PocketPC and Nextel

[leudogau]

I have a question. I have a Nextel phone and noticed on their website that they have a dial up service that you can use with your handheld. Has anyone ever heard how the service was or used it? I am looking for a connection without have to plug into a wall. I am an outside sales rep, and it would really help to have a wireless connection. Any suggestions?
Lewis

[go2duke]

Depending on the phone, you can use their "packet stream" system which is like ISDN (56k). However, you will need a cable and a plan. You can dial into a modem connection with any nextel online capable phone but the connections are painfully slow over cell. Not sure they have the Axim cable either, I know they have the Ipaq cable. Give it time and they will catch up.

G2D

[leudogau]

i'm not very interested in downloading webpages or high multi media type files. i am looking at downloading email (most likely without attachments) most of the time. would it even be to slow for emails?

Thanks

[go2duke]

cell phones give you 14.4 via dial-up normally. This would likely be enough for text based emails.

G2D

[Whatsurpointnow]

I just saw a deal at amason for a free tmobile sidekick after rebates. $40 a month service and UNLIMITED bandwith on the internet connection with 500 minutes of anytime talk. They are also doing a free A/R bluetooth enabled phone so there is another option.

The Tmobile rep said they have about a 56k connection speed with the GPRS signal. So there is an option for reasonable connection speed.

My cell plan is up for renew, and I thought I might switch service. Will update you if I do.

[leudogau]

keep me informed on the tmobile. that sounds like it would work. i guess i figure there is no way to do outside sales without a cell phone so why not make it work for both voice and data, huh. is there any other phone that could the same thing?

[Whatsurpointnow]

Tmobile can download email right into its sidekick and several other phone models. So can nextel, sprint, verizon, etc.

The trick is connectivity to other peripherals.

The local T mobile dealer does not have the sidekick. Rats! he is a contract carrier. At first, he said he could meet all the rebates out there. He was shocked when I told him about Amazon. So, no test drive on the equipment. And, it looks like Amazon is smoking the competition.

Anyone else try the sidekick?

I went to sprint today and they have their 3G phones. THe rep their said the internet connection speeds range from about 56k to about 200k depending on connecton quality, and, get this, network usage. sounds a little like cable and dsl. great at first with "humps" as the system gets stressed by more users using the same capacity.

I did a little browsing on the phones. Kind of hard to do much with a 1.25 inch square screen. and in my opinion they are much slower than 56k. BUt, that may also be the phone. switching functions from web to dial service and back again is still a little clunky on the phones I tried.

I asked about data cables, and for $35 bucks or so you can get a serial connection.... now if they just had one for the Axim They may also have a usb connection available as well.

Sprint offers "PCS Vision" as their internet connecton service. $10 a month and it chews up minutes unless your at a rate plan of $85 a month or more. And then, unlimited use without minute drain. not bad with 2000 minutes of talk time a month.

I would love to hear from someone who is an active user of these systems.

Sign me: confused by too many options

[leudogau]

talked about confused. i have been looking also at the amazon sight. the sidekick itself doesnt have the bluetooth feature does it? i think that is the sony ericson blah blah, but the internet option is seprerate of the phone plans?! oh crap i dont know, i am just looking for an option that i can utilize the phone and the axim. HELP!!

[Whatsurpointnow]

The sidekick is not blue tooth enabled. They are really pushing the sidekick and have "incentivized" the calling plan with unlimited bandwidth for the first year! the 500 anytime minute plan is $39.99.

The bluetooth enabled phone, can't remember model number does NOT come with unlimited bandwidth. you have to pay 2.99 for 1 meg ( about 200 emails) , 10.99 for 2 megs (yes thats right) and so one for more access time.

My thinking is this:

If you want to do a lot of web surfing and that is the primary need. Go for the sidekick and get another PDA with Palm OS.

If you need a lot of talk time and want to do a lot of web time, sprint seems to offer the best deal. 2000 anytime minutes a month and unlimited bandwidth on their network.

Still hazy on data cables from the phone to the pda. isn't their a serial connector coming out for the axim?

Anyone know the connection speed of a serial port?


This is like buying a bed; basically a comoditized item and the way they build value is putting different colored fabric over the same dam springs. then they have a million different "models" and change them every 3-6 months to keep you from comparison shopping!

[kfsutops]

I have the Nextel dialup plan on my I90c and it works pretty good. I last used it with my Clie that I no longer own. I don't know where to get a cable to hook it up with my new Axim. If anyone knows please let me know.

I think you have to have the Full Internet package/w dialup for it to work. I think I pay an additional $10.00/ month for it. But it works pretty good. Like some other posters, it's not exactly broadband, but it is ok for checking email and some browsing.

[msims]

go here for the cable you need for the I90c.

http://www.gomadic.com/nexidi5mobph17.html

[kfsutops]

Thanks for the website for the cable.

[AximPigeon]

You could try:

http://nextelonline.nextel.com/NASApp/onlinestore/Action/ViewAccessoryDetailAction

http://nextelonline.nextel.com/NASApp/onlinestore/Action/ViewAccessoryDetailAction

And the dell serial sync cable