ask Mobile Pro

About askMobilePro

   

I want this site to be an independent source of information for mobile professionals, consumers, and others interested in making wireless technologies work for them. It should help the "road warrior" stay organized and remain in touch while traveling. Being "in touch" includes having access to information as well as communications. We have many ways to in touch including traditional phone calls, walkie-talkie (PTT) systems, instant-messaging, and email. Many of us also need to have access to up-to-date data that may reside on our office or home computers, websites, or other places.

I personally use the devices, services, and programs that I discuss. If I don't have personal "hands-on" experience with a system, I will point the reader to someone who does.

I solicit questions from the readers. Feel free to post a question in a comment, or  email that question to me at

AL@askmobilepro.com

and I will attempt to answer your question, and post the answer here. Eventually, those questions and answers may become a valuable resource for other readers. If you prefer, give me a call. I love to "talk tech." If you have a new device, and want to test a feature (Blackberry PIN, Nextel Direct-Connect, for example,) let me know.

Some of the software, services, and devices that I currently use are:

• Act! (contact management)
• Blackberry
• Windows Mobile
• Satellite Radio
• GPS
• Verizon Wireless
• Sprint Nextel
• AT&T (f/k/a Cingular)
• and many others.

In future posts, here, I will get into how I integrate those services into my mobile life.

I do not sell any products. Remaining independent allows me to recommend the best solution in each particular circumstance. This site does earn commissions from Amazon.com when purchases are made after clicking though the Amazon links. I have personally purchased many items (including cellular service, phones, and PDAs) from Amazon.com over the years. I have always found Amazon to be extremely competitive in pricing, and excellent in speed and service.

I also offer one-on-one consulting, on an hourly or per-job basis, to businesses and individuals. Initial consultation is always free.  Please contact me for more details.

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Read Your Voicemail (Updated)

In a prior post, I described my experiences with the SimulScribe service which was later re-named "PhoneTag."

Here is a paragraph from that post:

"Another issue with PhoneTag may have been an isolated incident, but it alarms me. One of my messages seems to have been crossed with a message for another PhoneTag account. My phone rang at a time when I couldn't answer it, so I let the call go to voice mail. A few minutes later, I received an email with a transcription that didn't make any sense to me. I called in, and listened to that message. It was obviously not for me, even though the caller ID was one I recognized as being a friend's number. I called my friend, and he said that he had left me a message. However, I never received that message. Apparently, I had received that other message instead of mine. I contacted SimulScribe Tech Support, and they promised to investigate it. I haven't heard back from Tech Support yet. "

After several unanswered support tickets, and a couple of lost voicemails by PhoneTag, I decided to look for another voicemail transcription service. I found a service that was created in the U.K. and is now available in the United States. That service is called "SpinVox." I found two companies in the U.S. offering SpinVox service.

One of those companies, uReach, will transcribe and send to you via email 40 messages per month for $9.99. Another provider, Line1 Communications, also provides SpinVox conversions and email transmission as an add-on to their voicemail service. I tried both services for several weeks before deciding.

As with PhoneTag, with both services you set your conditional (No answer/busy line) call-forwarding to their service. With the uReach service, your forwarded calls go to a universal, toll-free number (that many othe ruReach subscribers use) for the uReach service. With Line1's service, though, your forwarded calls go to your own voicemail box number that Line1 assigns to you when you subscribe.

Both uReach and Line1 convert your voicemail to text using the SpinVox software and email those messages to you. I found the SpinVox conversion service to be at least as good as the software used by PhoneTag.

Although the Line1 service is more expensive than either uReach or PhoneTag, I found Line1 to be well worth the extra cost. I use the transcription service for my business voicemail. Reliability, to me is paramount. I can't afford to lose a voicemail, and fail to respond to a valuable client.  PhoneTag losing my voicemail was unforgivable.  After those lost voicemails, I always wondered if any more of my important calls were lost and I just never found out about them. It left me with a very uneasy feeling.

So, now I had to decide between uReach and Line1. With uReach, when you call in to listen to your actual voicemails, update your greeting, or make changes to your settings by phone, you call that universal toll-free number that was given to you by uReach. So, when you call from a phone other than your own forwarded phone number, you must first identify yourself by entering your ten-digit phone number, and then enter your PIN. Once in your voicemail account, you use your phone's keypad to enter menu selections very much like all voicemail systems. However, the uReach server's response times seem rather slow. The service worked okay, but wasn't as quick as I am used to. Having to enter that ten-digit phone number each time, became very tedious.

Both uReach and Line1's websites allow you to listen to and manage your voicemails via the web. Line1 has additional platforms that they offer based on customer needs such as the desire to have longer messages and/or to have a copy of the recording attached to the email. I like to receive an audio-file attachment to my email notifications enabling me to archive selected recordings right on my personal computer.

With Line1, you call your own voicemail phone number that was assigned to you by Line1. If you are calling from the phone number that you designate as your cellphone in your settings, you bypass the need to enter your PIN. If you are calling from another number, you hear your personal greeting, and you press the star key to go to your voicemail where you must enter just your four-digit PIN. However, since you are calling your own voicemail box, you never have to enter the ten-digit phone number to identify yourself.  The Line1 menu prompts are very quick to respond, and the menu numbers seem more logical than those used by uReach. Having the dedicated mailbox telephone number not only makes access easier, it means that users can have multiple phone lines (be they mobile, land-lines, or VoIP.)

So, even though Line1 is more expensive than uReach, I've decided to go with Line1's service.

I really like having my own voicemail box. My experience with PhoneTag losing several of my voicemails makes me uneasy call-forwarding my unanswered calls to the same phone number that many other users do.

I have communicated with Line1's management both by email and phone. They have been extremely responsive to my needs.  Line1 has been providing voicemail and other telecommunications services for the past eighteen years. If they continue to perform they way they have over the past few weeks, I will be their customer for the next eighteen years.

 

Password (and other secure information) manager for Blackberry & PC

Like many of you, I have a very large number of very private pieces of information that I need access to when I am sitting at my desk. However, I also would like a secure way of carrying and accessing that data when I am "on the go."  These items include website logins, credit-card numbers, account numbers, license numbers, insurance-policy numbers, expiration dates,  and more. It is extremely important that these bits of information be accessible, but it is essential that they be secure..

For the past few years, I have been using several pieces of software to keep those logins, passwords, and other bits info available in a password-protected encrypted file on my computer. I have looked for, but been unable to find a good desktop/Blackberry combination that would synchronize that information between my PC and my Blackberry. I found a good PC solution, that had no Blackberry client. I found several Blackberry applications that were pretty good, but their desktop companions were very weak.

Once in a while, I find a piece of software that "just feels right."   I discovered Ascendo DataVault. DataVault just feels right! Ascendo has perfected both the desktop program as well as the Blackberry application. Both are extremely intuitive and easy to use.

 Ascendo describes DataVault as:

 "Ascendo DataVault stores confidential information such as passwords, credit cards, PINs, logins and frequent flyer numbers using the most powerful encryption method available. Ascendo DataVault is the only product that provides tree views and list views on your Blackberry and Windows PC. This lets you organize data in a more intuitive way and find information quicker. Unmatched features and ease-of-use make Ascendo DataVault the leading 'secure data manager' for BlackBerry."

Blackberry forums review of DataVault included the following:

"For every category of software, a "gold standard" eventually emerges that all other offerings are judged against. Word Processing has MS Word, photo-editing has Photoshop, etc. In the category of secure password manager software for BlackBerry handhelds, I think DataVault is the "gold standard"."

 

The website, PinStack.com gave Ascendo DataVault their Five Star Award.

Blackberry Cool wrote:

"Using DataVault on my BlackBerry was as easy as using it on the desktop. The information was where I put it, it was easy to find, and could easily be implemented. Good to know, though, that if I did have any queries, Ascendo’s comprehensive user guide was more than helpful."

 

However, for me, as good as the Blackberry application is, the Ascendo DataVault desktop application was a huge plus. The desktop application is excellent as well!

The DataVault desktop program includes utilities to import data files from all the major password software. I found importing my data to be extremely easy. Ascendo offers a free trial of their excellent DataVault program at the Ascendo DataVault website. I highly recommend you give it a try!

 

 

Read Your Voicemail

Do you hate having to listen to each of your voicemail, one by one, in the order that they arrived, just to find that one important message? Would you prefer to read a transcription of each of those voicemails on your phone, Blackberry or Pocket PC?

Your solution may be PhoneTag (formerly known as SimulScribe.)

PhoneTag's website describes their products:

PhoneTag offers a simpler way to handle voicemail.
PhoneTag converts your voicemail into text messages and then sends them directly to your mobile phone, Blackberry, Goodlink enabled phone and/or your email account.

You can instantly see who has called and what they said, whether you are sitting in a business meeting or traveling on the road. Your voicemail functionality does not change; it can still be listened to and stored for later use.

PhoneTag works with all Major U.S. carriers and networks including: AT&T, Alltell, Cincinnati Bell, Sprint, Skype, T-Mobile, Verizon, Virgin and more.

Use SimulScribe to unify your mobile, home and work phones into one unlimited voicemail box and read your voicemail from any of your phone numbers - anywhere.

Features

Online voicemail management

Unlimited voicemail box storage

Voicemail delivery options include e-mail and/or text messages

Dial-in voicemail management

24/7 customer service and support

Benefits

Read voicemail on your mobile phone, portable device and/or e-mail

Whether you are in a meeting, traveling, or on the golf course, you can instantly see who called, what they said, and you won't have to listen to all of your messages to find out about an important missed call

Use the PhoneTag online user interface to search, sort, archive and delete voicemail like email

You won't have to write down the information from a voicemail; important numbers, names and addresses are easy to find, easy to access and will never get lost

Respond in text by forwarding the message to another person

Voicemails delivered as text when you are roaming saves you money

You can still listen to the message as an audio file that is sent direct to your e-mail or dial in to the voicemail system

Keep the same voicemail functionality that you are used to; all dial-in voicemail functionality stays the same

I have been using PhoneTag with the Blackberry version of SimulSays for the past month. I have already grown dependent upon the ability to view transcriptions of my voicemails. PhoneTag's transcription service is not perfect. However, it is far more accurate than other voice-to-text transcription services that I've used in the past. I have yet to receive a transcription from PhoneTag that I couldn't understand. They have all contained enough information to give me a good idea of what the actual message contained. PhoneTag recommends that you include a "tagline" with your voicemail greeting. Their tagline warns the caller to talk slowly and clearly so their message can be transcribed. However, I prefer not to burden my callers with those instructions, so I have turned off that tagline. My callers simply hear my personal greeting. They get my simple greeting and beep to leave me a voicemail. It works very well for me.

When you sign up for PhoneTag, you are assigned a voicemail telephone number. PhoneTag gives you directions to set up Conditional Call Forwarding for your wireless and wireline accounts. When set up, your calls come to your phone as usual. However, with Conditional Call Forwarding, if your phone is turned off, or you fail to answer the call after a few rings, your call goes to your PhoneTag voicemail instead of your carrier's voice mailbox. A few minutes after your caller leaves a message, you receive an email, a SMS text message, or both (depending upon how you have it set up.) If you have the companion product, SimulSays, on your Windows Mobile or Blackberry, your message also appears in SimulSays at the top of the list of messages.

I have run into a couple of problems. My SimulSays application on my Blackberry 8830 will not allow me to delete messages from that application. However, by default, the Blackberry application should start deleting the oldest messages when the message count reaches 100.

Another issue with PhoneTag may have been an isolated incident, but it alarms me. One of my messages seems to have been crossed with a message for another PhoneTag account. My phone rang at a time when I couldn't answer it, so I let the call go to voice mail. A few minutes later, I received an email with a transcription that didn't make any sense to me. I called in, and listened to that message. It was obviously not for me, even though the caller ID was one I recognized as being a friend's number. I called my friend, and he said that he had left me a message. However, I never received that message. Apparently, I had received that other message instead of mine. I contacted SimulScribe Tech Support, and they promised to investigate it. I haven't heard back from Tech Support yet.

(Update after nearly four months, on June 11, 2008: STILL NO further Response from Tech Support.)

At this point, unless I lose any more voicemails, I plan to keep using the PhoneTag service. It is really convenient to be able to read my voicemails. It is also handy to have an archive of voicemails (in .wav file form) accessible via the PhoneTag website. I feel that it is worth every penny it costs.

You can read more about PhoneTag, and try a free trial at PhoneTag.com.

Feel free to ask me any questions you might have. If you have PhoneTag experience, or a similiar product, please post your comments here.

 

UPDATE after nearly six months, and NO RESPONSE from PhoneTag tech support, I cancelled their service.  I am now using an alternative transcription service that I describe in  my new post.

                                                                    

What's on my Windows Mobile device

What's on my Windows Mobile device!

Like many of today's Windows Mobile/Pocket PCs, my HTC Advantage has the ability to connect via both wide-area (cellular) and local-area (wi-fi) connections. It is often more desirable to connect to a wi-fi connection when an available network is within range. Even though Windows Mobile's built-in Connection Manager software has the ability to display information about, and connect to those wi-fi networks, I prefer more powerful third-party software.

  Aspecto Software has an excellent program that they have cleverly named "WiFiFoFum" that can be downloaded at the Aspecto Software website.

As described there, WiFiFoFum's features include

List view showing information such was WEP, SSID, MAC, signal strength(RSSI), latitude, longitude and location precision (HDOP)

Radar view conveys distance to access points

and many others.

Aspecto asks you to purchase a license for the program "if you are using WiFiFoFum in your business or for any commercial work."

WiFiFoFum works very well for me.

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Another wi-fi utility program that I use is called "PF Scan." PF Scan performs most of the same functions as WiFiFoFum, with the added feature of the ability to select a screen that displays in large-easy-to-read numbers, your current signal strength. I find that feature handy when checking signal strengths around a wi-fi access point to find dead spots, etc.   

You can read more about PF Scan at MobiHand website, where you can download a free trial.

I have found PFScan to be a very useful tool and well-worth the modest price for a license.

         

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Please be sure to post a comment or question.                                                                            

                                                                      

I gained an "Advantage" in mobility !

My old eyes grew weary of attempting to view the 2.5 inch (diagonal) screen of my Treo 700wx. I never used the Treo for voice because I carry a separate cellphone for voice calls. My main use for the Treo was as a Windows Mobile (formerly known as "Pocket PC") device. When I first read about the new offering from HTC, I was extremely excited. For those of you unfamiliar with HTC, there is a good chance that you have used their products without realizing it. Until recently, their devices were marketed under alternative names. The HTC website says

"Since HTC was founded in 1997, in Taoyuan, Taiwan, the company has become the world's leading manufacturer of Smartphones and Pocket PCs. Today, HTC makes 80% of the mobile phones running the Windows OS."

I had been looking for a Windows Mobile device with a larger screen. You can imagine my excitement to read about the Advantage's 5-inch display. So, I ponied up the price at Amazon.com. I have been using the great device for about three weeks, now. I couldn't be happier with it!

This is what the HTC website says about the Advantage X-7501:

"Now I can get some serious work done."

HTC Advantage 7501
Designed to liberate traveling executives from their bulky notebook PCs, the HTC Advantage is one muscled-up mini-computer. With a huge touch screen, full QWERTY keyboard and massive 8GB hard drive, the Advantage offers instant command of email and contacts, control of high-speed worldwide connectivity, and the power to create, edit, print or project any Microsoft Office document-all packed into a compact shape that fits in purse or pocket. For serious work on the fast track, why not give yourself an Advantage?

Key Features

• Microsoft® Windows Mobile® 6 Professional Phone operating system
• 3G (HSDPA-ready) and Wi-Fi® for global connectivity
• Direct Push to synchronize email, calendar and contacts
• Windows Media® Player Mobile for up to 5 hours of video
• Bluetooth® 2.0 for wireless stereo audio
• Built-in GPS to navigate anywhere, anytime
• TV & VGA Out feature to send PowerPoint® decks to external TV or projector
• Unprecedented 5" screen and magnetically attached keyboard
• Up to 8 hours of battery life, longer than a laptop
• 3 megapixel camera shoots pictures and video
• MiniSD® expansion slot for unlimited storage

I won't review the Advantage here. The web has several very well-written extensive reviews of this innovative device. Mobile Reviews and Laptop Magazine both have reviewed the Advantage. (Click on their links in the preceding sentence to read those reviews.)

There is little more that I can add to those excellent write-ups. The Advantage is really working well for me!

Please be sure to post a comment or email about my new favorite device.

                                                                           

Verizon adds cell sites along I-75

Friday, September 28, 2007

Verizon adds cell sites along I-75

Jacksonville Business Journal

Verizon Wireless has built five new cell phone sites along Interstate 75 in North Florida between the Georgia state line and I-10.

Verizon officials said the new sites will provide improved service for residents and travelers along I-75.

"In addition, they will help improve public safety in many situations, such as evacuations during hurricanes or other emergencies," said Pam Tope, Florida region president of Verizon Wireless.

Customers using BroadbandAccess, Verizon's business data service, will have average download speeds of 600 kilobits per second to 1.4 megabits per second.

Verizon has now invested more than $1.6 billion to improve its Florida network over the past seven years.

Which Cellphone Carrier is best for you?

I am often asked which is "the best" wireless cellular carrier? My response is usually, "What do you want to do with your cellphone?" To which, the response is usually "Make phone calls,,,,   duh!"

However, most of us do far more with our phones than simply make and receive phone calls. We all have various requirements when it comes to travel and probably have contacts that we call more frequently than others.

My real response should probably be "It depends." Each of the various carriers has its strengths and weaknesses. Since I use nearly all of the  carriers available in the southeast, I feel fairly qualified in discussing those strengths and weaknesses. Here, I will talk about the more important ones.

Alltel has excellent coverage in the western half of the Florida peninsular. Their network is also one of the best throughout the southeast. Alltel uses CDMA digital technology, allowing Alltel to have roaming agreements with Sprint and Verizon. Strengths include excellent coverage in rural areas.

The at&t (formerly Cingular) network covers Florida and Georgia extremely well. Their coverage in the Carolinas has improved over the past couple of years. at&t uses GSM digital technology, and has few roaming agreements in this area. However, GSM technology is used extensively in Europe and other parts of the world, allowing roaming overseas. Strengths are international roaming, national footprint, large customer base.

Sprint has two separate and distinct networks throughout most of the United States. The iDen-technology Nextel network is well-known for its push-to-talk, walkie-talkie like features. That network is scheduled to start being phased out in the next few years. I would only recommend Nextel to users that must have their push-to-talk service.

Sprint's main network uses CDMA technology, allowing Sprint subscribers to roam on Alltel and Verizon's network in areas that Sprint doesn't have its own network. Most Sprint service plans allow their customers to roam on other networks without additional fees. When combined with its roaming partners, Sprint's network is excellent throughout the southeast. Sprint's customer service has greatly improved over the past few years. Sprint's strengths include high-speed data network, leading-edge-technology devices.

T-Mobile's GSM network covers major cities, interstates, and other major roads in nearly all areas of Florida and Georgia. T-Mobile doesn't have its own network in many areas of the Carolinas. In those areas, T-Mobile users roam on SunCom Wireless. T-Mobile's strength is the carrier's extremely competitive pricing. If T-Mobile covers the areas that you frequent, it can usually save you money. T-Mobile's customer service has always been one of the best in the industry.

Verizon Wireless's CDMA network covers most of the southeast extremely well. Verizon customers roam on Alltel in areas where they don't have native coverage. Between Verizon's own network and those of its roaming partners, Verizon covers the southeast extremely well. Verizon has always provided excellent customer service. Verizon has an excellent high-speed data network.

   

Don't overlook the prepaid plans by the major wireless companies and the mobile virtual network operators. The MVNOs include Virgin Mobile, Helio, Tracfone, and others. For the teenager or other person who wants to control their spending, the prepaid plans can be an excellent alternative to the two-year contracts usually required by the postpaid plans of the major carriers. Prepaid is also a great way to thoroughly test a carrier's network before committing to a contract.

kajeet is an exciting new prepaid service for kids and their parents. Check them out at kajeet.com.

Most of the major carriers' plans offer free calling to "in-network" or "favorite" contacts. Be sure to check with your most-frequent callers to see what company they are using for wireless.

As always, I welcome your comments and questions.

Indestructible Cellphone ?

Three mornings each week, I go for a run from my home in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. I live about a mile from the ocean, so my route is east from my house, toward the ocean. Until a few years ago, I ran along the beach for a couple of miles. However, since I have gotten older and slower, I have run along First Street which runs parallel to the shoreline.

Now, I hate to be out of touch. For safety (and other reasons,) I like to carry a phone with me when I go for my morning runs. Of course, most cellphones are fairly delicate and less-than waterproof. That's where the Casio G'zOne comes in handy. I carry a Casio G'zOne Type 'V' from Verizon Wireless. I remember someone saying that a toy for boys that was described as "unbreakable" was the toy they used to break other toys. Well, the G'zOne is the phone used to break other phones. This thing is built "like a tank."

Frequently, I get rained on during my run. Florida's coasts are well known for their sudden rain squalls. Not to worry with the G'zOne. Although Casio's conservative description calls it  "water resistant," I have read reviews where the writer complained about not getting a good connection under water. Phonescoop.com says

"This very rugged clamshell CDMA phone is fully submersible in water and sports unique watch functions on the outer display. Tech features include a 2 megapixel camera, EVDO high-speed data, a QVGA display, and speakerphone." Read more and get all the specs for the Type 'V' at Phonescoop.com

More information about the Casio G'zOne Type 'V' is also available at The Casio Website, and Verizon Wireless website.

For the construction worker, outdoorsman, hunter, fisherman, runner, or anyone else that is rough on phones, I recommend that you take a close look at the Casio G'zOne.

++++++

Note:

Casio has now released another G'zOne phone. You can read about the Type 'S' at Casio's Website, Phonescoop.com, and Verizon Wireless site.

The Type 'S' adds Bluetooth and is smaller and lighter.

What's on my Blackberry

I don't do much instant messaging.

However, when I do want to carry on a conversation via instant messaging with a friend, client, or family member, I like to have a reliable and portable means of doing that.

Over the years I have used many various instant messaging systems. I have used the one-network solutions from Yahoo!, Microsoft, and America Online. I have also used third-party applications that connect to some or all of the instant-message networks.

I've used various devices including traditional cellphones, Palm devices, Windows Mobile devices, and Blackberries. For any text-based application that requires a large amount of text entry, my favorite is always a Blackberry. One of the greatest features of text entry using a Blackberry is the numerous shortcuts built-into Blackberries. A casual user of Blackberries may be missing some of its best features by never learning all the built-in tricks of the device.

Several third-party instant-messaging applications are available for the Blackberry platform. I have used most (if not all) of those programs. I used WebMessenger for several years. I have also used IM+, as well as the one-network solutions from Research in Motion. However, my favorite is relatively new. It's called "JiveTalk," and is available from BeeJive.com.

Click on the link to BeeJive's Website, and give JiveTalk a trial. I think you will be impressed. I was!

By the way, BeeJive also has a JiveTalk client for the iPhone. They are also developing the program for Windows Mobile.

Wireless Coverage from Jacksonville, FL, to Columbus, GA

I recently drove from Jacksonville to Columbus, Georgia. I drove west on I-10 to the Lake City, FL, area, and then, north on I-75 to Tifton, Georgia.  At Tifton, I headed west on U.S. 82 to Albany, Georgia, where I picked up GA Route 520 into Columbus. I spent a couple of days in the Columbus area.

I just want to post some general comments about each wireless carrier's coverage along those routes.

• at&t had solid GSM coverage throughout my trip.
• T-Mobile has a few dead spots along I-75 in southern Georgia, and in some of the rural areas along U.S. 82 and Georgia 520.
• Sprint has CDMA coverage on the Interstates and the cities. However, Sprint roams on Alltel in some of the rural areas. Sprint seemed to have more EvDO coverage than Verizon throughout most of my trip.
• Verizon roams on Alltel on Interstate 75 in southern Georgia, and on U.S. 82 west of Tifton. Verizon does have native coverage in Albany and Columbus though.
• Alltel covers the whole area  well with CDMA digital service.

Interestingly, I picked up a third GSM carrier's signal in and around Columbus, Georgia. As expected, T-Mobile and at&t have good GSM coverage there. However, about 30 miles east of Columbus, on Georgia 520, I noticed a third GSM carrier with a MNC of 590. A little research makes me believe that is an Alltel GSM signal. I believe Alltel purchased the assets of PSC Wireless in that area. (Please let me know if this incorrect.)

By the way, Columbus, Georgia, is the home of AFLAC. That is why you see AFLAC's duck logo at the top of this post. Columbus is also the location of the Army's Fort Benning, the "Home of the Infantry."

What's on my Treo 700wx (Windows Mobile) Part 2

A few years ago, while out of town driving on an interstate, I received a voice-mail from an important client. I pulled in at the next rest area to return her (somewhat urgent) call. At the time, I was using a Treo 180 on the T-Mobile network. That device was produced by Handspring before that company was bought out by Palm. The 180 was the first Treo, and used the Palm operating system. I later moved to Windows CE (now Windows Mobile) devices.

The Treo 180 did not have a slot for a memory card. The data on that model could only be backed up to a computer via a cable. That model was also prone to crashes. As luck would have it, when I parked in that rest area, and opened my Treo 180 to obtain a couple of vital pieces of information that I needed before I returned my client's call, I discovered that the Treo had frozen up. I attempted a "soft" reset that would get it started again without a loss of data, but "Murphy's Law" took care of that idea. In order to get it working again, I had to perform a "hard" reset. After a hard reset, the Treo became nothing but a cellphone. All my personal data was lost until I got back to my office.

Since that time, I make sure that I travel with redundant copies of certain crucial data. One piece of software that I consider essential for my Treo 700wx, is Sprite Backup. With that software, I not only have a copy of all the data from my Treo, I have a copy of all of the Treo's programs, my custom settings, and data. Sprite backs up those items, not only to my PC when it connects, but to a Secure-Digital data card in its slot. Very importantly, that data is contained in a self-executing file on that data card. In the event I have to do a hard reset with the Treo, I can restore all of my files, settings, and programs from that data card. If the Treo should be lost or damaged beyond use, I can run that self-executing file on another Treo, and restore that device to become a duplicate of my damaged device.

Here is what Sprite has to say about their backup program:

What do I Have to Lose?
Your mobile device holds contacts, SMS, call history, documents, presentations, bank and online information, digital photos, music and more. Sprite Backup provides confidence that you will always be prepared when disaster strikes. Not convinced? Ask yourself these questions:

• How much time have you spent personalizing your device to make it "Smart"?
  Are you prepared to do it again?
• Have you installed themes, ringtones, games, productivity apps, or utilities?
  Do you have the time to re-install?
• Have you installed applications and customized preferences such as playlists, settings?
  Want to repeat the steps?

Sprite Backup is very economical insurance. My advice is "don't leave home without it!"

You can read more about Sprite Backup, and download a trial of this excellent software at  Sprite's Website.

My Favorite Cellphone Manufacturer and Feature

Have you ever been in a meeting, movie, church service, restaurant, etc, when your phone began to vibrate with a call? Did you glance at its caller ID to see that it was a call that you just had to answer? But, you were afraid that the call would go to voice-mail before you could get out of earshot of the meeting? So you answered that call as you hurried out of that meeting? Did you ignore those dirty looks that you received from others?

This has happened to me many times over the years. That is why I am so enamored with Sanyo phones. Most Sanyo phone models have a service that Sanyo describes as:

Answer On-hold: allows you to place a caller on hold while you step out of a meeting

I find that feature incredibly useful. When I receive a crucial call on my Sanyo 8400 at a time that I can't answer immediately, I press the button labeled "Options," and select "Answer on Hold." When I do that, my caller hears a voice that says "Your call will be answered shortly. Please hold." That gives me time to get out of earshot of the meeting before I actually answer the call. My caller is not sent to voice mail, where we can begin a game of "voice-mail tag." I don't use that feature often. Usually, I am satisfied to let calls go to voice-mail while I am in meetings or restaurants. However, every once in a while, a call comes in that I really want to answer immediately. Sanyo's Answer On-Hold feature is great for those times.

However, Sanyo phones' excellence doesn't stop with that one feature. I currently use cellphones from Motorola, Nokia, LG, Casio, as well as a couple smart-phones. I have recently used Samsungs and other company's products. However, I have found the audio quality, user-interface, and reception of my Sanyo 8400 to be superb. Of all my choices, my Sanyo 8400 is my only constant companion.

"PC Magazine," in its review of the Sanyo 8400, says:

"An all-around winner, the Sanyo SCP-8400 has the right balance of voice quality, multimedia, and Internet features for a midrange cell phone."  You can read the full review on PC Magazine's website HERE.

I highly recommend Sanyo phones for Sprint subscribers!

Confused about Wireless Spectrum ?

Are you as confused as I am about the wireless spectrum in the United States today? Do you read about FCC auctions, and wonder what is going on? I do too.

I frequently refer to an extremely useful website for answers to my questions about many various subjects concerning cellphones and the wireless industry, in general. The site to which I refer is Phonescoop.com.

Phonescoop has an accessible database of nearly every cellphone on the market today. The "Phone Finder" feature is extremely useful for finding the phone that has all the features that you desire. I frequently use Phonescoop's "Compare Side by Side" feature that lists the specs of several phones in side-by-side columns. For an example of a Phonescoop comparison of several phones, take a look at this Phonescoop comparison.

Phonescoop's "Glossary" is extremely helpful in explaining various terminology as well. Phonescoop also publishes articles from time to time that are a great source of information. One of those recent articles, entitled " A Visual Guide to AWS" clarified the results of the FCC auction that was held last summer. That article can be accessed in Phonescoop articles.

I frequently refer to Phonescoop.com. I highly recommend that site as an excellent resource for all.

What's on my Treo 700wx (Windows Mobile)

For the past five or six years, I have carried a windows-based Pocket PC. Those devices have varied from the HP Jornada, through several HTC PPC-Phone Edition devices, to my current Palm Treo 700wx (Windows Mobile 5) with Sprint.

Over those years, I have found several extremely useful third-party software applications. Most of these programs have competitors from other developers. In many cases, I have tried those competing products. In some cases, my choice is simply a matter of preference. In other cases, I believe I have chosen a superior program. Nearly all Windows Mobile developers offer free trials. I would always recommend that you take advantage of those free trials to make sure that a product meets your needs.

A must-have for the traveler, is "eWallet" from Illium Software.

I use "eWallet" on my Treo as well as both my desktop and notebook computers. (I synch my eWallet data with a U3 Smart Drive for access on my notebook PC.)

I find "eWallet" to be invaluable. If you are new to Windows Mobile, you should consider it to be your first addition to your new device.

I cannot describe eWallet any better than Illium does on their website where they say:

With eWallet as your password manager you can:

• Synchronize your wallets quickly with the easy-to-use Sync Setup interface.
• Keep your data current everywhere! Sync to multiple PDAs, UMPCs, laptops, network computers, even remote locations on the web - there is no limit.
• View your data from remote computers using our built-in access to Iomega iStorage.
• Protect your important information with strong 256-bit RC4 encryption.
• Organize your info how you want it with nested categories. eWallet lets you have categories in other categories.
• Store your answers to website security verification questions. The free-form note field on each eWallet card lets you keep track of your answers, and even the questions, so you'll never forget what you entered as your favorite food, or your high school mascot.

I use the desktop program on my PCs, as my password manager. Having your bank account, credit card info, licenses, and all your other private information at hand on your computer at your desktop, and on your handheld while you're traveling is great. Knowing that information is secure, is even greater!

I highly recommend Illium's "eWallet." You can read more about the program as well as download a free trial at Illium's Website.

My Favorite (Automobile) GPS Solution

Over the past few years, I have used various devices and services to help me find my way in my car. I drive throughout the states of Florida, Georgia, South and North Carolina frequently. At least once a year, I drive to Massachusetts. Here are some of my experiences with several Global Positioning System (GPS) devices.

I have purchased and used several dashboard GPS devices. My first was a Garmin Streetpilot. I bought the Streetpilot in 2003, and used it extensively for several years. It really worked well for me. However, the technology in 2003 limited the device's data-storage capabilities. It used a data card that held a limited amount of map data. Before each trip, I connected the Streetpilot to my PC to load maps to its data card. On a trip from Florida to Massachusetts, I didn't have room for all the areas that I expected to visit. I had to predict which counties or areas in which I expected to be off the interstate highways.

So, after a couple of years with the Garmin, I decided that I would prefer a GPS unit that could carry the entire U.S. on-board. I ended up selling the Garmin on eBay, and buying a Magellan Roadmate. Magellan advertised that their Roadmate carried "street-level maps of the entire U.S. and Canada" on board. Magellan's advertising bragged that Hertz used their devices for the Hertz Neverlost system. That sounded like just what I needed. So, I bought myself a brand new Magellan Roadmate, a mounting kit with an external antenna, dashboard-mount bracket, power cable, etc. (approx. $1,200) and had it installed in my SUV. As I do with any GPS device, my first use of it was to test it driving to a familiar destination. It is always interesting to see if it uses the best route when going to a place with which I am very familiar. I was heading to an appointment with a client at his house, so I tried to set my client's address as my destination. I was disappointed to discover that my client's street was NOT in the Magellan's database. I soon learned that GPS databases require annual updating to keep up with new streets, changes in existing roads and intersections, etc. (Database updates typically cost about $100 to $200.)I used the Magellan for several weeks, setting familiar destinations and checking the routes that it used. In most cases, the Roadmate used logical routes, and worked well. However, occasionally, the unit would do something strange. On some occasions, the Magellan unit would start making a clicking sound. When I glanced at the display, I would see the screen zooming in or out to the maps, or other displays. Usually, pressing a button would stop the noise and zooming.

One of the nice features about the Magellan, was its ability to Resume Navigating after I made a short stop in the middle of a trip. For example, if I stopped at a rest area, when I re-started my car, the Magellan display would ask "Resume Navigation" (or something to that effect.) However, that feature stopped working. So, when I would re-start my car, the Magellan would just power up. If I looked at the section of "Recent Destinations," my current destination was often gone. Now, I would have to go through the whole process of finding and setting my destination again.

Occasionally, the Magellan would simply freeze up. When this happened, pressing any of its buttons would do nothing. The only way to get it working again, was to remove the power cord for a few seconds before re-powering the device.

By now, I was convinced that I had a bad unit. After multiple calls to Thales Navigation (Magellan's manufacturer) tech support, where their solution was to remove power from the device for times ranging from a few minutes to overnight, or run the built-in diagnostics. None of which corrected the problems. So I obtained authorization to return my Magellan Roadmate to Thales for warranty repair. I sent along a detailed list of the problems with the unit. A couple of weeks later, my Roadmate arrived back to me.

Nothing had changed. It still experienced the same problems. Sometimes it worked fine. Many times, it would freeze up.

I called Thales again. This time I told them that I wanted a replacement. Their response was that they no longer had any new or re-conditioned Roadmates of the same model. However, they had a newer, better model that they would sell to me a discount due to the problems I had experienced. I told the tech I would get back to him in a day or two. A quick check of the online stores revealed that I could buy that same new model for about $100 less than the discounted price that Magellan offered me. I wrote Thales/Magellan a long letter letting them know how disappointed I was in the way I had been treated. They never responded. Needless to say, I am through using or recommending Magellan products. I'll chock the $1200 up to experience. By the way, I gave the Magellan to my grandson to play with.

I tried using a wireless service called TeleNav with my Nextel phone. The service worked fairly well. However, I frequently lost connection to the GPS satellites, in cloudy weather or in areas heavily shaded by trees, mountains, or tall buildings.

Now, after more than four years, I have found the solution. Verizon Wireless has a service called VZNavigator. For $9.95 per month, I subscribe to VZNavigator for unlimited GPS service on my LG enV VX9900 phone. (VZNavigator is also available on many of Verizon's phones.) It really works great for me!

The map database is on Verizon's servers, so that database remains up-to-date without any additional purchases or installation. Before a trip, I log in to Verizon's website to set the addresses of my known destinations, so those destination are in my "Favorites" section when I use VZ Navigator on my phone. Of course, I can look for addresses, restaurants, hotels, and other destinations right from the VZNavigator application on my phone as well. Verizon uses a system called "A-GPS," (assisted GPS determines your location via cellphone towers when satellites are not in view) so I don't experience the GPS satellite connection problems that Telenav with Nextel had. I have used VZNavigator for nearly a year, now. I love it!

However, I have discovered one downside of VZNavigator. Even with Verizon's great network, there are times that I have found myself roaming on other networks. In some rural areas, Verizon subscribers roam on Alltel and other networks. I recently spent over an hour on I-75 in southern Georgia, roaming on Alltel. While my voice coverage on Alltel was great, VZNavigator could not connect to Verizon's servers to download updates and directions. That could present problems. However, I find myself seldom roaming on other networks with my Verizon phones.

In spite of this drawback, I highly recommend VZ Navigator.

iPhone Hype

First of all, I have to give Apple and AT&T high marks for creating widespread interest in the soon-to-be-released iPhone. People who normally have no interest in tech devices are asking me about the iPhone. Shortly after this coming Friday's release of the device, the news and the web will be flooded with iPhone reviews. I don't plan to buy one, but I will predict the general consensus of the those upcoming reviews.

Apple advertises the following features:

• Revolutionary phone
• Widescreen iPod
• Internet in your pocket
• High Technology
• Web 2.0 Applications

My predictions of how well they will perform and what the reviewers will say:

• Revolutionary phone: Apple sites says

  "iPhone is a revolutionary new mobile phone that allows you to make a call by simply tapping a name or number in your address book, a favorites list, or a call log. It also automatically syncs all your contacts from a PC, Mac, or Internet service. And it lets you select and listen to voicemail messages in whatever order you want — just like email."

This should be good. Apple has always led the industry in graphics and user interfaces. I don't believe "revolutionary" is too strong a word for the phone's user interface.

• Widescreen iPod: Apple website says

  "iPhone is a widescreen iPod with touch controls that lets you enjoy your content — including music, audiobooks, videos, TV shows, and movies — on a beautiful 3.5-inch widescreen display. It also lets you sync your content from the iTunes library on your PC or Mac. And then you can access it all with just the touch of a finger."

This should also be a hit. Apple has led the industry with its iTunes software and iPod players. I predict that the iPhone will not be a disappointment in this regard. It's too bad, though, that iPhone users will not be able to download tunes over the air. Song files will have to be "side-loaded" through a cable to their computers.

• Internet in your pocket: Apple website says

  "iPhone features a rich HTML email client and Safari — the most advanced web browser ever on a portable device — which automatically syncs bookmarks from your PC or Mac. Safari also includes built-in Google and Yahoo! search. iPhone is fully multi-tasking, so you can read a web page while downloading your email in the background over Wi-Fi or EDGE."

Here is where I predict the iPhone will really disappoint the folks who shell out five or six hundred dollars, and commit themselves to two years of AT&T service. AT&T's EDGE service will satisfy very few iPhone users. Browsing websites over a slow (dialup-like or worse) connection is just too frustrating for most people. Why Apple went exclusively with AT&T, and didn't include third generation data capability in the iPhone baffles me. After the initial "wow" factor of the slick interface wears off, the reality will sink in that the "internet in your pocket" is too slow to be very useful.

• High technology: Apple website says

  "iPhone features the most revolutionary user interface since the mouse. It’s an entirely new interface based on a large multi-touch display and innovative new software that lets you control everything using only your fingers. So you can glide through albums with Cover Flow, flip through photos and email them with a touch, or zoom in and out on a section of a web page — all by simply using iPhone’s multi-touch display.
  
  "iPhone’s full QWERTY soft keyboard lets you easily send and receive SMS messages in multiple sessions. And the keyboard is predictive, so it prevents and corrects mistakes, making it easier and more efficient to use than the small plastic keyboards on many smartphones."

I agree that the user interface is revolutionary. If it really works as Apple describes, I predict that it will be a hit. However, a visual keyboard that doesn't offer the feel of a real keyboard, may not be quite as well liked. I think the keyboard reviews will be based upon a matter of individual taste.

• Web 2.0 Applications: Apple website says 

      iPhone™ will run applications created with Web 2.0 Internet standards when it begins shipping on   June 29. Developers can create Web 2.0 applications which look and behave just like the applications built into iPhone, and which can seamlessly access iPhone’s services, including making a phone call, sending an email and displaying a location in Google Maps. Third-party applications created using Web 2.0 standards can extend iPhone’s capabilities without compromising its reliability or security."

Those third-party applications won't be hitting the market right away. Anything that is web-based on the (slow) EDGE network may not be useful. I will reserve my opinion to a later date on those applications.

Overall, I predict mixed reviews. I am anxious to see the second generation of iPhones. If Apple makes a CDMA version of the iPhone, or, at least a third-generation data (for AT&T) capable iPhone in the next round, that will be a success. I believe a fast data connection will make the iPhone a great product for the user that wants an all-in-one mobile device. I think, in the long run, Apple may have a winner.

         

Coverage from Jacksonville, FL, to Charlotte

I just spent a few days in and around King's Mountain, NC. (Just west of Gastonia.) During my drive up I-95, to I-26, and then north on I-77, I frequently checked the coverage on my phones.

I kept a strong signal on all the networks, while traveling on the interstates. I picked up SunCom about forty miles south of Savannah, and kept a SunCom signal throughout my stay in the Carolinas. I lost T-Mobile coverage in South Carolina, and didn't pick it up again until I was headed back and close to the Georgia line. T-Mobile roams on the SunCom network in most of the Carolinas.

Alltel and Verizon are very strong throughout the Carolinas. Those two carriers' 800 Mhz signals have great coverage. AT&T's and Sprint's 1900 Mhz coverage is very good in most areas. Suncom's coverage seems to have improved. However, given a choice, one of the 800/850 Mhz carriers is still my first choice. In the eastern half of Georgia and throughout most of the Carolinas, that would be Alltel or Verizon. AT&T has the only 800/850 coverage in most of the eastern half of Florida. So, AT&T is a good choice for Florida folks.

Interestingly, Sprint's EvDO seems to be available in more areas in and around the Charlotte area than Verizon's EvDO. I connected to a good Sprint EvDO signal in my hotel near I-85 in King's Mountain, N.C. I wasn't able to get  Verizon EvDO coverage at that location until my last day there. I don't know if Verizon was experiencing problems with their data, or just installing EvDO there. I currently have no way to tell if a EvDO signal is Rev. 0 or Rev. A. It would be interesting to see where Rev A is available.

If you have questions or comments regarding the wireless cellular networks in the Carolinas, Georgia, or Florida, feel free to post a comment or shoot me an email.

Act! Calendar and Contacts on Blackberries

For quite a few years, I have used Act! Contact-management software on my desktop to keep track of contacts, and my appointments. I have also used Microsoft Outlook, but Act! works better for me. If you are an Outlook user, you have many methods to synchronize your desktop contacts and calendar with your Blackberry (or other PDA.) For the Act! user, the choices are more limited.

For the past two years, I have used a service and software called HandHeld Contact to wirelessly synchronize my desktop and Blackberry calendar and contact information. It works extremely well for me.

HandHeld Contact installs a small program on your PC, that transfers your data to HandHeld Contact's secure servers. The user sets the frequency of those transfers to keep the server-based database up-to-date. A program is also installed on the Blackberry. That program synchronizes (wirelessly) with the server-based database.

I have Act! setup with some custom fields. HandHeld Contact's setup allowed me to map those custom fields to synchronized fields on my Blackberry. It also allowed me to exclude transfer of some of those fields as well.

Of course, I can easily set appointments, when I am away from my office, by entering those appointments on my Blackberry. I also, can record notes regarding phone calls, and other items, and attach those notes to the appropriate contact. I can access those notes, at my desk or via my Blackberry.

If you rely on Act! to keep track of your appointments, phone calls, and contacts, HandHeld Contact is an excellent tool to keep that information at hand, when you are away from your desk. I find that having access to a history of meetings and conversations with my clients, is invaluable.

HandHeld Contact's website has a live demo. They also offer a free fourteen-day trial. I have found their tech support to be excellent.

Why both a Blackberry & a Pocket PC ?

I was recently asked why I carry both a Blackberry and a wireless Windows Mobile (Pocket PC) device.

Here is how I responded:

I have a Sprint Treo 700wx and a VZW Blackberry 8703e.

I use both of them frequently, and (for me) they both work great!

Please take the following statements as nothing more than my humble opinions. I'm sure other readers will disagree with me.

Nothing beats the Blackberry for text-intensive applications such as instant-messaging and email. The many excellent shortcuts built-into all QWERTY Blackberries are often overlooked and under-rated. However, the excellent keyboard and those shortcuts make text entry a breeze on the Blackberry. RIM's push email system is still "best in class."

For third-party applications, web-browsing, and graphics, Windows Mobile devices are far superior to the current crop of Blackberries.

And, for voice communications, nothing beats a (non-pda) cellphone. So, I seldom use either my Blackberry or Treo for voice. I carry a traditional (flip-style) cellphone. However, I do use for my Blackberry as a pager. I keep the Blackberry's phone set to "Do Not Disturb." That setting sends all calls directly to voice mail. I list my Blackberry's phone number as my voice-pager number. I never receive a call on it, but get a voice-mail-waiting indicator when I have voice mail waiting. This setup works extremely well for me.

I have tried and failed (several times) to migrate completely to a single wireless device. I finally gave up trying, and now carry around three of them. (No, they are not all hanging on my belt! )

Therefore, my advice would be for each person to decide which features are most important to him or her. Then, use the device that is best for those important applications. Or, carry around three separate gadgets like a few of us do.

I stand by my advice. Feel free to post a comment with your experiences.