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 Socket Wireless Connection
Kit
It is the dream of everyone that carries a handheld computer: check the departure time of your flight as you near the airport in a taxi, check the movie times at the local theatre while you hang out with your friends, even collect E-mail or web surf wirelessly from anywhere in the world. And, bringing this dream to fruition has been greatly anticipated for six months as Palm Inc. touted the wireless Palm VII causing Windows CE users to collectively shake their fists, waiting for revenge. Now, after hearing about this product for what seems an eternity, the Wireless Connection Kit for Windows CE has arrived. And as it only consists of a simple CompactFlash card-to-cellular data port connector and a single CD ROM containing mostly shareware applications, we have to ask, “what took so long?” Out-of-box Experience Truly, those expecting a blaring of trumpets or a tickertape fanfare when they open the box will be deeply disappointed. With two pieces (the hardware and the CD) accompanied by numerous pamphlet-like instruction booklets, I couldn’t help being nearly bored by an out-of-box experience that should have had me on the edge of my seat. The Mobile Connection Kit CD (provided by Microsoft) contains the Mobile Connection Wizard, which does a satisfactory job of whisking the user through a step-by-step set up of the dial-up networking from the desktop. When complete, it copies the configuration to your Windows CE device, so you’re essentially ready to explore the wireless frontier. Just in case you want to do more once you get connected, the CD includes the iFoliage web browser, the Avantgo web client, a registered version of bSquare’s bTask and two games. As another two knocks against the corporate giant, HPC users only get Avantgo, and a beta (shame on you, Microsoft) version of Ansyr’s PDF viewer was included for the PPC. Real World Experience Thankfully, once you get past the setup, things are more encouraging. Socket’s CF card slides right into the Palm-size PC and is recognized by Windows CE’s plug and play capability. Power users can simply say “yes” to provide battery power to the card, and set it up manually if they are familiar with the CE dial up networking system. It took us less than 60 seconds (since I'm very familiar with the dial up settings) to get our PPC connected to the ISP. The nearly two foot long cord is sufficient to connect to a cell phone on your belt, and work on the Palm-size PC as long as you don’t try doing so with an outstretched arm. If you want to hold both devices in your hand, you’ll find yourself wishing that the cord didn’t exist at all, so you could just attach your phone to the top of your device. That would be far simpler than trying to juggle two devices in one hand every time you need to use the stylus. In our tests, we also found ourselves throwing the phone on the dash of the car, on the table where we were working, or any handy surface. This sufficed until we were walking and communicating, or trying to keep a strong cell signal by holding up the antenna. Speaking of the cell signal, like any communications device that relies on a cellular network, the communications kit had certain limitations. During our extensive tests, we began to expect disconnections, as we lost communications about once every nine attempts. In fairness, these dropped calls often occurred when logging in while driving, or in an airport, in low signal areas. Socket also reports that the low connection speed (14.4 kbps every time) is a result of the cellular service provider setting that data limit for their network. Market
comparison When
comparing the phone card to other methods of wireless connection, a cost
vs. convenience argument ensues. While the Palm VII has a cool and
integrated wireless modem, the added expense of the Palm.net service might
be an unwelcome cost to users who already have complete connectivity. And,
while the Richochet modem has the same 2 piece (cable and comm unit) hookup
as the phone card, the system has unlimited monthly use but limited
coverage areas as its pros and cons. In addition, Richochet only offers a
PCMCIA version of its wireless communicator, making it impossible for PPC
users to use the service. Should
you buy it? After
all this, you're either dying to go wireless, or you are still skeptical.
Or, if I've done my job right, you're both. Microsoft's wireless connection
kit software is flawless, and should be built into the Windows CE operating
system, since it provides accessory-free connections to IRDA-enabled
cellular phones. Socket's
digital phone card, however, isn't as well refined. The card is only
available on a small number of the newest digital cell phones, requiring
most users to upgrade and change service plans or even service providers
just to get wireless capability. Socket does report that they are working
on cards for other cellular models including Motorola, Sanyo, Audiovox,
Nextel but wasn’t able to give us information on date availability or
ship. Indeed, during our review, they announced support for the Siemens'
S25 GSM phone (which is available in Europe and Asia). Amazon stocks the
Communications Kit for the
Qualcom 860/960/2760
($139.99),
Nokia 5000/6000 handsets ($159.99), and the
GSM Ericsson 6000/7000/8000 ($159.99). And people seem to be snapping up kits quickly.
Microsoft had a bundled kit on their web site with a Casio E-105, a Qualcomm QCP-1960 phone, and the a Wireless Connection
kit for $649. The set sold out so quickly that we couldn’t even get to
the web site to confirm the offer. And,
when all is said and done, cellular communication is just too expensive to
make this a "must have" accessory. What would have tipped the
scale in this bundle's favor? Work with Sprint to package the phone and
communications kit with a service plan offering "all you can eat"
wireless data communications for a flat monthly fee. It seems only fair,
considering their network restrains us to communicating at 14.4 kbps and
Socket reports that the cellular provider does have the technology already
in place to identify which phone calls are data transmissions and could,
therefore, make this offer without losing their lock on the profitable
voice market. The market would explode with this sort of cost value
opportunity and Microsoft could have been there to reap the rewards with
Windows CE.
But, if you already own one of the phones Socket makes digital cards for and if your company foots your cell phone bill (or you’re just incredibly rich), you should add the wireless communications kit to your already cutting edge system. It offers the critical piece of the puzzle we've been waiting so long for: the connection between the two devices we carry everywhere.
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