PocketMatrix

im interested in pickin up the socket phone card that connects ur cell phone and ur pocket pc so u can go on the internet.... anyone hav one of these? whats ur experience w/ it? i kno speeds arent great but is it tolerable? does it require an isp? any info would be great... ty

no this thing is like a CF card that connects ur ipaq to ur cell phone... u then can dial up the inet using ur cell minutes...

To my knowledge you will need a phone with data capability - you can't use the card with any old phone. Another option is to get a phone with irDa, and just point your pocket PC at your phone when you want to go online. Finally, the most expensive option would be to get a bluetooth card for your Pocket PC (if you're not using a new iPaq that his it built-in) and a bluetooth phone.

Dan East

I would strongly recommend the Bluetooth option, if you can afford it. While connecting via IrDA is straightforward enough, the whole point of mobile data comms is that it's MOBILE. What's the point of it if you have to be stationary, with a flat surface, with both the phone and pda constantly pointed at each other? With bluetooth, you can check mail, etc while walking down the street, on the bus, etc. You can even use it for SMS and other phone uses, so the only time you'd even need to touch your phone would be to answer a call! (Or never, if you had a bluetooth handsfree!)

I use an Ipaq 3870 and connect via bluetooth with an Ericsson T68. The phone's battery is excellent enough for me to be able to leave Blutetooth on constantly. I'm also connected to Vodafone's GPRS service which means i'm always connected, and data speeds are equivalent to a 56k modem. I would seriously recommend this option, as Bluetooth cards are constantly falling in price & more and more handsets are Bluetooth enabled. The GPRS option, while useful, is still quite expensive in practice and so should be considered only if it is needed.

Seriously, after using this method i don't think i could ever return to IrDa or a cable. Bluetooth really is the future of mobile data comms!

Hey, i am NOT loaded! I work very hard and very long hours. I'm a resident DJ at a well-known London club, manage a mobile phone shop (not own, but manage!) while studying for my degree and coding in my spare time. I'm not loaded, but i need to be connected at all times, as i spend a lot of my time on the road. At the moment, i haven't even been home for about 6 days!

I saved a bit of money on the bluetooth deal. I covertly follow T1 around and just stay close enough to his person to leach off of his internet connection.

Dan East

You THEIF!! ...But wouldn't it just be cheaper to stay at home and use a regular modem?

BTW, just in case someone's stupid enough to think what Dan's saying is actually possible, both devices have to be paired and using the same passkey... although, knowing Dan, he's probably already cracked it..

shoot me some costs on bluetooth... and what american providers might be able to offer 56k like speeds... to my knowledge the fastest carrier in the US is 19.2kbps which is too slow to invest in...