Your handheld may supply wireless connectivity, but are you getting the most out of it? To do so you need the proper software.

Yet with thousands of applications to choose from, the process of selecting the right ones for you and your device can be confusing and a chore.

In this article, we've saved you the trouble of scouting for useful programs by uncovering ten essential tools for Palm and Windows Mobile devices (plus one for Research In Motion's BlackBerry handhelds) that are wirelessly enabled.

Read our takes and then download a few right now. Most offer free trials so you can try before you buy.

ActivePrint
Pocket Watch Software
Platform: Windows Mobile
When you're working on a handheld, you don't want printing problems slowing you down. Through a relentless dedication to supporting a wide variety of formats, ActivePrint has become the standard for handheld printing. It works with a large number of common and uncommon apps, so you'll have no trouble printing Web pages, Microsoft Office documents or presentations, Adobe PDFs, text and rich text files, and many more document types.


ActivePrint

Create a wireless connection (e.g. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Infrared) to your printer-enabled computer and you can easily print any document. We're linking to the Enterprise Edition here, which is right for large work groups, but there are less expensive versions for individual users.

IM+
Shape Services
Platforms: Windows Mobile/Palm OS/Smartphones/Blackberry
If you're a frequent instant messenger, you know the value of having an IM client that works with a variety of platforms. You can't get your AOL friends to switch to MSN, or vice versa, so you'd better choose a client that works with all the major platforms.


IM+

IM+ simultaneously connects to the AOL, MSN , ICQ, Yahoo! and Jabber messaging platforms, so you can always chat with your coworkers or buddies, and it works on a variety of mobile devices (PDA, smartphone) too. The features vary by device, so check the site's downloadable features list to see if it supports such niceties as file transfer, emoticons, and vibrating alerts on your gadget.

NetChaser
Bits 'n Bolts Software
Platform: Palm OS
One of the most convenient things about our connected world is how many people leave their Wi-Fi connections open for others to use as needed. Okay, so most of those people are probably being clueless rather than helpful, but the end result is the same: you can frequently go online on someone else's dime.


NetChaser

To help you find a hotspot when needed, turn to NetChaser. This handy Palm OS app works with Tungsten C, T3, and Zire 72 models (those last two with a PalmOne WiFi SDIO expansion card). It'll show you what wireless networks are around, what their IDs are, and whether or not they have security enabled.

NewsBreak
Ilium Software
Platforms: Windows Mobile Pocket PC/Smartphone
Just because you're on the go doesn't mean you have to be disconnected. NewsBreak is an amazingly full-featured newsreader that delivers current headlines to your handheld. Set it to pull the latest news, sports, weather, stocks and travel info.


NewsBreak

Because it supports RSS feeds, you can have it monitor as many sites as you'd like, even your favorite blogs. It can alert you when you've got new content and keep track of what you've already read. The latest version supports Google G-mail and other feeds that require user authentication. If you don't have time to grab a newspaper, get NewsBreak and you'll always have the latest news close at hand.

Niveus Pocket Remote
Niveus Media, Inc.
Platform: Windows Mobile
Pocket Remote is an ideal solution for people running Windows XP Media Center Edition. MCE turns your computer into a media jukebox capable of playing television, music, movies, and photo slideshows. Pocket Remote gives you a way of controlling playback from anywhere in your house, so that you don't need to be in the same room as your PC to change songs or channels.


Niveus Pocket Remote

You connect through your wireless home network and create zones so that you can play different songs on different Media Center computers throughout your home. It's a convenient way to create the right environment without having to run from room to room.

Quick News
Stand Alone, Inc.
Platform: Palm OS
NewsBreak is great for Windows users, but Palm fans should try Quick News—a fantastic RSS reader that ensures you always have fresh news and entertainment on your handheld. If you've never worked with an RSS feed before, don't worry, the software will automatically create links to twelve popular feeds when you first start up.


Quick News

You can then add RSS feeds as you like. Quick News supports embedded images, so pictures will download with the feeds' text, and it has a built-in search so that you can quickly find whatever content you want.

Smartner Duality Always-On Mail
Smartner Information Systems Ltd.
Platforms: Windows Mobile Pocket PC/Smartphone
For corporate clients who need their e-mail delivered quickly and securely comes Smartner Duality, a push e-mail system takes the time and hassle out of configuring an e-mail app and waiting for messages. With Smartner, messages are pushed to you as they arrive, so there's no lag between when the message is sent and when you see it, and that goes for large attachments, too.


Smartner Duality Always-On Mail

If timeliness is critical to your business, you'll find Smartner an essential. You'll get alerts when new message arrive, and can sort and forward your mail as with any other client. This enterprise ability does come at an enterprise price though, and you buy a one-year subscription, not an unlimited license, as with most software.

SplashBlog
SplashData, Inc.
Platform: Palm OS
With SplashBlog, you can instantly post photos taken on your Palm handheld (including Treo smartphones) to an online blog for all to see. Creating a photolog is fun, but synching your handheld and uploading photos manually could quickly become a chore. With SplashBlog, there's no fuss as you can post pictures nearly as quickly as you take them.


SplashBlog

After you've taken a picture, simply fill out the information about it - such as title and caption - and press Publish. Because the product supports two-way synching, you can also download photos from your blog to your handheld, in case you want copies of images you posted from your desktop computer. The online blog service at splashblog.com is free to registered users, although the software works with other popular blogging sites, as well.

VeriChat
PDAapps, Inc.
Platform: Palm OS
Connect to multiple IM networks on your Palm OS handheld or smartphone with VeriChat, which can connect to Yahoo!, ICQ, MSN and AOL. It works in the background, so you can do other things while waiting for messages to come in. Just like with a desktop IM client, you can use emoticons, exchange files, and customize your views.


VeriChat

The clever Buddy Pounce system lets you know immediately when one of your buddies comes online, so you can quickly send them a message. The Premium edition includes Verichat Bots, which are information snippet tools that live in your IM buddy list. Tap one to quickly get the weather or the latest stock quotes, for example.

VersaMail
PalmOne
Platform: Palm OS
The great thing about VersaMail is that it's powerful enough to do everything that you need from an e-mail client, but still easy enough that novices will have no trouble configuring it. Connect to IMAP, POP, or SMTP e-mail accounts and set VersaMail to check for new messages at only the times you specify.


VersaMail

The display is clear and readable, while the program integrates beautifully with the Palm's own Date Book, To Do, and Memo apps. We also love how its Smart Addressing feature integrates with the Address Book, so that you can quickly address messages to your regular contacts.