Hoping to gain a firmer foothold in the wireless market for business customers, Verizon Wireless began selling the popular Treo 600 PDA phone, which combines a PDA, cell phone, and portable e-mail with a built-in keyboard.

The carrier won’t sell the PDA through retail outlets, such as its stores and Web site, until the end of the month. But it began selling the unit to business customers on July 12, 2004.

Several Verizon Wireless competitors, including Cingular Wireless, Sprint Corp., AT&T Wireless Services Inc., and T-Mobile USA Inc., have for months sold the phone, which is made by palmOne Inc.

Verizon wouldn’t say how much it plans to charge for the phone, but other carriers are generally charging $450 to $500 to new customers after rebates.

The carriers usually move in lock-step in offering new services, but Verizon Wireless’s late entry with the Treo hasn’t been a huge problem for the company. The carrier is already the county’s biggest cellular operator and has gained market share since the Treo 600 was released. Also, the “smart phone” market represents a fraction of overall cell phone sales.
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The Treo 600 is viewed as one of the best PDA phones on the market, featuring a Palm operating system and a traditional “qwerty” keyboard. Spring also sells a Samsung handset using the Palm operating system called the i500, which doesn’t have a keyboard, but has a more compact clamshell design. Most major carriers sell a version of RIM’s BlackBerry with a built-in phone, which is viewed as the leading device for portable e-mail, but is a bulky device for making telephone calls.

There are many different types of cellular phone plans that all sport different features and services for different people. Each of these plans offer different cellular phones to go along with the package and most of the time, they allow people to pay off that phone while they’re paying for their plan. One of the most popular plans that people are choosing above the rest are family plans, which enable every member of your family to have their own phone. Generally this type of plan helps to save a great deal of money. So in this article we are going to go through all the advantages to signing up for a family plan, as well as discussing all the different features that are available with this service.

Why?

Well as communication starts to become more and more important day after day, many parents are finding it hard to keep up with what their children are doing, mainly parents who have teenagers of course! Basically every teenager wants to have their own cellular phone and really can you blame them? Everyone has a one these days and there are of course so many benefits to owning one.

The first being that if an emergency happens and you need to contact someone, having a cell phone will allow you to do this faster compared to having to search for a phone box, which may of course be the difference between life and death! The second is that it’s now becoming increasingly important to communicate with people as fast as possible.

We live in an age where communication runs our lives, where information can be passed within the blink of an eye and if we are not keeping up with technology, then we’re just watching the world pass us by. Anyway enough blabbering on, let’s discuss the reasons why you should get on a family plan, presuming you have a family to share with of course!

Basically the best possible reason why you should sign up for a family plan is because you are going to save a whole lot of money. If you have already decided that you want your kids to have their own phones, then you need to start shopping around. Don’t just sign up for the first plan you hear about. Spend a whole day shopping around.

Firstly try the internet because it’s probably going to be the fastest way to find the plan for you and secondly it means you won’t have to put up with annoying sales people looking to see you anything they can just so they can get a commission. If you do decide to go shopping down at the local mall, make sure you don’t allow anyone to sway your opinion. Ask the questions by all means but don’t let them sell you something you are not sure about.

Find out the call rates on every plan possible and make an educated decision. You could save hundreds of dollars just by making the right decision!

Are you aware that there are free cell phones available? Most of the service providers offer a free phone with their service contract. The way a service contract works is that you pay a monthly fee for the basic service. Because they want your business, they are willing to add a cell phones and other amenities. Which phone you get will in a large part be decided by the contract you agree to, and if you are willing to pay extra for an upgrade phone. Offering a cell phone allows most people to get a phone without having to come up with extra cash when they get their service.

It would appear that our society is very mobile. As such we want and sometimes need cell phones and other electronic gadgets. With the cell phone you can be connected almost anytime or place. Cellular phones have made the world a much smaller place. It’s nothing to sit down for lunch and call friend or relatives across the country or even half way around the world.

One of the major problems with cell phones, other than being expensive is that with all of the high-tech technology, your new cell phone is out of date almost as soon as you get it. The manufactures come out with newer, better, faster, and etc. almost daily. You almost have to upgrade before your service contract runs out if you wish to be on the cutting edge. I should make a point here, try to keep your service contract as short as possible. You never know when that new phone you have will be outdated, and many times the carriers will offer specials a couple times a year.

How do you find the phone you want? Perhaps the simplest way is to go online and see what the various companies and carrier services have to offer. As I said there are many times specials run to attract business.

Here is a couple of websites that usually offer free cell phones to its subscribers. Many times the offer is only good when you subscribe using an online service.

* LetsTalk.com * Calling-Plans.com

These two have some of the lowest plans being offered. But be aware, some of these programs require you to do a mail-in rebate to get the phone for free. Even with the hassle of using a rebate, it still may be a great deal. So go online, check out what plans are available. Just make sure that the plan you get will allow coverage in the area you are in. The best plan and a free phone are not worth a darn if you can’t make or receive calls where you live and need the service.

The Best Cell Phone Plans Vary According to The Amount Of Calls You Make. Find Out If A Prepaid or Postpaid Plan Is The Right One For You.

Before buying the first prepaid or postpaid plan you see, it’s better to first find out about the different cell phone plans available. The best way to rate exactly what kind of plan you should have is to think about how much you’ll be making calls on your mobile phone. You also need to monitor the time (hour) that you often make calls. This is because most cell phone plans will be limited to ‘anytime’ minutes which mean that you can make limited calls during peak hours.

When looking at cell phone plans, you will also want to consider the amount of coverage you will get. It is important to know whether the prepaid or postpaid plan that you’re signing up for is local, regional or for nationwide coverage. If you do not travel a lot, then it doesn’t matter. But if you do, then it’s important to know what you’re getting into or you could find yourself paying a high price for ‘roaming’ charges. Take note that the cell phone plans with the best values are the ones that include free long distance calls.

A family plan is also an option when shopping for a cell phone plan. It allows you to share your monthly airtime allowance with additional lines. What’s great about postpaid packages like these is that you’ll be able to make free inter-network calling so you won’t have to pay to talk to your family members.

If you are still unsure of which postpaid plan to get, after reviewing the various cell phone plans available, then you might want to consider the prepaid option. The prepaid plan is best if you don’t have a consistent usage every month. What you do is pay a sum of money upfront and you’ll get a certain amount of time/minutes. When you’ve used up all your minutes, you’ll be able to renew it easily. One of the advantages of having a prepaid plan is that you don’t actually have to sign any contracts, although some telco providers may require you to fill in your details for security purposes. If you are unhappy about the prepaid plan at any time, you can terminate the prepaid plan without any hassles!

Maybe it is Nextel’s acquisition by Sprint, but there are a bunch of new phones out there for the Nextel service. Whether you are looking for a fashion update or something more utilitarian, Mobile Lead Analyst Sascha Segan has tested a phone that will work for you.

Although it is true that Nextel lacks panache when it comes to designing fashionable phones, they still have a few handsome handsets that come loaded with features. The most inexpensive of these would be the i265, whereas the i830 and i836 are better suited for the business set. Of course, Nextel still produces a number of rugged workhorse phones; our favorite among these (and an Editors’ Choice) is the i355.

Keep in mind that last week Nextel officially merged with Sprint and took Sprint’s name, so Nextel stores may be hard to find; just keep an eye out for Nextel yellow with “Sprint” printed on the sign, awning or storefront. We’re told that the combined company has kept the Sprint name and Nextel’s chief color, and that many if not all the stores just underwent at least a slight makeover to reflect this. And don’t worry; although the Nextel name is going away, Nextel’s push-to-talk network and rugged phones will chug on (a good thing since we just reviewed a bunch of neat products) several years into the future, according to Sprint executives. Whatever your needs, you should be able to find a Nextel phone below that meets them.

Nextel i265 This inexpensive, candy-bar-style cell phone has quite a few features and lots of games available for a Nextel phone. We found its color screen a bit dim, but all-in-all the phone is solidly built, has good call quality, and includes built-in GPS.
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Nextel i325 Nextel’s i325 is the somewhat flashier big brother of the i315. While a bit pricey, this outdoor-oriented cell phone provides better reception than the similar i315. As with all the products here it can use the Telenav GPS application to deliver server-based driving-directions. It also supports Nextel’s Direct Talk off-network walkie-talkie feature.

Nextel i315 The Nextel i315 is a good value for people who spend a lot of time outdoors. It is the low-end rugged phone for the outdoor set.

Nextel i355 (Editors’ Choice) Available at a very reasonable price when combined with a service plan, this cell phone is an excellent communication tool for those who work (or play) outdoors. In its water-resistant shell you’ve got not only a phone, but a built-in GPS system that can be used with the Telenav in-car navigation system and Trimble Outdoors.

Nextel i605 This rugged, bulky, and somewhat pricey cell phone will still find some fans. It is a powerful handset with excellent battery life. Plus, the large color screen makes it more ideal for using the phone’s built-in GPS features.

Nextel i830 This good-looking, lightweight Nextel phone is a good option for business users who are looking for a PTT phone that has a touch of class.

Nextel i836 It’s arguably Nextel’s best-looking phone, with quite a few features, but it suffers from design flaws and very short battery life.

The Nextel i605, the company’s first traditional phone with Bluetooth (Nextel has a couple Bluetooth-equipped BlackBerry devices as well), is a tough, massive slab of a phone, ready for rough-and-tumble work or adventure. Considering the cost of this model, though, most folks will probably find other Nextel offerings more appealing.

Huge and heavy at 5.9 ounces, the i605’s front is dominated by a big, 2.2-inch 176-by-220 color screen, with a tough plastic cover. The screen is great for displaying the GPS maps created in the included TeleNav and Trimble Outdoors GPS applications and for reading e-mail (we got 12 lines of 28 characters in e-mail). When we compared it with the 130-by-130 screen found on the Nextel i355and i265, we were able to view double the number of north-south streets on a TeleNav map of Manhattan. Having a screen of that size makes viewing maps a bit more practical, whether you’re driving with TeleNav (rather than relying solely on the application’s audio prompts) or hiking with Trimble Outdoors.

The rubberized casing found on the i605 is rugged enough to meet the military MIL-STD-810F specs, meaning it’s resistant to heat, cold, dust, vibration, and lots of knocking around. We dropped it several times with no apparent effect.
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A big phone means a big battery, in this case providing the i605 with 9 hours 52 minutes of talk time. And as this is a Nextel phone, the speaker is thunderously loud; we could clearly hear calls on the speakerphone while standing out on a busy Manhattan street. Sound quality was fine, though we had several audio dropouts that we attributed to Nextel’s network.

The i605 paired easily with Nokia and Logitech Bluetooth headsets, and we were pleased to see that you can actually initiate voice dialing from them as well. This very useful feature is not to be taken for granted on any handset; there are quite a few phones scattered across carriers that still don’t let you initiate voice dialing over Bluetooth.

Another nifty feature of this phone is that it has a COM port, so you can connect your i605 to a laptop as a Bluetooth GPS unit. You can also use the phone as a Bluetooth modem for your PC, though Nextel’s network provides a mere trickle of throughput, at 14 to 16 Kbps of download speed. You can send photos to the phone for Caller ID or wallpapers via Bluetooth as well. That said, you can’t send new Java applications or ringtones to the phone via Bluetooth; Nextel wants you to buy this stuff from them—a pity really, because the phone uses MP3 ringtones.

Like other new Nextel models, the i605 also comes with Nextel’s new Group Connect feature and an option to buy Nextel Mobile Email, a Java-based POP3 e-mail client that’s worlds apart and beyond Nextel’s old WAP-based e-mail system. Group Connect lets you create call groups on the fly. Both features aren’t exclusive to the i605; they run on the i265, i275, i355 and i836 as well.

Whether you’ll like Nextel Mobile Email depends on whether you’re comparing it to Nextel’s old WAP-based system or to something like a BlackBerry. It’s a lot slicker and faster than WAP, and it syncs with Microsoft Outlook and Lotus Notes via a desktop redirector application. It even gives you access to Outlook and Lotus calendars and contacts, though it doesn’t merge them with the phone’s own calendar list.

But Mobile Email falls far short of a BlackBerry-quality solution. It supports only one e-mail account at a time. There’s no attachment support. POP3 messages seem to come in on an irritating 15-minute delay, and although Outlook messages redirect onto the handset swiftly, BlackBerry Web Client is superior, in that it doesn’t require a desktop component to hit Outlook mailboxes, as the i605 does.

The phone comes with 11MB of free memory for voice recordings, 10MB for Java application data, and about 2.7MB for the applications themselves. That should be enough for several optional apps or GPS map sets.

The i605 is expensive for what you get. Nextel has other more reasonably priced solutions that don’t have all of the i605’s features, but may be better for many more people. Businesspeople will probably find the sleeker i830 and i836 more appealing. The Blackberry 7520 from Nextel has Bluetooth and a bigger screen for GPS applications and e-mail. For outdoorsy types, the i355 is more rugged and works off-network as a walkie-talkie. And all of these options are less expensive than the i605.

See some of the phones mentioned here in a side-by-side comparison table.

Sprint is offering the first total communications bundle combining local service, high-speed Internet access, long-distance and Sprint PCS wireless voice and Wireless Web service. In an exclusive offer, Sprint’s FastConnect(SM) high-speed data service customers in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Orlando, Tallahassee, Fort Myers and Naples, Florida, can now add Sprint PCS and enjoy free Wireless Web access beginning April 17.

Subscribers to Sprint FastConnect, Sprint’s DSL-based broadband Internet access service, will be eligible for the special offer: for an additional $50 a month, customers will receive 500 Sprint PCS Free & Clear minutes a month, plus free Wireless Web access for life (a yearly savings of $120), as long as the customer retains both Sprint FastConnect DSL and Sprint PCS services. Sprint PCS Free & Clear minutes are good anytime, anywhere on the all-digital Sprint PCS nationwide network. Qualified customers can get a Sprint PCS handset with an installment billing option that allows payments to be spread over 12 months.

“We are thrilled to offer Sprint FastConnect customers this opportunity to get all of their communications needs from one company,” said Robert E. Thompson III, president of the Consumer Markets Group of Sprint’s Local Telecommunications Division. “The offer is a real milestone, because it is the first complete, end-to-end communication solution uniting Sprint PCS wireless service with Sprint’s quality local and long-distance services.”
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Thompson said the free wireless web service provided to plan subscribers puts the power of the wireless Internet in the customer’s hand.

“You will enjoy much of the same connectivity you have at your desktop while you’re on the go,” Thompson said. ” You can receive automatic updates on information you select, such as stock quotes, news headlines and weather reports. You can use your Sprint PCS phone in place of a computer and modem so you have the freedom to access the information you choose, when and where you choose.”

Plus, subscribers will have the benefits of Sprint PCS, which operates the largest 100 percent digital, 100 percent PCS nationwide wireless network in the United States, already serving the majority of the nation’s metropolitan areas including more than 4,000 cities and communities across the country; and Sprint FastConnect broadband Internet access, which allows customers to unleash the endless possibilities of the Internet, using education, entertainment and business applications to better manage their personal and professional lives.

“As a Sprint FastConnect customer, you will get more out of the Internet than you ever thought possible,” Thompson said. “With an instant-on connection and speeds that are up to 50 times faster than traditional dial-up access, you’ll instantly be transported to a whole new world that will make your experience on the web more fun, productive and educational. Plus with two lines in one, you’ll never feel out of touch. And you’ll appreciate the simplicity of dealing with one company for all your communications needs.”

Sprint is a global communications company — at the forefront in integrating long-distance, local and wireless communications services and one of the world’s largest carriers of Internet traffic. Sprint built and operates the United States’ first nationwide all-digital, fiber-optic network and is a leader in advanced data communications services. Sprint has $20 billion in annual revenues and serves more than 20 million business and residential customers.

Sprint [FON] will expand its business DSL offering to include 94 markets nationwide. The company plans to offer customers asymmetrical and symmetrical services (ADSL and SDSL), as well as IDSL, a technology for delivering highspeed Internet access service to customers beyond the traditional 18,000-feet limit from the central office.

The expansion of Sprint’s business class DSL service should greatly enhance the company’s ability to drive increasingly larger amounts of traffic onto its backbone, a particularly important development in the wake of the recent WorldCom debacle. It also puts pressure on incumbent local exchange carriers like Verizon Communications [VZ] and SBC Communications to [SBC] upgrade their respective business class DSL offerings in order to effectively compete.

Nextel i670 Motorola presents its Nextel i670 series which is a compact phone with all communication options you need to stay on the top of your life style. Its few advance features are: Ø Group Walkie-Talkie1 Ø Direct Send™ Pictures1 Ø Direct TalkSMOff Network Digital Walkie Talkie1 Ø Integrated Assisted GPS1 As we know many cell phone accessories introduced by companies as soon as any model series introduced in the market. 101cells carries these accessories for you for making the shopping easier. Its different accessories are Nextel i670 Chargers, Headsets, Bluetooth, Cases, Faceplates, Antennas, Data Cables & Software and Batteries.

Battery: Motorola batteries are made with advancement, which offers you a long standby and talk time with durable mode. Nextel i670 batteries are available in Slim, Extra Capacity, Large, and Battery Doors on 101cells. Few one is Original Nextel i670 Battery #SNN5705 - Nextel Lithium Ion Battery etc. For details visit http://www.101cells.com/batt-nex-i670-path.html .

Chargers: Chargers of any cell phone recharge your cell phone battery fast and easily. It makes your battery everlasting. 101cells brings original and aftermarket car charger, travel charger and desktop charger, which charge your battery anywhere any time on go. Few are Travel Charger for Nextel i670 - Travel Charger, Nextel i670 Travel Charger NNTN4963 - Nextel Travel Charger, Original Nextel i670 Car Charger #NNTN6343B - Nextel Car Charger etc. for detail visit http://www.101cells.com/nextel-i670-charger-battery-path.html

Cases: Cases of any cell phone protect it from dust and provide a smart look with easier carrying feature. Motorola and other companies have launched many cases for Nextel i670 and 101cells carries these on its online store for its user to have easily at a single platform. Few are Black/ Black Neoprene Case for Nextel i670 - Fits only Nextel i670, Dr Blue Neoprene Case for NEXTEL i670 - Fits only NEXTEL i670, Black Rugged Leather Case for Nextel i670, Hot Pink Neoprene Case for NEXTEL i670 - Fits only NEXTEL i670 etc. For further detail one can visit http://www.101cells.com/nextel-i670-case-path.html.

Data cable: Data cable enables you to share your feeling and connect you directly to Internet. You can transfer your contents or business file through cell phone and be global with this product introduced by many companies besides Motorola itself. On 101cells one can get Original Nextel i670 USB Data Cable (Charging) #nntn5405 - Nextel USB Data Cable (Charging). For details visit http://www.101cells.com/data-nex-i670-software.html. So get ready to be advance and stylist with Motorola PEBLU6 and buy any cell phone accessories at affordable price in easier process from http://www.101cells.com

Charger:

Car and travel charger play a very important role for the cell phone. The most important accessory that you will need is a charger to keep that battery full so you can talk. Nextel i670 has wide selection of the charger like Original Nextel i670 Car Charger #NNTN6343B - Nextel Car Charger, Nextel i670 White Travel Charger NNTN4680 - Nextel White Travel Charger and etc. Travel chargers plug into any wall outlet. The Nextel i670 Car Power Charger gives you the charging performance needed while traveling in your vehicle. For further details visit http://www.101cells.com/nextel-i670-charger-battery-path.html

Battery:

101cells has wide selection of the accessories. Nextel i670 has orignal battery which is manufactured by Nextel. Battery is very for your cell phone. Easy to use, just plug in the connector into your device and plug the power extention into your car socket.For further details visit http://www.101cells.com/batt-nex-i670-path.html

Cases:

Today the demand of the cases is higher then any other accessories. It means cases is the HOT Thing Now and customers are demanding it because of its stylish color and design. Nextel i670 has large selection of the cases and you can choose it according to your style and personality. So what are you waiting for, just go and get it. For further detail please visit http://www.101cells.com/nextel-i670-case-path.html

Faceplates:

Faceplates protects your cell phone entire machine by dust with changing the look. Nextel i670 has Solid Dark Blue Snap ON Face Plate for Nextel i670 - Faceplate, Transparent Clear Snap ON Face Plate for Nextel i670 - Faceplate, Honey Pink Snap ON Face Plate for Nextel i670 - Faceplate and etc. Changing Cellphone faceplates is a great way to change the look of your old faded cellphone.For details click on http://www.101cells.com/nextel-i670-faceplate-snap-on-cover.html

Datacable:

Nextel i670 has Original Nextel i670 USB Data Cable (Charging) #nntn5405 - Nextel USB Data Cable (Charging), USB Data Cable for motorola i670 - USB Data Cable. Fast transfer for PC or Laptop with USB Port. Works only with motorola i670. Data cable connects a compatible PC to your cell phone so that you can access remote data on your mobile phone with maximum speed. For details click on http://www.101cells.com/data-nex-i670-software.html

Holster:

Nextel i670 has Belt Holster for Nextel i670 - Swivel & Locks. www.101cells.com specializing in cellphone cases and belt clip holster has just added new unique range of cellphone cases & belt holsters. So what are you waiting for Rush for these newly added cellphone accessories and give your cellphone a new look with protection. For details click on http://www.101cells.com/nextel-i670-holster-101cells.html

A new extensive range of accessories are available for your phone.So get ready to have these cell phone accessories in affordable price and easy way. Visit http://101cells.com

Technology rules the world and mobile phone is an excellent consequence of this technology. In today’s world, mobile phone has become an essential gadget for all class of people. There was a time when mobile phones were so rare and all the phones were basic one. Now, with the advanced technology and the demand from the consumers, latest mobiles phones are being launched in the market. These phones not only serve your communication purpose rather it also takes care of your mood with lots of entertainment features. Out of the many mobile phone manufacturers, Samsung mobile phones are in the market with latest technology and with sleek and compact design to impress you.

Samsung mobile phone manufacturers are in their business for a long time. Samsung Group started in the year 1938. From this group, Samsung electronic manufactures Samsung mobile phones that include basic to latest 3G phones. All mobile phones from Samsung are very sleek and endowed with latest technology and user friendly features. Samsung is one of the electronic giants with expertise in a wide range of key technologies. That’s the reason why Samsung mobile phones are in close competition with other well-known mobile phone manufacturers in the market.

The latest Samsung mobile phones available in the market include Samsung D500, Samsung D800, Samsung E530, Samsung i300, Samsung Z320i, etc. As far as designs are concerned, Samsung mobile phones are the winner. Almost all the handsets are both clamshell or slider phones and most of them are slim. You can also enjoy the features and the technologies through contract mobile phone deals. Contract mobile deals are available on different mobile networks. These deals offer many tariff plans that depend upon the handset you choose and of course the network. Therefore, it is necessary to choose the plan from different networks, compare them and select the best one as per your need. These plans may offer free handsets, free minutes, free insurance, etc., as incentives. Get your Samsung mobile phone and feel the difference.

In late July, Google announced that it will be offering live traffic information to mobile phones in more than thirty U.S. cities. Plans to provide the traffic feature to PCs are still in the works. The Google traffic feature will be released as an update to the free Google Maps for Mobile service, which has been available for 18 months for download on the Google web site. Google would not disclose how many subscribers it has, but it says the number is growing rapidly.

The feature expands Google’s mapping technology into an area where Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo already have a presence, but in different ways. Yahoo and Microsoft offer real-time traffic information on their Web-based mapping services for PCs. Microsoft has chosen to move into the mobile “space” by licensing traffic-monitoring technology for mobile devices to a Kirkland-based startup, InRix Inc. Yahoo currently has no mobile traffic service. MapQuest, an AOL property, offers traffic reports over cell phones for $2.99 per month.

With typical bombast, Microsoft announced that when operable, the InRix mobile service will actually predict upcoming traffic problems – however currently the MSN mobile mapping technology provides no traffic information at all.

In the cities where it works, the Google feature will show traffic conditions on most major highways - indicating green for clear roadways, yellow for medium congestion and red for high congestion or stopped traffic. Google Maps will work on most Java-enabled phones offered by Cingular and Sprint and all color BlackBerry devices. The service does not currently work on phones from other major carriers such as Verizon or T-Mobile USA. Google Maps sends the data – obtained from an undisclosed source - every five minutes.

Although Google’s free service doesn’t identify traffic hazards or accidents, it will let drivers know if there is a clogged road. Google also shows the expected drive time for a route when phone users search for driving directions. It has introduced a feature that lets users save their favorite locations and frequently used driving directions for future use.

The three search engines are not alone, however. In February, Rand McNally Traffic began offering a downloadable mobile application that delivers news of real-time traffic flow, accidents, weather conditions and road closures to 94 cities. Rand McNally Traffic is available on Sprint, Nextel, AT&T Wireless and other services for $3.99 a month.

Media giant Clear Channel Communications’ Total Traffic Network feeds content in 125 markets in the country to 15 services. One of them provides the information to subscribers with Sprint mobile phones for a $9.99 monthly subscription. That service is relatively new. In addition to weather conditions and traffic information, the service also provides data on gas station prices.

Cell phones are rapidly turning into GPS devices, with localized information as an added feature. It remains to be seen how many people will turn to their cell phone screens for traffic news, one eye on the road and another on the phone. In some states and several local jurisdictions, it is already illegal to use a handheld cell phone while driving. Some of these jurisdictions allow hands free use, but that won’t help with a visual feature. It will be interesting to see if this new functionality is limited by governmental concern over safe driving habits.

With every cell phone carrier advertising their latest cell phones and super plans, it gets more and more difficult to determine which one is the right one for you. How do you know? If you live in a major metro area or almost any larger city, the plans, service and coverage are going to be pretty much the same. But if your intended usage is outside the major metro areas or you will be using your cell phone all over the place because you plan to travel a lot with it, then this is where the rubber meets the road and the RIGHT plan takes significantly more scrutiny.

Before going any further, it is important to note that you need to define what you plan to do with your cell phone. Now with that said, throw that note away. What you really need to determine is what ARE you going to be using it for, and what capabilities and functionality do you REQUIRE (not just merely “want” or find somewhat cool or desirable) with your cell phone and cellular service? If you don’t define this BEFORE you start shopping, it is almost inevitable that you are going to be spending more than you need to, perhaps to a significant degree.

The first thing to note is where you will be using your cell service the majority of the time. Find out what carriers have the best coverage in your area. Again, this is critical. For example, if you save $10 per month but the carrier’s coverage in your area is marginal, how useful is your cell service if you drop one out of 3 calls, and the other calls make you sound like you are calling from the bottom of a bathtub?

Regarding the actual cell phone, unless you are just dying for a particular model phone (and you should not be), choose the cell carrier before you choose which phone you need. There are very few cell phones that have features that are particular to only one carrier.

Standard equipment would be a decent battery life giving you about 3 hours of talk time. The built-in cameras take pictures of a quality that is merely “ok” and will not win any awards, and you will likely use that feature minimally if at all after the novelty wears off. The ability to be an MP3 player? Bag it – it will drain your battery faster and does not deliver the quality of an MP3 player that was actually DESIGNED to be an MP3 player. It provides 10-15 seconds of full motion video? Yawn. You won’t use it after the novelty wears off, but you WILL be paying for that functionality. It has a built in PDA with organizer functions? It will kill your battery life.

Bottom line on the cell phone itself: let the cell phone function as a cell phone, and don’t try to force it into performing functions that it was not designed to do, because that will only drive up the price, and it will not do any of those things as well as a device that was designed to do them.

Let’s say you have narrowed your carrier choices down to 2, maybe 3. Now let’s look at the plans. Who will you be calling mostly? T-Mobile has plans that allow you to select 5 people that you call most frequently and gives you unlimited minutes to call them. Sprint and Verizon usually allow you to call other cell customers of theirs on an unlimited basis. What about nights and weekends? Most carriers provide unlimited nights and weekends. Note that despite the position of the sun in the sky, “night” doesn’t start until 9:00pm, or with Sprint and an extra $5 per month, “night” can begin at 7:00pm.

How many “anytime” minutes do you need? Be generous here, because you could be paying as much as 30 cents per minute or more as soon as you go over your allotted anytime minutes. Yes, every time you call your voicemail from your cell phone, that goes against your anytime minutes.

Finally, your best bet is to buy online. In this age of “immediate satisfaction”, your desire is to waltz into the cellular carrier’s retail store, and walk out of there talking on your shiny new cell phone. Don’t do it. Go into the retail store to get a hands-on view of the phones you are considering, but with the spotlights, the shiny chrome cases, and a sales rep smiling like he’s auditioning for Jaws, avoid the temptation. You can always find at least an EQUIVALENT deal online, and very frequently the online resource will also throw in some extras like a carrying case, a car power adapter, a travel adapter, and a hands-free kit, which would cost nearly another $100 if you get it at the carrier’s retail outlet.

Bottom line: define what you want and be smart about it. A cell phone can be a great thing, but you need to feel good about having done the proper research to get a great deal on it.

It will not be surprising if any user gets confused while choosing the mobile phone he should buy. The market is fraught with manufacturers of high repute, each one supplying mobile phones with dazzling designs and multiple functionalities. There are little differences in the handsets made by leading manufacturers. Each handset has its own attraction and unique usefulness.When such is the case it is necessary for any user to brief him about various phones so that he can buy the right one? That is where the mobile phone review comes into operation to provide information and tips regarding the mobile phones available in the market. Going through the reviews of various handsets one can easily come to know which phone will suit his need best.

Mobile phone market is getting enlarged and sophisticated day by day. New mobile phones with sophisticated functionalities and gorgeous look are being launched at regular intervals. That makes it difficult for any user to choose the appropriate phone unless he takes a little information. Particularly, if you are going to buy latest mobile phones then things will be more difficult.

Latest mobile phones may not be used by anyone who can brief you about its pros and cons. You cannot rely on the retailer’s information as he will try to push the product by highlighting the pros and hiding the cons. So, the best thing to do is to go through the latest phone review, collect enough information and then purchase a mobile phone.Mobile phone reviews are written by specialists who keep the necessity and language skill of the reader. They make it sure that the reader can understand the reviews well and get the appropriate information he is looking for. Any technical detail is rendered in simple plain English. So it will not be difficult for anybody to understand the mobile phone review

Will PDAs commingle with cell phones to form a go-anywhere, do-anything handheld hybrid?

Good morning. It looks like another busy day of meetings, memos, phone calls and, of course, driving all over town. As you start-and-stop your way down your first freeway of the morning, downloading your first Starbucks Venti of the morning, wouldn’t it be great to also be downloading your e-mail and schedule into your Palm handheld?

Better yet, how about doing it without taking your hands off the steering wheel or your eyes off the oversized SUV in front of you? What if you could tell your Palm to read your e-mail out loud and dictate replies to other team members?

In the future, right? Actually, really mobile computing is already coming your way. Before the end of the year, large retail automotive and consumer electronics out lets should be selling the Communiport Mobile Productivity Center for Palm handhelds.

Developed by Delphi Automotive Systems, the Communiport autosync cradle for the Palm V and VII models translates your voice into lingo the Palm can understand and your stored Palm data into computer-generated speech. It fits in your car’s cup holder, pulls juice from the cigarette lighter and links to your cell phone.
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The Communiport taps the Internet either through Palm’s Palm. Net or your cell phone’s wireless service provider. According to Delphi, its price will be up to individual distributors, who will probably slap their own labels on it.

WIRELESS WORLD

By now, we’ve become accustomed–maybe even a little addicted–to wireless communications on our cell phones. Wireless computing over the Internet is bound to be just as popular, say analysts, once we work out the details of crunching Web pages down into small PDA and cell phone displays.

IDC predicts that U.S. unit shipments of wireless consumer information appliances–like PDAs and gaming consoles–will climb from 11 million units today to about 89 million units by 2004. And even more people will use cell phones for Internet data services: IDC expects the number to jump from a mere 60,000 Americans today to 94 million by 2004–and 560 million users worldwide. Small wonder that cell phone and PDA-makers alike are high on wireless data access–none more so than handheld leader Palm.

“We think wireless capability is the next big thing,” says Palm’s chief competitive officer Michael Mace. “We’re working to bring wireless capability into all Palm handhelds as quickly as we can.”

Expect built-in wireless connectivity to be a part of all future Palm OS handhelds, says Mace, including new releases next year. Some will come from new Palm partners like Sony, which, by this Christmas, will release its first Palm handheld with a slot for its own chewing-gum-sized memory sticks.

Handheld-OS-makers Microsoft, Palm and Psion are also busy swapping technology with wireless voice experts like Ericsson, Kyocera, Motorola and Nokia, who are anxious to add Internet browsing and PIM features to their coming generation of “smart” cell phones.

Currently, though, your browsing is pretty much limited to Web pages specially formatted for handhelds. For example, Palm VII owners are required to subscribe to Palm.Net wireless service and can only download pages from the 350-plus sites that support the browserless Palm’s “Web clipping” protocol.

Owners of the Palm V and Palm Vx can branch out by buying OmniSky’s $299 (street) Minstrel V wireless modem and subscribing to its new wireless service. OmniSky opens up most of the Web by stripping pages of large graphics and banner ads, but only 1,000 or so Web sites really fit the Palm display. Still, those include popular sites like Yahoo! and Amazon.com.

Similarly, handhelds derived from Microsoft’s Windows CE/Pocket PC operating system can use the built-in Pocket Internet Explorer microbrowser to surf any Web site. But the experience isn’t that gratifying unless your destination is a page on Microsoft’s MSN network or other partner sites whose servers optimize Web site content for display on Pocket PCs.

One of the early movers in providing Web browsing to both Pocket PC and Palm owners is AvantGo. Subscribers to wireless services other than Palm.Net are allowed by a free AvantGo account to browse and download Web pages from any Web site. The AvantGo portal massages any site’s data a little for handheld display. But those downloads are nothing compared to the news, stock quotes and other content and applications you get from the 400 or so AvantGo channels that have optimized their Web pages.

Phone.com is at the hub of providing cell phone users wireless computing. A co-developer of the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) for Web data display, Phone.com licenses its WAP-compatible UP.Browser or UP.Link server to major wireless carriers such as Sprint and AT&T. They, in turn, use Phone.com’s software to make Web pages palatable to phone displays.

WILL WAP WAG THE WEB?

Wireless Web browsing is taking its first tentative steps, but its potential is huge. According to IDC, as WAP microbrowsers and compatible Web servers proliferate, unlimited Web access will be coming to a PDA, cell phone, laptop, pager–maybe an everyday kitchen appliance–near you. When? IDC figures that within 18 months, there will be more worldwide wireless subscribers capable of Internet access than wired Web browsers.