reads a
number of video and audio digital formats and includes a 2.5-inch color LCD monitor.
Satellite Radio In House and Out
With all the choices of radio stations available, why is Satellite Radio with pay-based
subscriptions taking off? According to a press release from XM Satellite Radio
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(www.xmradio.com), America’s first nationwide digital satellite radio network, the service
ranks as the fastest-selling new audio product in 20 years, with 30,000 paying subscribers
in the first 60 days of national availability.
Satellite radios are available at major electronic retailers such as Best Buy, Radio Shack,
Good Guys, and The Wiz. Leading manufacturers such as Sony, Alpine, and Pioneer offer
more than 20 models to choose from.
Take XM Home
4
Satellite radio doesn’t have to be confined to your car anymore, according to TechTV.com.
The Sony DRN-XM01C designed for the XM Radio system can move between your car and
home entertainment service to ensure you get full use of your monthly service plan. For
more information on the review, go to TechTV.com and search for “Sony DRN-XM01C.”
This is surprising because not only do you have to subscribe to get the audio goodies, but
you also have to buy a satellite radio receiver (unless it comes built in your new GM 2003
model car).
Getting Sirius
The competitor to XM, Sirius Satellite Radio broadcasts 60 commercial-free music channels
and 40 news and entertainment channels via its three satellites orbiting the Earth. Its service launched in February 2002 in four cities: Denver, Houston, Phoenix, and Jackson,
Mississippi.
Before you buy, keep in mind that some satellite radio operators are expressing concern
that the reception could get static from users of the new wireless networks such as IEEE
802.11b (WiFi).
Updating Media Centers
Wouldn’t it be great if your stereo system could hook up with your TV, PVR, and speakers
without the need for a rat’s nest of cords? Soon it will be a no-brainer as new media centers become the central focus of home theatres (see Chapter 9, “Home Sweet Wireless
Home” for more information). Companies like Magis Networks are leading the way with
their Air5 chipsets in set-top boxes using WiFi5 (IEEE802.11a). For information on the electronics makers using this system, go to www.magisnetworks.com. Magis’s flexible wireless
connections could offer connection at rates up to 54Mbps, according to its Web site (see
Figure 4.6). Now the only question is which set-top box or media center to use as your centerpiece.
While this book was being written, two media center makers—Moxi Digital (winner
of TechTV’s Best of CES Home Video Category) and Digeo—combined forces. This is
an extremely competitive category as PVR companies, cable providers, and others strive
to be the center of your media universe. For up-to-date information, go to www.
tvpredictions.com and see what is being forecast for the future before you buy a media
center or subscribe to a service offering to replace your current set-top box.
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Figure 4.6
Magis Networks Air5-based chipsets supporting multiple data/audio/video streams might lead to better
wireless home networking.
MAXIMIZING CONTENT
All these gadgets aren’t good for much if there’s nothing to use them for. That’s why developers specializing in coming up with applications for our digital device-ridden future are
sprouting up everywhere we look.
Live Streaming Video
As we wait for the seamless home networking of video, audio, and data, we have to go to
Japan to see the best-quality live streaming video on a wireless device. There NTT
DoCoMo and PacketVideo Corp. offer a preview of what the new mobile entertainment
world holds.
The new FOMA network is a third-generation mobile service that enables content
providers to stream from Web sites over the Internet to a FOMA-enabled cellular phone.
The streaming data is based on the MPEG4 format, which is the best encoding and compression method available so far. The company will experiment with delivery to PDAs via
NTT DoCoMo’s PHS headsets. To get the goodies, though, you’ll need to have the Packet
Video (PV) player installed in advance. Meanwhile, you can look at some other options
that may bridge the way to the next generation of content. Watch for some of these
Japanese systems to debut in the U.S. during 2003 or even sooner.
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Mazingo PDA Video, Audio, and Text
San Francisco-based firm Mazingo (www.mazingo.net) is offering video, audio, and text to
your PDA daily (see Figure 4.7). The Web site notes that you can get more than 500 channels of movies, classic TV shows, radio news, comics, updates on new technology, and
more. The Mazing software delivers updated content to your device or storage card wirelessly or on every sync (depending on your choice). The site is also offering special
bundling deals if you don’t have your own device. You can choose from text, audio, and
video channels. There is also a premium entertainment network.
4
Figure 4.7
Pocket PC users can turn to Mazingo.net to subscribe to 500 channels of wireless, rich multimedia content
including audio and video for mobile use.
AvantGo
A relatively new name in the custom solution business for handhelds, AvantGo says it has
28 of the Fortune 100 companies using its products. The site, located at www.avantgo.com,
offers special sections for individuals, small and medium businesses, enterprises, and government groups. If you’re in charge of your firm’s mobile initiative, AvantGo is a good starting place to see what kinds of back-end systems, processes, and remote accesses you’ll
need. It offers custom solutions on AvantGo’s M-Business Server software. If you want a
special mobile network for your company, AvantGo helps you create custom channels for
content, too.
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Is all this new content going to grow a new generation of couch potatoes? Not if one company has its say. Proteus is leading the way to the next wave of interaction and connection to content via TV with its mobile trials.
Proteus: Couch Potato Revolt
One of the firms leading the “revolt of the couch potato” is Proteus, a leader in interactive
television applications. The firm is helping to define the future of television, according to
Craig Dalton, Proteus’s director of business development. For a really cool example of how
it is interfacing wireless phones to empower TV viewers, go to www.proteus.com to see its
Virtual Coach program done in conjunction with FoxSports and Motorola. Although
Proteus currently uses phones for this system, it could use PDAs in the future.
Handango
Entertainment content isn’t enough for most mobile device owners who want to use their
handhelds to take work home and maximize productivity on-the-go. That’s why portals
such as Handango.com are becoming real sources for buying and subscribing to enterprise
software applications.
Handango’s Web site at www.handango.com exclaims that it is “the world’s leading publisher of handheld software.” You can choose titles perfect for almost any handheld ranging from Palm to Symbian OS. There’s even a special section for first-timer users so that if
you’re new to the handheld software world, you can get a quick overview. I like this site
because it gives handheld news updates, offers an opportunity to shop by manufacturer,
and features new titles on the front page. It’s easy to read and appears to be a trusted
name in the handheld community. I was impressed with the executives I met from the firm
at the Pocket PC Expo in Santa Monica, California in 2001. They seem to really care about
their products, services, and users (you and me!).
CROSS COLLABORATION
So, you now have better software, have the best handheld you can afford, and want to
use it to connect to your colleagues and friends. Cross-collaboration is becoming increasingly popular as we learn to “beam” information to workers across the office and even in
public spaces. Demonstrating how all this works is a challenge for some of the makers.
That’s why I am so interested in a project that combines art and commerce to show the
benefits of how collaboration works. What’s more collaborative than dance? Not much—it
certainly takes two to tango. If you want to turn your device tapping into dance steps,
you’re sure to want to try the performance art initiative called Tap (see Figure 4.8).
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4
Figure 4.8
The Dia Center for the Arts in New York Tap project demonstrates live collaboration between technology,
art, dance, and you using PDAs from Palm, Inc. (Courtesy Diacenter.org.)
Tap: Beaming Web Video
An early-stage experience in collaboration using Web video productions and animations,
the project Tap was commissioned by Manhattan’s Dia Center for the Arts, which is hosting the home page. Creator and digital artist James Buckhouse says Tap enables users to
download and control two animated tap dancers on the Web or from Palm beaming stations throughout New York City. For more information on the project, go to
http://www.diacenter.org.
This beaming project is a precursor to the interactive and collaborative art and entertainment experiences that wireless handheld and specialized devices will play in our “mobiletainment” experiences in the future.
Wireless Gaming
According to some industry experts, the next new wireless thing promises to be networking mobile gaming. Revenues, according to Datamonitor researchers, by 2006 will grow to
$17.5 billion in the U.S., Europe, and Asia (which is more than the current annual total for
video game play).
Gamers are everywhere, and they don’t fit a stereotype of just young kids and teens either.
An astounding 120 million people worldwide play some type of wireless game, and
favorite playing times are evenings and weekends—not during the day as some offices
would have you believe.
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Downloadable games are growing, and graphics are getting better each month. Some
games are free now, and others are on a pay-per-play business model. Some attempt to
pay for themselves through the use of ads, and others even feature product placement.
Even the Hollywood studios and established brands can see the value of what is starting
to be a fad called m’tertainment (mobile entertainment).
Versaly
One of the more adventurous entrepreneurs in this growing mobile entertainment scene
is Matt Feldman’s company, Versaly (www.versaly.com), a production company that
enables you to play big entertainment on a small screen. This mobile entertainment firm
is a licensee of Paramount Pictures’ Star Trek and is providing a Star Trek game and other
content on mobile phones and devices (see Figure 4.9). It has an agreement with Sprint to
provide wireless customers with Star Trek images that they can download. Feldman says,
“Our goal is to unite content, carriers, and smart phones for next-generation entertainment.”
Figure 4.9
Go where no one has gone before with Star Trek games and images from Versaly on Sprint PCS’s Ringers
& More wireless service. (Courtesy Viacom.)
nGames
Some of the best wireless games are from the U.S., and they tend to tie in with movies,
such as N Games’ Rat Race multiplayer racing game for mobile Internet-enabled cell
phones based on the Paramount Pictures comedy of the same title. Up to six players can
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Jamdat Mobile
This hot Los Angeles-based company says it is creating a new generation of entertainment
for the wireless world. Its Gladiator game is one of the most successful multiplayer mobile
games in the world. Log on to www.jamdat.com from your Web-enabled mobile phone, or
check into its folder to see whether your carrier already lists it on its deck of installs.
4
Other Jamdat game products include Home Run Derby, Riddlemaster, Rock Paper Sizzer,
Roshambofu, Krazy Konundrum, Trivia, Golf, and Tarot. Some are already out, while others should be available soon. Watch for more, such as Chess, 3G Golf, Soccer 3G, and one
called Speakeasy.
join in, with each assuming the identity of one of the zany stars of the film. Rat Race is reminiscent of the classic Stanley Kramer picture It’s a Mad Mad World, where lots of zany folks
head across the country to beat each other to a stash of money socked away in a locker.
nGames’ other classic pastimes include BlackJack, Craps, HangMan, Roulette, Slots, and
that ever-addicting VideoPoker. Check its site at www.ngames.com to see availability on different platforms, such as Palm, Pocket PC, and various mobile phones.
Mobile Pets
Just what you need to take along with you—a wireless pet. In Wireless Pets, a game from
Digital Bridges (www.digitalbridges.com) pets live virtually in Petville and you can adopt,
feed, care for, and play with them anytime you want on your wireless phone. Plus, you get
to choose from a variety of critters—cats, dogs, turtles, dinosaurs, and more.
For the latest in mobile gaming, go to www.wirelessgamingreview.com or check what
TechTV.com reviewers are trying on their mobiles. Of course, you can always go to your
carrier’s consumer Web site or portal to check out what it is offering on its entertainment
service and download special time wasters at sites like Handango.com.
BLUETOOTH: CONNECTING WIRELESSLY
The next generation of wireless systems will enable not only networked gaming but networking of all of our devices, appliances, and even communication wearables. Researchers
Frost and Sullivan explain that interoperability across various products and applications is
one of the biggest hurdles.
Those who attended the 2001 Bluetooth Developers Conference in San Francisco believe
that this wireless technology is finally for real. In a nutshell, Bluetooth technology enables
the creation of devices that can use a radio frequency to communicate wirelessly with each
other within an area of 30 feet.
So far, the market of devices with Bluetooth capability includes headsets, cell phones, printers, and computers. Check out www.bluetooth.com, the official Bluetooth Web site; you’ll
see lots of promises, including how the technology will revolutionize personal connectivity by providing freedom from wired connectors.
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Another research firm, Cahners In-Stat Group, predicts that 955 million units of Bluetoothenabled equipment will be sold by 2005. Among the early adopters will be mobile professionals in finance, banking, insurance, real estate, education, and entertainment. A
survey by Cahners In-Stat shows that when they survey more than 1,000 people, about
one-third respond they will pay a premium greater than $25 to get Bluetooth capability in
their hardware, as noted in a story in the December 2001 issue of Mobile Computing and
Technology.
Why go Bluetooth? What makes this technology so important? The key feature is that it is
an “embedded” technology. Because it is integrated into an appliance or a device, you
don’t have to do anything to activate it. If this is a technology you want, all you have to
do is make sure when you buy new devices and electronics that they include Bluetooth
chips. Ask before you buy.
Here are some of the Bluetooth-enabled devices you’ll see soon:
•
Anoto Pen—A tool that, in coordination with paper, enables you to transmit, store,
and transfer your information.
•
Q-Zone—A new technology that allows people and organizations to create quiet
zones within conference rooms and other public spaces.
•
TravelNote Connect—A digital recorder that will integrate recording and playback
in vehicles when it is installed in overhead consoles or sun visors.
•
C Tech Pen—A cross between a PDA and a text scanner. It includes an infrared
port.
•
Sony’s Bluetooth Camcorder—This camcorder requires no PC and is among the
lightest and smallest of camcorders. The new camcorder sends image data through
the Internet to a PC or other storage device.
Bluetooth Cars
Ford is working to include Bluetooth in its cars so that passengers can make phone calls,
play video games, and browse the Internet.
Experts are predicting that a basic Bluetooth chipset will fall to just $5 in the near future,
meaning that all but the least expensive devices can include the technology. Apple, Palm,
and Epson are all introducing Bluetooth-enabled devices.
Plantronics Bluetooth Headsets
Of special interest is the M1500 Plantronics, the first Bluetooth headset that can connect
with multiple mobile phones. A self-contained unit, the model clips over the ear. Watch for
it to launch with enterprise telephony systems, too.
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Bluetooth Standard
CROSS-PLATFORM DEVICES
Interoperability is a key issue in today’s marketplace. Can your camera talk to your phone,
and will your PDA be capable of communicating with your game or home entertainment
system? As you’ll read in the following sections, these questions will soon disappear.
4
From Book to Video
A standard from the IEEE is evolving to pave the way for wider acceptance of Bluetooth
to link devices. The 802.15.1 standard for wireless personal area networks is fully compatible with the Bluetooth 1.1 standard the group promotes, according to ZDNET’s U.K. Web
newsletter. For more information on Bluetooth-enabled devices, see your device maker’s
Web site or refer to www.bluetooth.com, the official site. This site includes the latest
Bluetooth news.
Soon new forms of “hyperlinking” will make it possible to cross from the printed page to a
video or an Internet site. Sound fantastic? Believe me, I know it’s possible because several
years ago I saw TVI (Touch and View Interactive), which was a predecessor to a new crossplatform device that you can see at www.smartpaper.net (see Figure 4.10).
Figure 4.10
Smartpaper Networks technology enables you to connect the printed page to electronic media like audio,
video, and the Internet through its NetBook.
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Both NTT (creators of DoCoMo’s popular iMode) and Intel were investors in the early-stage
development of TVI. Today, Smartpaper Networks is a touch-and-go system. The
Smartpaper technology does not change ordinary paper according to the Web site—it just
brings paper to life. It allows print media to access and navigate electronic media—audio,
video, and the Internet—with the touch of a finger. Although you’ll need a password to
learn more about the technology, I can reveal that it does use Bluetooth to transmit to the
host device. It is proprietary and patent protected. For more information, e-mail
chapin@smartpaper.net.
eBook Devices
With two models, Gemstar eBook Devices is one of the leaders in eBook devices. Both
products can carry thousands of pages of reading material, according to its Web site at
www.gemstar-ebook.com. What’s so fascinating about Gemstar is that the firm also owns
TV Guide and is a leader in the development of the Electronic Program Guide for television.
At this point, unfortunately, its eBook devices do NOT interact with TV screens or electronic
media other than the eBook text software.
Aside from Gemstar, plenty of eBook developers are vying for your hard-earned dollars.
Because there are literally hundreds of eBook reader software and hardware systems, I’m
going to refer you to www.planetebook.com and its section on eBook tools. There you’ll
see a description and click-through to almost 40 eBook devices, ranging from the Aero
1550 to the Xerox Gyricon. Be sure to check to see what is available today, and not just in
product concept form.
Future Books
Okay, okay, so books do not generally come with a cord. But today if you’re reading a
printed encyclopedia and looking up, for example, “apples” and want to see a video showing all the varieties of apples, you still must transfer to another platform or medium such
as the Internet, a video cassette, a CD-ROM, or a DVD.
Jetson Style Wireless Reading
Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) is exploring reading-technology prototypes in an
interactive exhibit called Experiments in the Future of Reading that was shown at the Tech
Museum of Innovation in San Jose, California. Research in Experimental Design group
(RED) manager and researcher Rich Gold says in an ABCNews.com story that “we believe
the digital explosion actually creates more reading than before.”
What are some of the solutions from RED? Here’s a quick look:
•
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The Fluid Reader—A large monitor featuring a touch screen. A story such as Harry
the Ape features triangles in the text. When you touch the triangle, the sentence
changes.
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Hyperbolic Reader—A long, octagonal screen that projects a cartoon world. By
moving a trackball, the user moves the cartoon world on the screen. The goal is to
explore narrative spaces that are neither linear (such as a book) or discontinuous
(such as hypertext).
•
Tilty Table—A 3’×3’ white screen on a metal podium, on which images are projected onto the screen. When visitors tilt the table, the surface changes in direct
response. This technique might be great for reading blueprints, maps, or other
large documents.
You can see more at www.thetech.org/xfr/xfr-red/xfr_guide.html.
4
In a series of animated essays on the Xerox PARC Web site, Rich Gold talks about his vision
of “the real revolution.” In one of the series he says, “Far from convergence, there will be
an explosion of new media and genres created by new digital manufacturing technologies.”
•
LeapFrog
One of the most innovative publishers in the children’s arena is LeapFrog. LeapFrog considers itself to be the leading developer of interactive learning toys and books. The firm’s
NearTouch technology is a touch-sensory, radio-frequency system. To make the story come
alive, you touch the “magic” pen anywhere on the page of a LeapPad book. The audio system, called “Truespeak,” utilizes human voices that are digitized, compressed, and stored in
memory chips.
Reading the Future
If you go to Barnesandnoble.com and look at a review of the Guinness World
Records 2002, you’ll find a preview of a new system that the publisher calls
“techno-iconography.” This system challenges you to turn a two-dimensional
image into a three-dimensional one using a television, the Web, or your own wireless gadgets.
Today you still must use different devices to do this: printed page, Internet sites,
and Fox streaming media clips. Using some of the systems in this section, this
could all change in a couple of years or even less.
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To find out more about LeapFrog and its more than 80 products, go to www.leapfrog.com.
You’ll discover that this firm is the inspiration of lawyer Mike Wood who, working with Dr.
Robert Calfee, Professor Emeritus of Education at Stanford and other early childhood learning experts, developed a patented Phonics Learning System. The firm merged with
Knowledge Universe, LLC, a global education company, in 1997. Knowledge Universe was
founded by some major corporate names, including Michael Milken, Lowell Milken, and
Larry Ellison. Watch for how this firm moves forward in carving out a niche in the future
of books.
Bits Versus Books Versus Bits
Nicholas Negroponte, the author of the groundbreaking printed book Being Digital,
explains that more than 50,000 titles are published in the U.S. each year; rather than issue
his book electronically, he chose a printed version. Taken out of context, in an essay on
the future of books, he explains, “The existence of books is solace to those who think the
world is turning into a digital dump.”
According to Negroponte, “What weighs less than one millionth of an ounce, consumes
less than a millionth of a cubic inch, holds 4 million bits, and costs less than U.S. $2? What
weighs more than 1 pound, is larger than 50 cubic inches, contains less than 4 million bits,
and costs more than $20? The same thing: Being Digital stored on an integrated circuit and
Being Digital published as a hardcover book.” For more on his essay on the future of books,
which touches on the future of Web sites, see www.media.mit.edu~nicholas/wired.
Digital Ink/Radio Paper
The experiments into the realm of digital ink are many. One that is getting lots of press is
the concept created by Joe Jacobsen, a physics PhD at MIT. Although he has been hushhush about the details, he’s talking about creating a book out of the air. In a story on
www.wired.com back in 1997, he says, “We want to make radio paper.” He explains later
that his goal is to print a complete radio circuit on the paper itself so it can receive news
via FM-sideband transmissions like a pager network. For more information on what is now
called eink, go to www.eink.com.
WIRELESS NETWORKS AND SERVICES
It seems like everyone wants wireless everywhere. Now that they’re tasting the sweetness
of cordless connections at work and home, they want it all the time. Wireless Internet
access is definitely growing via the expanding wireless technology known as IEEE 802.11b
(or WiFi). (Read more about it in Chapter 8; Chapter 9; and Chapter 10, “The Wireless
Workplace.”)
Boingo-ing Forward
Start-ups like Boingo (www.boingo.com) by Earthlink’s founder Sky Dayton promise to
seamlessly connect you to wireless across the country at coffee shops and other public
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The one catch to these new wireless systems is that some satellite radio operators say the
WiFi systems could interfere with their reception. According to a Wall Street Journal article
at press time, the Satellite VI’s want the Federal Communications Commission to impose
new restrictions on the WiFi technology.
Souping Up with Software
4
Software-defined radio (SDR) is new technology that promises to transform mobile phone
networks into systems that can easily upgrade or change. Carriers can then deliver new
services more quickly and at lower prices. As Stephen Blust, director of wireless standards
for Cingular Wireless, says in a USA Today article, “You put the right software on the handset and it does anything you want it to do.”
spaces. Newer firms like Joltage (www.joltage.com) are planning to franchise a competitive concept, aiming at small businesses and consumers. To cut the cord as a franchise
owner, you’ll need a high-speed connection, special software, and special gear. All consumers need to get online is an 802.11b card in their mobile laptops (or PDAs) and a subscription to a service such as Joltage or Boingo. Fees vary, but they are generally by the
hour or a monthly flat fee.
Widespread SDR could be 7–10 years ahead, but some experts say that one-fifth of all
networks could benefit in the next two years. Here’s what this system could do for you:
•
•
•
•
Update your phone so you can roam outside your region
Boost network power and speed
Ease spectrum crunches by letting carriers move to different bands available now
Download software, including music, video, and other goodies, to handsets
The biggest challenge is FCC approval and new SDR towers or phones that cover standards
and features for the future.
Fixed Wireless Offers More Choices
In areas that cable or fiber forgot, you’ll soon discover more fixed wireless systems. Fewer
than 5% of U.S. office buildings have fiber or coaxial cable connections, so fixed wireless
equipment is demonstrating the value of local multipoint distribution service (LMDS) in
areas around the world. LMDS supports very high data rates (up to 1.5Gbps downstream
to users and 200Mbps upstream), but the cells span only about a 2-mile radius. You might
have heard of MMDS (which serves a radius of 35–50 miles at lower data rates).
It’s possible that a fixed wireless system could turn your condo building wireless in days.
In more rural areas, the connection sails over trees without forcing a local carrier to dig
ditches or plant poles. It’s still an expensive proposition, though, because multipoint base
stations run about $100,000–$150,000. However, that’s a lot less than running optical
fiber that costs up to $250,000 per mile. Some say this could be a way of beating the
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digital divide because it can provide wireless to rural areas yearning for better phone connections than current land lines provide.
Leading providers of LMDS in the U.S at press time include Teligent, Advanced Radio
Telecom, Winstar, and XO Communications. Check with your building manager to see who
offers service in your area and who is surviving in this competitive arena.
GPS for Devices
Getting your content anywhere you want customized for your personal desires is the goal
of GPS firms that are delving into the location-based services area.
A Finnish firm called Fastrax Ltd. is moving into the world of providing GPS for your
devices. (Check out Chapter 8 for more information on GPS and mobile payment systems.)
This firm’s product is said to be the smallest—about the size of a postage stamp—and lowest power-consuming GPS receiver system, so it can be embedded in mobile phones,
sports accessories, and handheld computers. This new technology might help carriers roll
out e911 (enhanced 911) emergency systems that the FCC has mandated to locate mobile
phone users within 75 meters. The company’s iTrax02 module is shipping in the U.S., Far
East, and Europe. At this time, it’s planned to be embedded in your device, so you unfortunately can’t buy it as an accessory.
Watch for the rise of location-based services (LBS) from your carrier. These will include
gaming, travel information, such vital navigational systems as traffic and mapping, and of
course mobile commerce opportunities. For information on how these may affect your privacy, see Chapter 7, “Privacy, Personalization, and Security.”
Standards in Wireless Technology
Think you’d like an overview of all this next-generation wireless networking? I certainly
want one, so I am offering you a quick cheat sheet to the various wireless systems, courtesy of this book’s technical editor Allan Thompson.
The following list includes the current standards in wireless technology and their key components:
128
•
•
•
•
Cellular/PCS—Licensed frequency bands, roaming, and so on
•
3G Cellular and PCS—Digital, talk, mobility, much faster data, more new services,
new networks
•
4G Cellular and PCS—Digital, talk, mobility, even faster data, even newer services
(all still being defined now)
1G Cellular—Analog, talk, mobility, no real data
2G Cellular and PCS—Digital, talk, mobility, very slow data
2.5G Cellular and PCS—Digital, talk, mobility, faster data, some new services, overlay on existing 2G networks
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IEEE 802.x LAN (Like Boingo)—Unlicensed frequency bands, IP networks, no talking
(except VoIP talking between any two computers), limited mobility (you must take
your computer or device from one cell to another), fast data
•
Bluetooth—Unlicensed frequency bands, PANs, includes provisions for voice channels, not as fast as IEEE 802.x
ACCESSORY HEAVEN
4
Gizmos, gadgets, and add-ons abound on the new digital frontier. One accessory maker
says it has more than 4,000 different goodies to “soup up your devices.” Chargers,
faceplates, and cases similar to those shown in Figure 4.11 are certainly well-known
upgrades, and you can find them at shopping center kiosks or at such online sites as
www.accessoryoutlet.com, www.accessorysolutions.com, www.wirexgroup.com, www.
cellularart.com, and www.justwirelssintl.com or by calling 1-888-express.com, who
can lead you to local outlets.
•
Figure 4.11
You can choose from thousands of accessories to maximize the use of your PDA, Pocket PC, mobile
phone, or other wireless devices.
In addition to the usual PDA and cell phone add-ons you might already have in mind, there
are plenty of accessories available for the other gadgets in your life.
Printer and Camera Accessories
Printers, still cameras, and even digital video cameras offer yet another shopping spree’s
worth of available accessories for your device. Because these often mean a hefty investment, you’ll want to check them out in a store or online at one of the handheld sources in
this chapter to see what other users say before you buy. It’s impossible to do justice to
these high-end accessories in a quick review here, so check TechTV.com’s Fresh Gear or
product reviews for details on wireless video cameras, mobile camera attachments, and
wireless printer hookups.
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Next Wave Wireless Add-Ons
Who knows what the next generation of add-ons for wireless devices will be? One of the
most fascinating ones I’ve seen is the Olympia Soundbug, which turns almost any surface
(desk, window, wall, and so on) into a speaker for your digital audio player. This futuristic
accessory plugs into almost any device headphone socket to create a “sounding board”
from the surface to which it attaches. A suction device attaches the system firmly to most
any surfaces. On the Web site, it says that a single Soundbug can generate sound levels of
up to 75dBM peak. Check out www.soundbug.biz for more detailed information.
From rollable keyboards, to Yo-Yo size speakers, to SmartPaper, to digital ink, the wireless
world is certainly transforming our idea of what hardware is.
EMERGING WIRELESS MEDIA
If you’re a sci-fi fan, you’re probably already familiar with the concept of holograms,
holodecks, and synthetic environments. Go to Disney Adventure or the Luxor locationbased game experiences in Las Vegas and you’ll get to experience holograms “jumping
out” into the audience with you. There’s little cooler than trying to catch one with your
hand. In Figure 4.12 you can get a snapshot for how Philips researchers envision this exact
experience brought home for the living room of the future.
Figure 4.12
Philips’ researchers show how you will be able to reach out and wirelessly touch holographic images in
immersive living or learning spaces.
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Wireless Digital Personas
Watch for companies such as LifeFX (www.lifefx.com) to join forces with hardware manufacturers such as Whirlpool and Kodak to bring you wireless virtual characters and
avatars (graphic simulations) that you can insert in enhanced messaging and use to greet
your callers. With this kind of technology, nobody needs to know that you came into the
office in shorts and a ratty white T-shirt that reads, “I dig breaks.”
4
Chops Live Animation
A digital persona is a virtual representation of ourselves. Think of one as your avatar in a
virtual world. For those of us who don’t have daily access to Hollywood’s special effect
labs, the cool tech of wireless digital personas is still in the future. However, while we wait,
emerging animation systems and software are bringing us to the new collaborative world
where our digital personas can change hourly, daily, or by the minute. Didn’t you always
dream of being a butterfly in your next life?
One of the most fascinating live animation companies is called Chops & Associates. These
guys bill themselves as the home of Pentium-based performance animation. The firm
offers virtual reality experiences that bring 3D characters to life using real-time animation
and customized location-based displays.
Founder Gary Jesch is a pioneer in this arena, creating such well-known and loved characters as Virtual Mark Twain and even Brash Landau, who “ran” for virtual vice president
at the Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. One of his newest virtual team
members is Cybrina, who is popular with advertisers and is often used to launch new products and services (see Figure 4.13). Now, if I can only get Gary to create me a Tom Cruise
character, I’ll be really happy!
Near Life-like
Innovators such as NearLife (www.nearlife.com), the creators of Boston’s Virtual Aquarium
(www.virtualaquarium.com), are already creating wireless virtual environments where you
can play a role. At the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, I saw the future as I
walked through the Internet with my avatar using next-stage technology from NearLife
and Motorola’s radio frequency identification system (RFID) cards.
What fascinates me most is that, at the museum, everyone not participating in the venture
(which cost a small additional fee to get a card) was pointing at my image projected on the
screens and asking, “Is that you?”
This made me wonder whether it was me, a reflection of me, a projection of me, or just an
image of my face that was traveling in cyberspace for a few minutes that day. Great questions to ask as we move into an era where we are now going to be concerned about not
only our physical images but also our digital personas. Personalization, digital rights, and
privacy questions will prompt us to rethink who owns what in the future. Meanwhile, can
I make my avatar look like I did at 17? I need to be sure to add some blond highlights, too!
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For a peek at a couple of today’s mobile imaging creators, go to www.eyematic.com and
www.emblaze.com.
Figure 4.13
Cybrina, a 3D character from Chops & Associates, promotes products for Procter & Gamble as she
kisses hosts on TV in Columbia. (Courtesy, www.chops.com.)
EXPERIENCE TOMORROW TODAY
The museum exhibitions and virtual aquariums are just the tip of the iceberg for wireless immersive environments. The word in Hollywood is that if director James
Cameron has his say, you’ll soon be able to explore the Titanic via a wireless 3D
expedition. Mary Duda of Dudadesigns.com is exploring the world of networked,
immersive gaming and environments that could simulate space travel and even turn
such mundane training as learning how to drive a car into a virtual adventure.
132
At the University of Southern California, the Integrated Media Systems Center (IMSC)
is the National Science Foundation’s Engineering Research Center for multimedia and
Internet research. As seen on TechTV and in the columns of TechTV.com, IMSC is
developing immersive technologies including 3D face modeling and panoramic
video that wirelessly lets us move into the area of Immersipresence where we can
experience the future and transform our 2D world of computers, TV, and film into 3D
immersive environments. Doing this is not simple, and it involves lots of research
and some pretty bright folks who know their math. Now, if only my geometry
teacher had told me why I should learn about trapezoids! Soon we’ll all be able to
wirelessly reach out and experience new environments for training, communication,
and entertainment—the truest forms of what we now call multimedia.

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