When I first saw the initial treos I never imagined I would ever carry a phone that large. Granted they were a little bigger back then, and they have come a long way. Now with the release of the palm Treo 700w Smartphone with EVDO support I could finally see myself carrying one. These things are tiny, small enough to actually fit in a pocket and the EVDO is blazing fast. I have the keyocera KPC650 broadband card with Verizon service and I can’t tell the difference, most of the time, between it and my DSL line. I’ve always been a big fan of the palm OS but this device and it’s features may be the one to turn me to Windows.

Description:

A lot of folks said it would never happen, but here it is: a Palm device running Windows Mobile software. This isn’t just any device, either. It’s the latest version of Palm’s wildly popular Treo series of Smartphones. Everything that’s great about the Treo hardware is here, plus all the power of Windows Mobile 5.0. And to top it off, the Treo 700w is fully compatible with Verizon wireless’ EV-DO mobile broadband data service. Simply put, everything you need to do your work on the move, and at blazing speeds, has arrived.

Features:

• Integrated thumbable QWERTY keyboard makes sending email3 and editing documents fast and familiar
• Send and receive email from multiple corporate and personal email accounts, with built-in support for Microsoft Outlook, Hotmail, Yahoo!, AOL, and other POP3 and IMAP accounts
• Uses EvDO network with average download speeds of 400-600 kbps
• 1.3 megapixel camera to shoots crisp, clear digital images
• Play your favorite MP3 files and other PlaysForSure audio content using Windows Media Player Mobile

mobile+phones, wireless, wifi, GSM, GPRS, EvDO

Sony Ericsson W800 Phone (Unlocked)

I had the pleasure of checking out one of these super cool, Sony W800 phones. They are super sweet. First of all, the color combo is really cool and kind of reminds me of my iPod…but it is a Walkman. Then factor in a very good size or form factor, large high-res screen, buttons big enough for easy one handed dialing and you have a good base. Then pile on the features I put in down below and you have a great phone. Now, all you need is to have it unlocked. No worries. You can find some good deals on unlocked Sony Ericsson W800s if you click on the picture. I have this one on my wish list, so I hope you are reading this Danielle.

Description:

Based almost entirely on the already amazing Sony Ericsson K750i, the W800 has enough features to appeal to music lovers, photographers, and general gadget lovers alike. To start with, the W800 has a bright 262k-color display that has a 176 x 220 pixel resolution. The display is reflective enough to make it easily readable in harsh sunlight. The chromed softkeys and joystick offer both good feel as well as good looks. The main keypad, however, is one of the few weak points of the device, being a bit too stiff for my liking.

Sony Ericsson has made it especially easy to get to your music. A dedicated play/pause button on the left side of the phone will start and stop your music no matter what you are currently doing. The button directly above the joystick will take you to the Walkman music application, which is as full-featured a media player as you are likely to find. The player is very well laid out and organizes your music by track, album, and artist. You can also create your own track lists, fast forward and rewind the current track, and even watch video clips. If you prefer to get your music over the airwaves, you can make use of the built-in FM radio instead.

Features:

• Unlocked for use with your existing GSM 1800 MHz, GSM 900 MHz or GSM 1900 MHz service provider and SIM card. Note: This phone does not come with service or a SIM card.
• W800 comes with CD ripping software that will move the music from your CDs quick and easy - Drag and drop
• Supplied 512MB Memory Stick PRO Duo gives capacity for around 150 music tracks or 10-15 full length CDs
• 2 megapixel digital camera with video recording capability
• One press music button, Bluetooth wireless technology, Stereo Speakers, FM radio with RDS

Sony, Ericsson, w800, mobile+phones, wireless, 3G

[IMAGE3]I have owned and used a Nokia 6620 phone for a year now and while I was really excited to use this phone when I purchased it, I am not anymore. The phone was somthing that could have been great, but really didn’t deliver. First of all, the buttons are so tiny and place so low on the phone that one handed dialing is impossible. The screen is large and really great…the biggest plus for the 6620. However, the Symbian OS was somthing that was more of a novelty than anything. The applications that I have found, donwloaded and tried are weak at best. There is really very little software available for this phone and it is all crap. The camera is poop too. I don’t really care about cameras on a phone, but Nokia touts this as their multimedia phone and that is pretty sad. Lastly, the speakerphone is terrible. There is really no other way to describe it. I can breathe louder than the speakerphone volume can go. But, this has always been Nokia’s downfall in past models and they continued the tradition in the 6620.

I will say that the phone is reliable and pretty sturdy. It has taken its fair share of drops and it has rarely needed to be restarted. The bluetooth pairing works faily well also. There are times when the phone gets into a fight with my fiance’s Nokia 6230 and a restart is necessary. Her phone has always won this war. But, when it works, it works great. The PC Suite software that is free from Nokia is also quite good and syncs the phone with Outlook automatically which is a super bonus in my book.

All-in-all, I would have to give the Nokia 6620 a 7. Great screen, bluetooth, EDGE data speeds and dependable (which is worth a lot in real life).

mobile+phones, Nokia+6620, Nokia, Review

I am sure many of you have read about the whole ICE deal. For those of you who have not, ICE (In Case of Emergency), is an entry that people should make in their mobile phones, so that in the event of an emergency, people can find out who to contact. It is basically the equivalent of the ID bracelets for the digital age. You make a contact in your phone named ICE and put your wife’s/husband’s/mother’s/father’s phone numbers in under that listing. Then when somebody finds you on the side of the road, they know who to call.

ICE First, a new software application for Mobile Phones, harnesses and capitalizes on mobile technology to allow users to easily store medical, insurance and emergency data about themselves and dependents on their mobile phones, and to display that information whenever they need it. ICE First has taken a simple idea - loading In Case of Emergency or “ICE” contact information on a mobile phone - and developed a robust version for today’s technology rich mobile devices.

mobile+phones, wireless, ICE, Emergency

It should come as no surprise that companies like Intel are cashing in big time as the popularity of wireless technology and wireless systems grow. Intel Corp has helped popularise Wi-Fi–a powerful short-range Wireless Internet access system by equipping portable computers with it. Now it appears that they have found the next Pentium chip.

wireless, wifi, Intel

Apparently our friends at Intel would like to put modems capable of connecting to a variety of networks into laptop computers.  Intel and the GSM Association would like to see 3G+ technologies like HSDPA and EDGE included in the connectivity capability of the next generation of laptop modems. This is in line with the wireless phone industry’s interest in connecting their handsets to various types of networks, including WiFi.  Dell recently announced a deal with Vodafone to offer HSDPA modems as an option for their laptops and Lenovo has made a similar announcement. More at ZDNET.

Technorati Tags: 3G, GSM, EDGE, GSMA, HSDPA, Intel, Wireless

Looking for the next technology that is going to revolutionize the world of communication? Check out xG Technology.  xG has apparently made it possible to improve the channel capacity (bits/sec) of wired and wireless technologies dramatically and at a relatively small cost.  Some of the most intereting capabilities however are in the wireless world where xG has developed a technology that can increase channel capabilities at dramatically lower power output.

Technorati Tags: xG, Wireless, WiMaxx

Blackberry users in the U.S. are trembling a bit this week as the news of NTP Inc.’s suit against Canadian, Research in Motion (RIM), includes NTP seeking an injuction to shut down the push-mail service here in the United States.  NTP says that the injunction would exempt government officials and emergency users, which is the crux of RIM’s argument against shutting down the service.  RIM has stated that Blackberry’s have been used by emergency workers and first-responders when other devices, such as land-line phone service, cell phone service and radio communications have failed due to infrastructure losses. The Blackberry is able to send messages directly to other Blackberry devices over the internet.  While NTP says these types of people would be exempted from any injunction they seek, RIM has said publicly that it would be nearly impossible to filter these users out.

Seems kind of silly to me that if an injunction seemed justified by a court, that the service would not be shut down. Most of the people that I have read interviews with are congressmen and senators who use their Blackberry’s to stay up to date on their schedules and email. Poor babies, if they don’t have their Blackberrys, what would they do? Gimme a break. If NTP does in fact have the right to shut down the push-email service, then it should be shut down. Put yourself in their shoes.

Technorati Tags: Blackberry, RIM, NTP, Wireless, Push Email

I was just wondering when I can move ahead with my plans for global domination and pick up my Verizon Wireless data plan, card and a Kyocera KR1 router to use as a backup internet connection here. But, it appears that the Kyocera KR1 is still not out. Although I did just notice that they are now listing various KR1 accessories on their website, so this could be a sign that Kyocera will be releasing the KR1 soon. But, seriously they need to get that thing to market already so that I can geek out. I guess I can just get my EV-dO service rolling for now and move it to my backup when the KR1 comes out, but I feel like I will jinx it if I do that.

ust noticed that our friends at Amazon are making an offer you can’t refuse if you are in the market for a RIM Blackberry. The offer that came out today is for a *free* RIM Blackberry 8700c if you sign up for a 2 year deal with Cingular Wireless. I may have to pick up one of these bad boys, especially with the traveling I have coming up this year.