The Wireless World - NEWS & VIEWS

Algebra instructor Raymond Moore has seen it more times than he cares to recall. He's lecturing, a cell phone rings, and everybody scrambles to see if it's theirs.
Sometimes the kid answers the phone. Other times, he or she runs out the door, "returning a few minutes later with a 'whatever' when you ask them to turn off their phone," says Moore, who teaches at Ivy Tech State College in Terre Haute, Ind. "I had one student ask me what she missed."
Today's college instructors, perhaps more than anyone else, must deal with the etiquette fallout of cell phones on campus.
Some university orientation programs now address the growing problem. When Seton Hall University dean of freshmen Tracy Gottlieb speaks to incoming classes about college etiquette, a colleague barges in, answers her phone and checks e-mail.
Students are "shocked. And then of course realize she's pulling their leg. But it gives us a great platform to discuss cell phones and other interferences."
Schools are cracking down on students who use cell phones to cheat on exams. But many professors say the real irritations are disruptions in class.
Here's how some address problems:
Moore spells it out in all capital letters, just below the title of his course on his syllabi:
TURN OFF ALL CELL PHONES AND PAGERS. "If a phone goes off, I have the student leave for the remainder of that class session," he says. "If it persists, which it never has, I would drop the student."
Five years ago, Howard Hoyt, an associate professor at California's Mount San Jacinto College, began warning on his syllabi:
Anyone whose cell phone goes off will be marked as having an unexcused absence that day. Since then, "I've had two cell phones go off," he says. "I think the looks from the other students worked much better than anything I could have said."
Psychology professor Joann Wright at Hofstra University in Long Island got so fed up with persistent ringing from one student's cell phone that, after repeated warnings, she threatened to lower the student's grade by one letter every time it went off.
"If they're in their class with the cell phones on, it's endorsing the idea that social life is at least as important as academic life," she says.
When that familiar ringing goes off in Maryland's Salisbury University history professor Kevin Birch's class, he picks up the offending phone.
"I usually say something funny or slightly embarrassing, then remind the students how disrespectful it is," Birch says. "It usually only happens once. The students tend to be mortified."
SOURCE USA TODAY

Both sides scramble in LNP delay debate
WASHINGTON 10-30-03 "It Ain't Over Till It's Over™s over, and state regulators are not giving up until they are sure the wireless industry cannot succeed in delaying the Nov. 24 mandate to implement local number portability.

"The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners will remain vigilant. The wireless industry has already pulled off a double hat trick in delaying LNP until now; we do not want them to get a triple hat trick," said James Bradford Ramsay, NARUC general counsel.

The opponents and proponents have been scrambling all over Capitol Hill in an attempt to either delay or thwart the delay of WLNP until after the holiday shopping season.

As of Thursday, Ramsay's side appeared to be ahead as one of the staunch supporters of a delay, Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, told reporters that he does not support a delay at this time. He is instead waiting for a response to a letter he sent Tuesday to the Federal Communications Commission urging the agency to issue rules on wireline-to-wireless portability.

Stevens spoke to reporters outside a Senate Commerce Committee hearing on the universal-service system.

For his part, FCC Chairman Michael Powell told reporters after his appearance before the Senate Commerce Committee that he has had several conversations with lawmakers regarding LNP, and that while he is not lobbying against a delay, when asked his opinion, he said he supports WLNP.

Some in the industry were quick Wednesday to distance themselves from any delay. "While we agree that the FCC could have better defined the rules of WLNP for the wireless industry, U.S. Cellular has made the investment and is ready to accommodate the needs of our customers," said U.S. Cellular President John Rooney.

The reluctance of senators to support a delay in WLNP became apparent just as a federal appeals court Wednesday afternoon rejected a plea from AT&T Wireless Services Inc. and Cingular Wireless L.L.C. to require the FCC to either issue rules on wireline-to-wireless portability or delay the Nov. 24 mandate.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit rejected the request in a one-paragraph opinion.

"The D.C. Circuit Court's decision to deny the petition for mandamus, while disappointing, does not affect Cingular's ability to be ready for the Nov. 24 launch of wireless local number portability," said Cingular. "We will be ready to port in the Top 100 MSAs, and we welcome consumers to Cingular's outstanding services and latest products."

The Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association has made a similar request of the D.C. Circuit.
THANKS TO RCR NEWS

PalmOne has released an EMAIL this evening as well as revamped the front page on their website to show that Palm and Handspring are truely one, or should I say palmOne. It is definitely interesting to see the TREO 600 at top dead center on the PalmOne webpage
Further down on the page you find links to Palm support pages and HandSpring support pages. To see more of this technologically historic merger, go to the PalmOne site (I must admit I have trouble with the small "p" as you see in my post) or go to the complete News Release that outlines the complete new "palmOne".

Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace and Wireless World

NEW Palm Store Gift Guide helps you find the perfect present! Plus FREE Shipping on new handhelds.

ExtremeTech: Wireless PDAs
Infrared connectivity is a nice curio-it's good for a quick exchange of information or even sending a job to an IR-equipped printer, but it's not true wireless. If you want to connect a PDA to an 802.11b network, you'll want to read this ExtremeTech article for a look at the best wireless PDAs and for an excellent explanation of how to hook handhelds into your existing network.

PDAs are wireless by design and although nearly all of them have integrated IR (old hat in these devices), only higher-end models have true built-in wireless (802.11b) capability. PDAs still aren't the friendliest places to surf the Web, owing to their small displays. But getting real-time information into your PDA without having to do a hot-sync is a definite upgrade, and, increasingly, a standard feature. Today, we'll show you nine wireless-enabled PDAs and teach you how to connect the two major PDA OSes to your wireless network.

So let's get connected. Read the Full Story in PC Magazine

Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, WirelessWorld & PalmPlace

When your buying a new, sleek leather case for your Palm, do you find yourself asking if it is resistant to BOTH Ketchup and Mustard? Is that "Special Sauce" becoming a problem on your Tungsten's Slider? Do you find the Happy Meal Toy in your pocket has scratched your Palm's screen after lunch? Well it looks like these may very well be issues of concern for today's Hungry Mobile Professional (or HMP's as they will soon be known to the staff of McDonalds, mark my words!).

McDonald's said it plans to review its hotspot trial programs in the first quarter of 2004 and decide which service provider with whom it will move forward. McDonald's has WiFi trials in New York City, Chicago, Seattle, and the San Francisco Bay area. The company is currently working with hotspot providers Cometa Networks, Wayport, and Toshiba. McDonald's has yet to say whether it will choose a single service provider or continue to work with multiple providers. Analysts predict that McDonald's choice could be a "make or break" situation for any of the three service providers. McDonald's operates 13,000 locations in the U.S. The company is also running hotspot trial programs in 25 other countries. It is not certain if McDonald's will use the same service providers for its foreign markets that it will use for its U.S. stores.
NOTE: McDonalds Logo Sole property McDonalds Corp. 2003

FULL STORY @ CNET

Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace

Easily Boost Your Laptop's Performance

By: Loyd Case


Mobile PC Storage Frontiers

By now, we're used to having capacious hard drive storage on desktop PCs. Even low end personal computers these days ship with 40 gigabytes or more. However, notebooks and laptops haven't had the luxury of big drives until recently. The low power and space constraints of a typical notebook limited drives to just a single 2.5" diameter platter, typically with at just 4200RPM or less. But with the new $89 "Apricorn ez upgrade laptop PC hard drive upgrade kit " (yes that's really the name) you can easily switch over to a faster and bigger hard drive.
But is there anything to upgrade to? Yes, because hard drive capacities are still climbing. You can currently purchase an 80GB notebook drive, and and 40GB drives have become relatively common.


Apricorn's ez upgrade product ships with a compact enclosure for 2.5" hard drives which connects to your notebook via USB – and will take full advantage of USB 2.0 speeds if your system can support it. The included software easily clones the hard drive in your system to one in the enclosure. It still requires some effort, but is significantly easier than in the past.

For Rest of Story (Thanks to Extremetech.com) with PICTURES OF UPGRADE

Now that our PALMS and PDA'S are more and more becoming wireless devices as well, what effects the wireless phone world, also effects us at PALM ADDICTS. The City of New York is conducting a survey to identify locations
throughout the five boroughs where customers have experienced mobile phone reception problems. This information will be shared with service providers so that they can work to improve service throughout the
City. The results of the survey will be posted on NYC.gov beginning on November 24, 2003.
You may click the link below to read more and/or to particpate in the
survey:http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/mobilesurvey.html
NOTE TO EDITOR :Sammy, this means you!! You can probably identify all the dead spots in New York City and save them lots of time and money!!

Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace

PROPORTA RELEASES 2 NEW LEATHER CASE'S FOR THE PALM TUNGSTEN E
Chloe Temple, Product Sales Manager for Proporta, writes today, "I am pleased to announce yet another of Proporta's latest releases, the leather case for the new Palm Tungsten E. As always, we at Proporta strive to keep up with the fast pace changes within the PDA market and the recently introduced Tungsten E is no exception."

"Crafted in soft leather, the Proporta case is custom made to fit your Tungsten E handheld. The case has space for credit, business and memory cards and features a secure attachment system to hold your Tungsten E in place," she added.

We have the case in two designs to cater for all tastes:

The Book Style
The Proporta leather case is custom designed to perfectly fit your Tungsten-E. We've included space for bank cards, business cards and memory cards along with a secure attachment system to hold your Palm in place.

The Flip Style
Crafted in soft leather the Proporta leather case is custom designed to fit your PDA. The case has space for credit, business and memory cards and features a secure attachment system to hold your PDA in place. The flip opening makes this case ideal for both left and right handed PDA users.

To See More Of These Cases, Or Any Other Accessory For your PDA Check Out PROPORTA

Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace

Buy DIRECT from Palm for the best deals on Palm handhelds, accessories, and software! FREE Seiko thumb keyboard w/Palm m505 open box handheld for JUST $109.99! Ends MidNite Oct 23

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT- DON'T BE SCAMMED!!
While not completely on topic for us, I felt that we needed to take a look at this issue. As I am sure you know, there has always been a problem with FRAUD on the internet!. And we hear about it and say "Wow these people are dumb"or "Thank God I don't shop on the net!" etc. Well you need to address a new method of fraud that is getting quite prevalent. Thieves today are using a technique that is working. And EVERYONE must be made aware. This weekend I received an EMAIL from my ISP, COMCAST, saying there was an issue with my last months billing and there was an official incident number and link to click to straighten out this matter, etc. Well, lucky for me, I have switched and no longer have COMCAST this month. LUCKY FOR ME. But not all are as lucky as me The point is, this EMAIL LOOKS REAL, VERY REAL! AND I REPEAT, IT LOOKS VERY REAL!!! These thieves intermix real links of the company that they are pretending to be, so that if you click on the majority of the TEXT LINKS on the site, you will go to actual places within the companies real web site. All but one link that is, the link to your "INCIDENT". That is where you are requested to "VERIFY" your LOGIN AND PASSWORD and "UPDATE" your credit card information so that your account is "CURRENT" and so your service won't be interrupted and possibly have a "$35 Reconnect Fee". Reports indicate that thieves can do as much damage to you by stealing your login and password in some instances, as stealing your credit card info. One new scam is obtaining YOUR EBAY info and placing items for sale under your EXCELLENT FEEDBACK RATING, and of course taking the money and run. SMART!
In closing, and I know you have heard this over and over, but we need to reiterate NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER give your LOGIN and PASSWORD Info to an EMAILED request. NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER give your Credit Card Account Information to an EMAILED request. Or to a phone call that you did not initiate. If they called you, then they already have your information! If you receive such a request, Contact the Company of Origin through normal channels and see if there is a problem with your account. Please USE YOUR COMMON SENSE. These guys are professionals. It takes very little skill with today's software to create a WEB site that is IDENTICAL to the real site. Also, return EMAIL addresses and originating EMAIL addresses, it takes NOTHING TO MAKING A FAKE EMAIL ADDRESSi. In closing, I am including an EMAIL sent out regarding CITIBANK that is covering this exact type of FRAUD that I have been talking about. This is dealing with a current and ongoing incident that CITIBANK is dealing with now. All you need to do is place the name of your BANK, or your ISP, or your CABLE COMPANY or YOUR ONLINE CREDIT CARD ACCOUNT, ETC. ETC. in place of CITIBANKS name, and this could be an email coming to you about your account.
EMAIL RE: CITIBANK
Citibank customers are being targeted by scam artists trying to get their confidential bank card numbers.

The scam is perpetrated via an e-mail that includes a link that apparently directs users to a Citibank Web site, where they are greeted with a pop-up box asking them for their full debit card numbers, their personal identification numbers, and their expiration dates.

The problem is the Web site customers are directed to is a fake site operated by someone trying to gain access to that information. The spoofed site is hosted by a Web hosting company in Moscow.

A Ctitibank spokesperson said the company was unaware of the latest e-mail scam, but will work with law enforcement to get the spoofed site taken down.


Similar Scams
The New York-based company's Web site already contains information on similar scams that have targeted bank customers in recent months. Ironically, the fake site also contains that information. A similar e-mail scam targeting Citibank customers made the rounds in August.

Citibank has posted the following message to customers under the heading "About e-mail fraud" at its Web site:

"Recently, our customers have reported receiving fraudulent e-mails that appear to be from Citibank, but which are, in fact, sent by impostors. How can you tell the difference? Fraudulent e-mails typically include attachments, request personal information, or both.

"When such e-mails are sent in our name, Citibank works aggressively with law enforcement agencies to investigate them."


Sharing the Details
On its own site, the bank also posts the text of the scam e-mails that it's aware of. The latest e-mail, which appeared to be making the rounds late last week, was most likely not just sent to specific Citibank customers, but rather to thousands of e-mail users. By targeting large numbers of users, the perpetrators hope to snag some Citibank customers.

This is the text of the latest e-mail scam, which is similar to one Citibank lists as having been sent on October 2: "Dear Citibank Member, This email was sent by the Citibank server to verify your e-mail address. You must complete this process by clicking on the link below and entering in the small window your Citibank ATM/Debit Card number and PIN that you use on ATM.

"This is done for your protection -n- because some of our members no longer have access to their email addresses and we must verify it. To verify your e-mail address and access your bank account, click on the link below. If nothing happens when you click on the link (or if you use AOL)W, copy and paste the link into the address bar of your Web browser."

(The "-n-" and the "W" after "AOL" are included in the text of the e-mail.)

The e-mail also includes the link to the fake Citibank site.

Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace

Purchase Palm Tungsten T open box handheld for ONLY $179.00! One Day Only! ends 10/28 11:59PM EST


A great way to get the Palm™ handheld you want at a fraction of the cost, our previously purchased "open box" handhelds pass a thorough regimen of hardware, software, display, and usability tests. We test (where applicable) battery recharging, RAM, backlight, sound, infrared beaming, serial functions, LCD and pixel testing, button function, vibration, SD card slot, and external aesthetics.

A range of smartphones will be launched in the next few weeks, just as analysts are warning that a lack of new models is hampering sales.
Although mobile-device sales were up 27 percent for this quarter compared to the same quarter last year, the majority of growth was in the PDA market, with Hewlett-Packard performing strongly, according to analyst firm Canalys.
Other systems, like the Medion, which is used in conjunction with GPS for location-based services, have also been driving growth.
"There have not been the launches of new smartphone models to boost the market this quarter," said Canalys senior analyst Chris Jones.
"But there are a number of smartphone models coming online in the next few weeks that should boost take-up in the sector."
A series of new launches from Samsung, Nokia, Siemens and Sendo are expected over the next few weeks.
Sendo was the first to market this week with the launch of the Sendo X, the first smartphone designed and built in Britain.
The tri-band handset is using the Symbian 60 operating system and weighs in at 120 grams. It has a colour screen, built in camcorder and Bluetooth and is available immediately.
"We believe that the Sendo X has the best combination of advanced multimedia and Internet capability of any phone available on the market today," said Hugh Brogan, Sendo's chief executive.
"True to Sendo's business model, we have made the phone extremely customisable for the operator and the user. Both can now adapt the phone to the way they want to use it."
Distributors also hope that the new products will boost the market. "The lack of new products being launched has not inspired end users," said Mark Robinson, business manager at Hugh Symons Group.
"That may change with the new products coming online which may give users more of a reason to buy. On the handheld computing side, units are flying out.
"A lot of location-based services are going into the haulage and shipping industries."

THANKS TOO: WIRELESS NEWS FACTOR

New Release! JABRA FreeSpeak is the ultimate hands-free and wire-free solution that connects your mobile phone to your headset via Bluetooth radio technology instead of a wire.
Supports voice dialling with most Nokia and Sony Ericsson phones.

FreeSpeak works up to 30 feet away from your mobile phone. Talk freely even if your phone is inside a briefcase, a pocket, or across the room. All calls are transmitted wirelessly to your earpiece. FreeSpeak gives you easy, intuitive access to volume controls and features LED and audible status indicators.

Weighing less than an ounce, FreeSpeak is made of a soft, sound-absorbing elastomer material that reduces distortions, resulting in crisp sound quality. The earpiece and microphone boom fit behind either ear for a comfortable, secure fit. The earpiece also features the new JABRA MiniGel™, an evolution of our patented EarGel®. This soft, ergonomic gel tip channels sound directly into your ear for better reception. This improves your ability to hear conversations clearly even in noisy environments.

FreeSpeak comes with a charging cradle which doubles as the headset holder. The charging cradle includes a snap-on clip to hold the earpiece to your belt or purse when not in use.

Palm Store has a great one day special SAVE $90! on the Palm Tungsten T2 w/MP3 Audio Kit. Today ONLY






NEW CONTEST HAS STARTED !!! WIN AN ALUMINUM CASE FOR YOUR PALM OR SONY CLIE from PROPORTA, www.proporta.com !!!

I am pleased to announce that this weekend starts another of many contests we will be having. PROPORTA (a "E"tailer of excellent PDA accessories) has given Wireless World an Aluminum Case for either a PALM or CLIE to GIVEAWAY this weekend. So, heres what you need to do. Go to PROPORTA's WEBSITE at http://www.proporta.com and (after you have looked around and marveled at what is available and the incredible pricing !!) find the NEW RETRACTIBLE USB SYNCH & CHARGE CABLE. Give us any 2 Features listed for the SYNCH AND CHARGE CABLE ( any PDA Version). I found it in 4 places with relative ease, so it should be a breeze. Then send that along with how/where you heard about this weekends contest to supportstaff@comcast.net. In the SUBJECT line please put CONTEST ENTRY. Then include your full name, shipping address, EMAIL address as well as the model Aluminum case you desire, PALM Model# or SONY CLIE Model#. The contest will run through Thursday, Dec 4th at Midnite. Winner will be contacted by Chloe at PROPORTA and your case will be speedily shipped to your location. ALSO, all entrants will receive a discount code good for a nice discount off your next purchase at Proporta.
So all that's left to say is GET TO IT! And, oh, guess what? Please, limit one entry per email /shipping address. Thank You and Good Luck From PROPORTA and WIRELESS WORLD (Entry information will not be released, sold or used for any form of marketing)

45% of U.S. workforce uses mobile data devices

At this week's Gartner Symposium/ITxpo, Gartner said that approximately 45 percent of the U.S. workforce currently uses a mobile data device, such as a notebook or a PDA, as a part of their job. The company predicts that by 2007 more than 50 percent of enterprises with more than 1,000 employees will make use of at least five wireless networking technologies. The hot new wireless technologies for the enterprise in next five years will be LR-WPAN solutions (especially ZigBee), Ultrawideband (UWB), and Multiple Input/Multiple Output (MIMO) networks.

The GeekZone, well known for their Bluetooth "How To Guide"", has a link to an informative FLASH Video made by Bluetooth SIG, that answers just that question. As more and more devices are released everyday with Bluetooth capabilities, many are still thinking, "Bluetooth, sure, it's so I can wear a headset without a cord". Well Bluetooth is that and Sooooo much more. Take a few minutes, take off that corded headset and check out this flick and informative read!.
The Official Bluetooth Website also has lots of information to put you in the know as well in their "HOW IT WORKS" section. You can also sign up for the Bluetooth newsletter that will keep you abreast of whats new and upcoming in Bluetooth. So take some time out and get to know Bluetooth, it is an amazing technology that looks like it has arrived, and it's here to stay, finally.
Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace

Creditel PowerSwipeTM from Nextel
All I can say that I used to have to lug a suitcase to computer shows to process Credit Cards, then make sure my tables had 110 volts AC at another $20 and them always make sure my $350 Credit Card terminal was working. This is unreal. Read on Folks:

Need to accept credit cards in the field? Or need a faster and more secure way to process them? Nextel has a solution for you.

Using the Creditel PowerSwipeTM will:

Accelerate your cash flow
Reduce bad debt - no more bounced checks
Reduce charge backs
Lower transaction costs - swipe transactions cost less than manual or call-in authorizations
Reduce need for back office support
Improve customer service - more options, faster
Improve revenues - customers buy more when paying with a credit card
PowerSwipe® Benefits
PowerSwipeTM secure-at the-swipeTM - credit card information is encrypted at the moment it's swiped
Security exceeds guidelines set by the credit card associations
Typical transactions take 6-8 seconds
Receipts can be faxed or emailed directly from your phone
PowerSwipeTM can easily snap onto select Nextel phones
What You'll Need
Nextel Java-enabled phone (i50sx, i55sr, i58sr, i85s or i88s)
Nextel Total Connect Plan (1MB plan recommended)
Creditel PowerSwipeTM phone attachment
Creditel PowerRetailTM Java application
Merchant Bank Account for transactions

After seeing that Mobimate had released WorldMate Pro 3 (WP3) $49.95, and remembering clearly (and thats been getting harder and harder these days) that I had just loaded WorldMate Pro 2(WP2), I felt I needed to explore. Well there is no mistake, we do now have a WP3 as well as WP2, WP1, WorldMate SE (Special Edition) and WorldMate Basic. Yes , if your thinking what I am, it may getting to be a tad too much. Now to continue. Working my way down, WP3 is NOT a newer version of WP2 or WP1 but a new release as they state in the new FAQ that attempts to explain all this. After you start reading, you come to realize the title should have been "What Version Do I Have, Whats The Difference & What Did I Ever Do To Deserve This?". WP3 brings to the table, a 1 year subsription to the OAG Flight Tables. At the end of the year, it requires a $24.99 renewal. SWEET!! But if you have WP2 or WP1 it is a pay upgrade to WP3 or forget about ever getting an upgrade. How much you ask? I cant tell you. I have just gone from one link to the next, each time being asked if I would like to see the upgrade policy, and then I am told it will be a substantial discount. But it won't tell me the price. In short, I just decided that if I started to lay out each scenario, and option, and new policy in this post, I would take up the whole BLOG. All I can suggest is go to MobiMate making sure you know what version you currently have. Then, decide if there are new options that you cannot live without and then send them an EMAIL, if you want to upgrade to WP3. Because I give up. In closing, I must apologize, because if you think what I've written is bad, wait till you get to the site!! It really is a shame. It has always been a great product. To someone looking to buy the product for the first time, it wont be bad. It is the client base that got them to where they are now that is getting abused. You have people that have purchased copies that will be in limbo. Unless you spend money, you will have basically dormant copies. And I guarantee the people who have just been buying WP2 are gonna be livid. WorldMate in any version, has never been some $6.95 shareware program. WorldMate is , as Palm SW goes, an investment. I can see continuing to make a better product, but did we need 5 of 'em? Somebody should have heard of the term "PLANNING". LOL Happy traveling!!!
Ron "Head Spinning" Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace

HP Overtakes Palm in European PDA Market Battle

Hewlett Packard has taken the top spot in the western European PDA market from Palm, according to IDC research.
The sector -- including voice-only mobiles, traditional stand-alone PDAs and converged smartphones -- is booming, with more than 1.3 million units shipped during the third quarter of this year.

IDC's research found that Nokia retained its number one position in the mobile-device market, with 44 percent market share. But in the stand-alone PDA market, HP overtook Palm in western Europe.

Andrew Brown, mobile devices programme manager for IDC, said in a statement: "The uplift in demand for handhelds is partly attributable to the influx and availability of Windows Mobile Pocket PC 2003 devices, but also suggests a pick-up in terms of business demand."

Symbian was found to remain the market-leading operating system, with a 53 percent share. But the rebranded Windows Mobile OS, which includes Microsoft Smartphone, Pocket PC, and Pocket PC Phone Edition, saw a sales increase of 73 percent compared with the same period last year -- albeit from a very low base.

Meanwhile, the number of devices shipped using the Palm OS dropped by 3 percent year on year.
Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace

At simultaneous events in Las Vegas and Beijing today, Sony Ericsson unveiled the long-anticipated P900 wireless handheld, to be available starting next month. Building on the successful P800, Sony Ericsson pegs the P900 as smaller, faster, simpler and more flexible than its predecessor. Despite bearing a striking similarity to the P800, the P900 does however have a couple of new features up its sleeve such as a 16-bit colour screen and the ability to record video.
Sony Ericsson itself commented on persistent rumours of a follow-up to the successful P800 preceding its launch, chalking the interest up to strong interest for Sony Ericsson’s Symbian-based offering and laying ground for further speculation as to whether information leaked to the public was intentionally controlled by Sony Ericsson.

Still based on Symbian OS 7.0 which powers the UIQ platform of the device, the P900 shares many of the traits of the P800 such as a clamshell flip cover design, an integrated digital camera with VGA resolution and tri-band GSM/GPRS 900/1800/1900 MHz connectivity. In addition, the P900 is also capable of recording video at QCIF resolution with MPEG4 video compression, and video clips should consume approximately 1 MB of storage per minute according to Sony Ericsson.

The screen of the P900 boasts improved colour depth, and is capable of displaying 65,536 colours compared to 4,096 colours on the P800. Improvements to software also enable full and wide screen viewing of images, and with support for both J2ME and the Mophun gaming platform, will be able to access a variety of application and games content. The much praised 5-way Jog Dial from the P800 remains unchanged, as do polyphonic ringtones and processing power sufficient to enable 3D gaming (of which one is bundled with the P900).
For Complete Phone DATA Sheet and a Hi Res PIC CLICK HERE to go to InfoSynch

Motorola is now selling its TrueSync Upgrade "Mobile PhoneTools". Available from the Motorola Online Store

Use mobile PhoneTools® and make your life easier! Take the office with you wherever you go--whether you are in the airport, at a soccer game, or in your own home--this software can be used by virtually anyone!

View your phone on the screen
Send and receive messages through Email or SMS (10)
Look up information on the Internet when you need it the most (10)
Sync information between your PC and your mobile phone while on the go.

See Mobile PhoneTools in Action

Windows Operation System Requirements:
Windows 98SE, 2000, ME and XP for USB cables
Windows 98SE, 2000, ME, NT 4.0 and XP for Serial cable

Compatible with Motorola: T720 (CDMA), T720 (GSM), T720i, T721, T730, T731, T722i, V60i, V60x, V60p, 120x, 120e, C331 (TDMA) C332 (TDMA), C333 (CDMA) and C353 (TDMA) phones - REQUIRES CABLE SKN6311(USB) OR S9141(SERIAL)
Please note: the C333(CDMA), T720(CDMA), V60x, 120e and 120x will NOT work with the S9141A serial data.
Also compatible with Motorola C331(GSM) and C332(GSM) - REQUIRES CABLE SKN6371(USB)

What You Get:Mobile PhoneTools Software CD
Quick Start Guide


To Order Direct From Motorola CLICK HERE

A Colorful BlackBerry
By Bruce Brown
October 1, 2003

Product: RIM BlackBerry 7230
Street price: $400, plus $30�$40 in monthly T-Mobile
service fees
Requires: PC with one USB port running Microsoft Windows 98, Me, 2000, or XP
Company Info: T-Mobile USA Inc., 800-866-2453, www.t-mobile.com

BlackBerry fans will be happy to welcome the RIM BlackBerry 7230 handheld ($400 plus monthly service charges), the first RIM model with a color display and 900-, 1,800-, and 1,900-MHz tri-band GSM/GPRS coverage for international use.

You can use the 7230 for voice calls, Internet browsing and enterprise e-mail, and two-way SMS. Rudimentary contact, task, and scheduling tools keep the 7230 out of the running as a PDA, but that's the idea: The 7230 is being marketed as a data viewer and a wide-coverage phone for mobile professionals.


The 4.8-ounce, 4.4- by 2.9- by 0.8-inch (HWD) unit comes with a USB syncing cable, travel charger, desktop stand, swivel holster, and headset. The rechargeable battery is rated for up to 4 hours of talk time and 10 days standby. T-Mobile sells the 7230 with one of two data plans: $29.99 per month for unlimited data added on to most T-Mobile voice plans or $39.99 a month for unlimited data and 300 text messages, with voice calls billed at 20 cents per minute.

The 64K color display is highly readable. It shows three rows of six application icons in the home screen, plus status and message areas. The display and the QWERTY keyboard are backlit. Like earlier RIM products, the 7230 uses a combination jog dial and back button for interface navigation.

RIM's first voice phone, the BlackBerry 5810, required a headset for voice calls, but the 7230 has an integrated microphone and speaker. Voice quality is very clear, but there is no speakerphone function.

The 7230 can also serve as a BlackBerry Enterprise Server client for e-mail from Outlook Exchange or Lotus Domino systems and for Internet mail, with up to ten Internet e-mail accounts configured via a wizard.

The 7230's browser supports both XML rendering and Java provisioning. We were able to download the complex PC Magazine home page and see most elements�no mean feat�but the wait time of about a minute (with four bars of signal strength) was too long.

The 7230 is positioned to compete with the Handspring Treo Communicator 270/300 models. All are fine phones (though the Treos have a speakerphone). As PDAs, the Treos are better, with greater access to third-party software. The BlackBerry 7230, however, is hands-down better for enterprise e-mail. RIM and T-Mobile have a winner in the BlackBerry 7230 handheld.


$100 off Gateway� M305s Notebook - Only $699.99!

SIERRA WIRELESS ENTERS INTO THE MOBILE PHONE BUSINESS
TARGETS THE PROFESSIONAL USER

VANCOUVER (CP) - Sierra Wireless, a provider of wireless modems for laptop and handheld computers, has announced a new product line combining a mobile phone with handheld e-mail and Internet access.
The first of the Voq line of phones, which include a flip-open computer-style thumbpad for text entry, is expected to be on sale in the first half of 2004, providing "compelling voice and data functionality in a single, pocketable device," Sierra Wireless said Wednesday.
The Voq will be based on Microsoft's Windows Mobile software, which Sierra Wireless said will enable users to synchronize with Microsoft Outlook e-mail software as well as browse the Internet and listen to music.
The first model will work with wireless networks using the GSM and GPRS standard used throughout Europe and on some North American networks, including Rogers AT&T Wireless and Microcell's Fido in Canada.
Sierra Wireless didn't say Wednesday which mobile-phone carriers would sell the Voq.
David Sutcliffe, chairman and chief executive officer, said Sierra Wireless is responding to a need among busy professionals and corporate users for a single highly portable device to deliver voice and data communications.
"We are investing in expanding our product line to meet these needs and are doing so with a continued business focus on growth and profitability."
Flextronics International Ltd. will assemble the Voq products.
Sierra Wireless stock traded at $23.75, up $1.60 or seven per cent, on the Toronto Stock Exchange.
The Vancouver-based company reiterated its third-quarter guidance issued on July 17 and said it will provide an update of its fourth-quarter expectations on Oct. 22 when it releases its results for the third quarter.

World Class: Best of 2003 by PC WORLD
The gear of the year: your complete guide to 50+ hardware, software,
and service winners--including today's number one product.
Do you love to shop? Love poring over the tiny type in online spec sheets while juggling browser windows from five different Web stores? How about traipsing down the aisles of a computer store hearing dubious technical data from salespeople who'd rather be selling TVs? If you don't love doing these things--but still want the best tech products--you've come to the right place.

Each year at PC World we seek out the best of the best--hardware, software, Web sites, and services that rise above their competitors. In each category, we look for a product that mixes top performance, good value, a reliable manufacturer, and preferably a dash of innovation. In the following pages are our 59 top choices for the 21st World Class Awards, from a hybrid phone that puts the Web in your pocket to a slick new Web-based e-mail service.

CLICK HERE FOR- WORLD CLASS: BEST OF 2003

Initially to be available exclusively from T-Mobile, Motorola launched the V300 handset featuring a colour display, integrated digital camera and more. Aimed at 'youthful consumers' and initially to be available exclusively within T-Mobile European markets. The new handset will include an integrated VGA camera with zoom, a 16 bit colour screen capable of displaying up to 65,536 colours and MP3 ringtones, as well as a stylish new clamshell design. The tri-band GSM 900/1800/1900 MHz Motorola V300 is to be introduced across T-Mobile networks in Europe, which offers presence in the UK, Germany, The Netherlands, Austria and Hungary, and offers a number of new features previously notably absent from Motorola's typical line-up of handset features. Also, the V300 features a picture phonebook which lets users attach a photo to each phonebook entry, as well as instant messaging and SMS. For an more details and hi res pic CLICK HERE

T-Mobile USA has reached agreements with five other major U.S. carriers on the process to let each other's customers switch carriers in November and keep their old cell phone numbers.

The so-called service-level agreement, announced Thursday, is the beginning of an expected avalanche of similar agreements to become public in the next few weeks. The agreement covers any subscriber who switches from AT&T Wireless, Sprint PCS, Cingular Wireless or Verizon Wireless to T-Mobile, and vice versa, according to a statement from T-Mobile and AT&T Wireless.
In the next few weeks, industry insiders expect the nation's top six wireless carriers to announce similar agreements in preparation for meeting the Nov. 24 deadline to comply with the Federal Communications Commission's mandate to allow wireless customers to keep their phone numbers when they defect to other carriers. Nextel Communications has already signed similar agreements with Cingular Wireless and Sprint PCS. T-Mobile's agreement is its first in what's known as "local number portability," or LNP.

FULL STORY @ CNET NEWS.COM

ZDNet Review-PALM TUNGSTON E is A WINNER!!
With a high-resolution color screen, a sleek design, an expansion card slot, and a $199 price tag, the Tungsten E will hit the handheld sweet spot for many consumers.

The good: Affordable; nice color display; SDIO expansion card slot; runs Palm OS 5.2; MP3 and multimedia support; robust software suite.

The bad: Battery isn't removable; no voice recorder.

By David Carnoy, September 30, 2003

Palm's Tungsten E is aimed at budget-minded mobile professionals, especially those still tapping away on a trusty Palm V or Palm Vx. But it's sure to have even broader appeal when consumers consider this lightweight, slick-looking handheld comes with a great screen, an expansion slot, and multimedia capabilities for less than $200. It doesn't have Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a built-in camera, or a minikeyboard. However, a lot of people neither want those extras nor care to pay for them.

The Tungsten E's silver and black design is reminiscent of that of Palm's earlier M500-series handhelds. But while those units suffered from lackluster displays, the E's sharp, high-resolution, 320x320-pixel screen is the same version found on the Zire 71, and it's on a par with Sony's best efforts. A sturdy, detachable flip cover serves as a screen protector.

The 4.6-ounce, 4.5-by-3.1-by-0.48-inch unit is powered by a zippy 126MHz Texas Instruments OMAP 311 ARM processor, has 32MB of internal memory (28.3MB of which are free for storage), and runs Palm OS 5.2. The expansion slot is SDIO compatible, opening the door to forthcoming accessories such as cameras and wireless adapters. An AC adapter is included for recharging the internal lithium-ion battery. Additionally, a USB cable and Palm Desktop Software are provided to sync the E with your Mac or PC. No cradle is included, and older Palm docking stations and accessories won't work with this model, thanks to its lack of a Palm Universal Connector.

The robust software package includes the standard organizer apps, plus an updated Contact and Calendar applications, which provide enhanced features and improved Outlook synchronization support. You'll also find separate programs for creating small databases, reading Acrobat files and e-books, and viewing digital photos. A world clock, Real One Mobile player (for listening to MP3 and RealAudio files), and Kinoma Player and Producer (for converting and viewing movie clips) ship with the unit, and the Tungsten E can even run J2ME Java applications. Last but not least, Palm throws in Documents To Go Professional Edition, which allows you to view, edit, and create Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files on the device.

As for performance, our unit worked well with Kinoma video files, and MP3s played smoothly. Battery life was decent; in our standard lab test, we were able to run an MPEG-4 file in a loop for 3 hour, 30 minutes. With normal usage patterns, Palm says the E should go for about a week before having to recharge.

To take advantage of the multimedia features, you'll need to buy 128MB of SD or MMC media (for two hours of music files). It's also worth noting that Palm is serving up several new accessories for all its handhelds, including a wireless keyboard that smartly interfaces with the IR port. Whether you choose this Palm over a similarly priced Pocket PC handheld such as HP's H1935 ($199 with $50 rebate) is a matter of operating system preference. This handheld's lack of a built-in camera, keyboard, or wireless module keeps it just shy of an Editors' Choice, but anyway you slice it, the Tungsten E is an excellent bargain.

MOBILE WORKERS ARE LOVING Wi-Fi , AND DRINKING LOTS OF COFFEE!
For all the time Dan Briggs spends on his cell phone and laptop computer, the commercial real-estate consultant hardly considers himself wired to his work.
Still, Briggs spends plenty of time away from his home office, zipping about meeting clients or processing documents on his Sony laptop. So about a year ago, he pulled the plug on his old way of doing business and set up a wireless Internet account with T-Mobile.
Now Briggs finds himself in a familiar workspace -- perched at a tiny table inside a Starbucks coffee shop, scrolling Web sites for a market study on area apartments or e-mailing necessary info. Another day at the wireless office.
"It's nice to be able to get out of the house and work in another environment," says Briggs, 39, scooting a tall cup of coffee away from his laptop screen. "`You get tired of looking at the same four walls all the time."
For Web surfers looking for a new outlook on online, Wi-Fi looks like the wavelength of the future.
Wi-Fi, shorthand for wireless fidelity, allows computer users to connect to the Internet, send e-mail, or download files at high speeds without hooking up to phone jacks or cable lines. The standard Wi-Fi setup uses a 2.4-gigahertz (GHz) radio frequency that transmits a broadband connection in about a 150-foot radius, creating a wireless localized network called a "hot spot."
And it's these hot spots that are only getting hotter.
For the past year, Starbucks has brewed up hundreds of T-Mobile HotSpots, creating the nation's largest carrier-owned Wi-Fi service. Meanwhile, more colleges, hotels and bookstores are offering Wi-Fi to students and customers lugging laptops or handheld PCs.
"Roughly, the usage is doubling every year," says Dennis Eaton of the Wi-Fi Alliance, a nonprofit organization formed in 1999 to certify interoperability of Wi-Fi products. "You're also seeing it in some of the more unlikely places, like trains, RV campgrounds, marinas and truck stops. There's a whole new economic model here."
That model has shifted significantly from the business sector to the consumer market. The Consumer Electronics Association, citing Gartner Inc. data, estimates frequent wireless local area network (WLAN) users in North America will grow from 4.2 million in 2003 to more than 31 million in 2007. The CEA says even McDonald's plans to test hot spots in New York City, Chicago and California by the end of this year.
Of course, it helps that setting up Wi-Fi is as easy as ordering a Happy Meal. For the home, Eaton says, all it takes is a Wi-Fi router, or access point, that you can purchase at most consumer electronic stores for as little as $100. (Briggs set up his home wireless network for around $70.) Most new notebooks already have Wi-Fi built in. For older models, you can slip in a Wi-Fi card for as little as $50.
About the only significant Wi-Fi cost is accessing it away from home.
Much like cellular providers, public Wi-Fi providers typically charge for airtime usage. At Starbucks, users can log into one of several T-Mobile HotSpot plans, ranging from a one-year subscription ($30 per month for unlimited access) to by-the-minute service ($6 minimum for up to an hour, with 10 cents a minute thereafter).
Dan Briggs says he's not as concerned about Wi-Fi safety as he is about Wi-Fi prices. He predicts rates will drop in the next two or three years. And if Wi-Fi ever does join air conditioning as a cool standard in public places, so much the better.
Till then, Briggs says he'll gladly pay a little extra for his wireless day job.
"I'll still do it because of the convenience," he says, "and to get out of the house."
For The Full Starbucks Wireless (WiFi) Access Info CLICK HERE

WHICH PDA VENDOR IS
SEEN AS PROVIDING THE MOST
FEATURE RICH PRODUCTS?

Bow-lingual phone is height of doggy style
Mobile that speaks dog? The inventor must be barking...

Inventors in Japan have dreamt up the latest way for pet owners to get more from their dogs - a mobile that renders pooch speech intelligible to humans.

Bow-Lingual CONNECT is a mobile service based on the Bow-lingual device released by Takara last year, according to Japanese tech news service JCN Networks. The Bow-lingual consisted of a wireless microphone attached to a dog collar, which would pick up the pooch's barks and translate them for their owners.

This service will be offered by Vodafone KK the Japanese arm of the British wireless company in December.

Bow-Lingual CONNECT will convert dog barks into text and expressions through voice pattern recognition, which will be displayed on the mobile's screen. It can detect six canine feelings: happy, sad, frustrated, on-guard or territorial, assertive or showing off and needy. It works when the mobile comes within 40 cm of a dog.

Users must first buy a Bow-Lingual CONNECT card, and it can only be run on Sharp's V601SH handset. The handset, which comes with a built-in mobile camera, will be priced at the higher end of the ¥20,000 (£109) level, JCNN reported. It is expected to attract dog-lovers and those with a "playful touch", company officials said.

Finnish kids to be tracked via their mobiles
Safety, privacy, parental care... so many issues...

Finland has proposed a new law that would let parents track the movements of their children via mobile phone, even without their consent, in a move that could set an EU benchmark in privacy and handset use.

The proposal is part of new law on privacy in electronic communications and could still be changed in parliament hearings, although the Nordic country's coalition government accepted it unanimously this week.

Parliament is likely to start discussing the proposal early in November, but state officials and politicians said it was too early to estimate when the law could be passed.

Juhapekka Ristola, an official at the transport and communications ministry, said: "Roughly similar legislation will be a reality in the European Union area in the near future."

He said other countries may follow the example of Finland, home to the world's largest mobile phone maker, Nokia, because the proposal is based on the EU's directive on privacy and electronic communications.

PROPORTA Announces PALM T3 and Tungston E Aluminum Case's Close To Release!!
Proporta's Marketing Mgr., Chloe Temple, reports the awaited release of their new Palm T3/TE Aluminum cases is nearly here. "Using our hugely popular tried-and-tested design principles, the cases will no doubt be sleek and stylish while offering rigid protection for your PDA," Chloe released on Friday Eve.

Continuing to stay competitive in the fast paced personal technology market is difficult. And nowhere is this more obvious then in the PDA accessories market. This is an industry where the life span of a device can be fewer then 2 years from conception to becoming discontinued. Thus, developing a quality line of accessories and bringing them to market is, in one word, tough. Proporta has been inovative in their FREE Advance Order Neoprene Case Program. When you buy a Proporta case before release, they will ship you a Neoprene Case for your PDA, thus affording your PDA immediate protection "While You Wait" for the soon to be released, final product. So you get a Neoprene case to keep as a spare or backup, kinda Proporta's way of saying thanks for waiting and having faith in their products. In short, NOT A BAD DEAL!! And remember Proporta's "No Argue" guarantee, if you do not like the final case, send it back for a full refund.

So take a look at the PROPORTA T2 and Tungston W/C Cases to get a good idea at what the T3 case will look like by CLICKING HERE.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO PROPORTA WEB SITE

SPECIAL NOTE: Wireless World readers can take an additional 10% off the case by using discount code PALMPLAH10. Thanks PROPORTA!!

Always A Next Test for Nextel
By Yuki Noguchi

Nextel Communications Inc. defies those who think it's charting the wrong course, or won't be big enough to survive.
For 16 years, the Reston firm championed a walkie-talkie service that all its major competitors are now copying. It recently doubled network capacity, despite predictions it would tap out the radio spectrum required to carry its traffic. Nextel, the nation's fifth-largest mobile phone carrier, grew despite the squeeze on the economy, posting profit for the first time last year. Past talks with potential merger partners, including serious ones with WorldCom Inc., led nowhere, and it has become an important Washington area employer, with a local workforce of 2,000 and $8.7 billion in revenue last year. Analysts are expecting it to announce another profitable quarter today.
"People have been saying that Nextel will run out of spectrum for years," Nextel Chief Operating Officer Tom Kelly said testily, as if he's been asked that question too many times. "We have plenty of spectrum for 10 years, at least."
So why, then, is the company facing another round of skepticism about its future?
In part, it's because Nextel's signature service -- its walkie-talkie feature that lets users push a button to talk to other Nextel users -- is under attack by rivals. Its largest competitor, Verizon Wireless, rolled out a copycat feature in August. Sprint PCS and AT&T Wireless are planning to introduce their own versions next year.
Meanwhile, Nextel is the only major cellular carrier that hasn't laid out a plan to offer high-speed Internet service on its network. Also, regulators are stalling on a Nextel-backed plan to exchange its existing spectrum for more valuable airwaves, in return for eliminating cell-phone interference with public safety systems. And finally, a new rule allowing consumers to keep their phone numbers when switching providers is expected to touch off even more price wars and competition in the industry.
Yet Kelly, in an interview last week, declined to indulge in any speculation about Nextel's future plans about spectrum, mergers, technology choices or competitive plans. "It is not in our best interest to discuss that," he said.
That doesn't put a stop to the probing.
"For Nextel, the challenge is: How in the world are they going to be competitive with these other, larger carriers?" said Albert Lin, a telecom analyst with American Technology Research. Unlike most wireless carriers, Nextel doesn't have the backing of a large parent company or affiliate that can help market a package such as local and long-distance phone service and high-speed Internet access, he said. It also can't match the marketing muscle of rivals, he said.
In recent years, it managed to stay largely above the competitive fray, thanks in part to its trademark product -- the walkie-talkie -- which is used by well over 90 percent of its subscribers, who pay a premium for the privilege.
Walkie-talkies are more than just a feature; they're the foundation of Nextel. Begun as Fleet Call Inc. in 1987, Nextel spent years buying spectrum from a series of small walkie-talkie carriers around the country, cobbling together slices of airwaves that eventually made up a national network. The technology Nextel uses in its network is also unique; it was developed by Motorola Inc., which now supplies more than 95 percent of Nextel's phones. The walkie-talkie feature allowed Nextel to play up its image as a "workhorse" phone service -- one that appealed to construction workers, delivery truck and taxi drivers willing to pay more for Nextel's sturdy radio phones that let them talk without having to dial numbers. So even though its rivals are bigger -- Verizon Wireless has about 35 million customers, three times Nextel's 11.7 million -- the average Nextel bill is fatter, at about $70 a month, or roughly $8 to $20 more than the average of other companies.
That's why Verizon Wireless's introduction of its walkie-talkie service struck at the heart of Nextel and was tantamount to a declaration of war -- one that is being fought by both companies in court.
In June, Verizon Wireless sued Nextel for "corporate espionage," claiming Nextel officials took possession of two unreleased Verizon phones and then tested them hundreds of times without Verizon Wireless's permission. Nextel denied any illegal activity and vowed to defend itself in court. Last month, Nextel countersued, claiming Verizon Wireless misrepresented the quality of Nextel's network in its recent advertisements.
While both suits make their way through the legal process, Nextel is trying to trademark its phrase "push to talk" to block its use by others in the industry. It has dismissed Verizon's walkie-talkie service as slower and inferior, and Kelly said competition won't force Nextel to cut prices to keep customers.
"As far as a price war is concerned, that's the stupidest thing a wireless carrier can do," he said.
Meanwhile, analysts say it's not clear how Nextel will be able to match competitors with new technologies.
It will be harder for it to develop products that stand out for being newer or better than the competition, Lin said. Though the proprietary Motorola technology served Nextel well in the past, it won't be cheap or easy to upgrade to the types of technology other wireless carriers use, he said. "At some point, Nextel will transition from being the leader to looking like one of many, to one of the technology laggards," he said.
Verizon Wireless recently launched super-high-speed Internet access on its network in pilot markets in Washington and San Diego. Cingular Wireless and AT&T Wireless are planning rollouts of a different type of high-speed data service next year.
That could undermine Nextel's grasp on the business customer, said Brian Marshall, vice president of mobile services at Fairfax consulting firm American Management Systems Inc. "The reasons to buy Nextel as opposed to Verizon go down. The question becomes: 'Why get a Nextel phone when we could get this?' "
The primary problem that analysts and some sources close to the company identify is spectrum -- a scarce resource that becomes more valuable as the use of wireless technologies increases. Nextel's spectrum is a hodgepodge of airwaves licenses accumulated from the mom-and-pop operations it purchased at its founding. Nextel's 800-megahertz spectrum interweaves with a host of other users in the same frequency band, including the public safety radio users. That has caused interference with public safety systems and periodic outages in emergency systems around the country. Analysts say the inconsistency of its spectrum also limits Nextel's ability to develop high-speed wireless Internet services.
"The bear story on Nextel is whether they have enough spectrum," says Susan Kalla, an analyst with Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co. They aren't offering high-speed Internet access, and their efforts to secure the scarce resource haven't panned out, she said. "They've got a long-term problem."
Nextel so far has two potential plans to get new spectrum: One is a $144 million bid it has placed to purchase high-frequency spectrum from WorldCom, which can be configured to transmit high-speed Internet services if the Federal Communications Commission approves it for that use. It is also lobbying the FCC to accept a plan that would allow Nextel to essentially exchange its existing spectrum in the public-safety band for more valuable spectrum in a higher frequency, in return for contributing $850 million to the relocation of all users in the 800MHz range.
Insiders at Nextel said executives were infuriated when Motorola sent a letter to the FCC suggesting a technical fix that could preempt the spectrum swap Nextel desired. Although Nextel is still its largest customer, Motorola, they said, was trying to curry favor and potential business with some of Nextel's competitors.
The FCC denied that the process has been delayed. Solving the interference issue is difficult, complex and still undecided, said Edmond Thomas, chief of the FCC's engineering and technology division. "Alternatives are being discussed every day."
Nextel executives pooh-pooh the idea that they lack enough spectrum to compete in wireless data, and they contend rivals are pushing a high-speed Internet technology for which there is currently little demand. Text messaging and other data applications still account for less than 3 percent of wireless companies' revenue, they said.
"We are as involved in developing data and data applications as anyone in the industry," said Nextel's Kelly. But it's still too easy to hack into wireless networks and compromise security when using it for the Internet, he said.
It's not wise to invest billions of dollars in something that may not pay off, he added. "I don't think speed is the issue with data. At the end of the day, people are not that interested in paying for things that they can stop at their office or their desktop and get for free."

For more information, please visit http://www.TechNews.com
Synchrologic Newsletter

NEW PHONES SHOWN AT 2003 ITU WORLD CONFERENCE
On the floor of the ITU Telecom World 2003 exhibition hall in Geneva, the Asian mobile-phone outfits attract the most attention. With multistory booths equipped with bright lights, music, and dancers, you can't miss them (see BW Online, 10/16/03, "Telecom's Future: Made in China?"). But the booths' much greater pull for convention visitors is the Asian handset makers' cutting-edge technology that's literally giving rivals from the U.S. and Europe a run for their money. A slew of hot phones developed for third-generation (3G) wireless networks were on display -- products that have been slow in coming, many have complained.

The new handsets make today's most advanced phones, which are already equipped with personal organizers, color screens, cameras, and rudimentary video recorders, look clunky. They'll start appearing on store shelves next year. Improving on everything from displays to audio, these devices continue to blur the line between cell phones and multimedia computers, making them well suited for applications way beyond voice (see BW Special Report, 10/20/03, "The Wireless Challenge").

SEEING YOUR CALLERS. After years of promises, video telephony is about to arrive -- albeit in a limited number of markets. Hutchison Whampoa (HUWHY) is already providing it over a pioneering 3G wireless system in Europe, and it's available in some Asian markets. Over the next year, additional higher-speed wireless systems are likely to come on-line, clearing the way for new handsets like Korean cell-phone maker LG's U8150. Light and sleek, it features a brilliant, crystal-clear screen -- perfect for video calls. A split screen displays a picture of each caller.

The phone is scheduled to appear in Europe on a trial basis in December and probably will roll out commercially over the next year, an LG spokesperson says. It will cost about $600, without subsidies, according to LG.

LG has another head-turner with the KA, a combo phone and PDA. While PDA phones have been around for a while from a number of manufacturers, this device pushes the idea much further. The Microsoft (MSFT) software-based PDA is loaded with a brilliant display that's great for viewing music videos, which are easily stored on a memory card that slips into the side. The 1.1 megapixel camera takes much sharper pictures than the camera-phones available now in the U.S. The slide-out keyboard, concealed on the back of the device, is easily operated with one hand. Price: About $730 without subsidies, says LG, which reveals that it may be available in the U.S. next summer.

3D DISPLAYS. Sony Ericsson is rolling out a mobile-phone version of its Gameboard, a gaming control panel. A new clamshell-style phone, the Z600, has two screens. The little screen on the phone's exterior displays time, battery level, and incoming calls. The high-resolution screen inside can be used for playing video games, controlled with an optional Gameboard attachment that snaps on the back. The phone also includes an integrated camera and sells for about $350. The Gameboard control pad is about $45, a Sony Ericsson spokesperson says.

For sheer visual brilliance, nothing beats the Samsung GHX400. Intended for younger users, it displays 3D animation, bringing gaming to another level. It will be available next month in Europe and later in the U.S. And just for fun, the phone includes an FM radio. The price hasn't been set, says a Samsung spokesperson.

How good are the latest screens? Well, cutting-edge camera-phones in the U.S. have screens that display about 350,000 pixels. But Samsung's new SGH Intenna, named for an internal antenna hidden in the handset's body, blows them away. Available next year in Europe, it has 650,000 pixels, which means it looks more like a flat-screen TV than a cell-phone display. Samsung says the SGH Intenna will sell for close to $500, without subsidies.

Big advances are being made in audio, too. A new software technology from Panasonic replicates the quality of a surround-sound home theater. It can be embedded in a mobile device during the manufacturing process or downloaded by consumers. Designed for use with headphones, the sound quality is so high that even listening to voice is an exciting new experience. And music sounds amazing as well, even over regular headphones. Clearly, wireless handsets are entering a whole new zone.

Visit www.businessweek.com for news, analysis, and commentary from the world's most widely read business publication.

Martha McKay


October 14, 2003



Oct. 14--The Cellphone Industry Turns 20 Years Old This Week!

And in the space of two decades, we've gone from clunky phones and crackly service to 150 million people in the United States yakking on devices that tap into the Internet, play music, and take pictures.
Although the idea behind the modern cellphone network was invented in 1947 at Lucent Technologies' Bell Labs, it wasn't until Oct. 13, 1983, when the very first commercial cellphone network was launched in Chicago.
Appropriately, the first call was placed by Ameritech Mobile President Bob Barnett to telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell's great-grandson living in Berlin, Germany.
Thirteen 300-foot-high towers delivering a powerful two-way radio signal blanketed the Windy City and provided service to about 2,000 customers. Ameritech Mobile, a company long since swallowed up by SBC Communications, tested and built the first network.
Scott Erickson, then an engineer with Western Electric who helped build the network, remembers those early days and how amazed people were to see someone actually driving around in a car talking on the phone.
"It was the elite and the rich and famous" who were the first people to sign up, said Erickson, now vice president of international business development for Lucent, a telecommunications equipment maker based in Murray Hill.
Those engineers quickly realized there was a significant cool factor to these mobile phones, one that cellphone companies have tried to tap into ever since.
"Some people would pull up to a traffic light," Erickson said in a recent interview, and "put the phone next to their ear even if they weren't talking to anybody."
It was all about who had the latest technology, and at the time, having a phone in your car was a big step up from the popular communications device of the day: the CB radio.
Installing a mobile phone wasn't cheap, costing between $3,000 and $4,000 including the phone mounted near the dashboard. The phone itself looked nothing like the minuscule communicators sold today. It was nicknamed "the brick," weighed almost 2 pounds, measured more than a foot long, and delivered about 30 minutes of talk time.
Despite these drawbacks, there was a waiting list for service, Erickson recalled. The engineers and workers at Ameritech Mobile installing the network figured they might reach 5,000 and maybe double that in the first year. They had no idea how popular the ubiquitous cellphone would become.
"We in no way anticipated we'd immediately get into the hundreds of thousands," he said. Or eventually, the hundreds of millions.
By 2007, according to research group In-Stat/MDR, the total worldwide wireless population will exceed 2 billion subscribers.
Highly useful and at times highly annoying, cellphones have worked their way into the lives of millions of people.
AT&T Wireless, for example, estimates approximately one in five American teenagers own a cellphone. Cellphones are more popular in Europe than here: Sixty percent of Europeans own wireless phones, compared with 40 percent of Americans.
Phones have gone from those brick-like early models to smaller, faster, slicker communications devices that come loaded with color screens and dozens of ring tones.
This month, Verizon Wireless turned on a high-speed data service in the Washington area with the alphabet-soup name CDMA2000 1xEV-DO. It's essentially a third-generation wireless service that boasts data speeds of up to 2 megabits per second, says Lucent, which supplied gear for the new network.
Of course, it hasn't all been rosy.
Fights over the location of cell towers have cost millions of dollars in legal fees and heartache for people living nearby.
There have been controversies over health issues associated with cellphone use and the safety of cell towers. Studies have been somewhat reassuring but none have completely erased fears that microwaves do no harm.
And service that was crackly and not highly reliable 20 years ago has improved, but not necessarily to the satisfaction of everyone.
One-third of those polled told the magazine Consumer Reports recently that they were fed up with cellphone service, and that wireless carriers fell well below marks given to other industries such as auto insurers and hotel chains.
Despite the problems, the use of the airwaves to deliver conversations and data keeps evolving.
Robert Rosenberg, president of Insight Research, a telecommunications market research group based in Boonton, predicts that radio frequency technology will lead to some kind of personal communications device yet to be designed.
"It's Buck Rogers stuff, really," said Rosenberg. "We're increasingly using radio spectrum more efficiently with digital technology and the devices are constrained only by imagination."

No Charge WAP Access Settings for Verizon Wireless
Many people are not aware that they can "SURF THE WEB" or should I say "SURF THE WAP" on Verizon Wireless, without subscribing to their wireless web. All you need is a CDMA Digital Phone with a WAP Browser (Browser must be enabled with access to "Browser Setup") and a Verizon Wireless active line. Then do as follows:
First thing you need is a WAP Portal to use as a home page. One of the nicest I know, and use, is MYWAPLINK located at http://www.mywaplink.com . Go there and setup your acct and WAP Portal Page. Reason I suggest MYWAPLink is that they generate a URL for your WAP Page that is specific for you. So when you put the URL as the homepage in your browser setup, when u login it is truly "Logged In", no typing in User Name and Password, nice touch.
OK, I will assume that Moto hasn't changed the WAP setup for the phone, and if they have it still will require the same info, just in a different order. All of these settings should be accessed under BROWSER SETUP in your phones MENU. Some crippled phones from certain carriers have the BROWSER SETUP disabled, and if yours is, (crippled/disabled, meaning you don't have a Browser Setup) you can stop right here. (Sorry, need to get Browser unlocked/enabled first)

NAME:Whatever You Want To Call It, I use "MyWAPLink"
HomePage: http://mmm.mywaplink.com/xxxxxxxxx The X's will be your code made by MyWAPlink
USER ID: Leave blank
PassWord: Leave Blank
WAP IP 1: 207.232.099.109
WAP Port 1: 9201
WAP IP 2: 207.232.099.109
WAP Port 2: 9201
CSD Timer : 1 Min (I've seen about every number used)

The above info is all u really need to get on the into the GATEWAY and be browsing with your WAP browser. Basically u shouldn't need a Password or Login on the setup of the phones configuration so when in doubt leave it blank. CSD Timer is usually 30 sec to 5 min, never seen it matter.

NOTE: The IP address I have used in this setup is for the WAP Tunnel Public Gateway* Many folks confuse the Gateway and the Homepage /Portal. The Gateway is just that, a server that provides your WAP device an entrance to the Internet, setup just for WAP devices. WAP Tunnel is a free, public server Some have had issues with some Links not working with MyWAPLink and WAP tunnel. Some say its a browser issue in the phone, some say its an issue at WAP Tunnel and some say its at WAP Tunnel. If you have a problem, I will list some other Portals that I use and are popular
Best thing to do is experiment. See what offers and does the best for your needs. Also, most Motorola's can setup 4 separate WAP Profiles. I suggest setting up Multiple Profiles and that way you can play around all at once and decide what you like the best, as well as have a backup should one go down.
Other WAP Portals
My WAP Terror URL=http://62.146.2.89/www.wapterror.de/cgi-bin/wap_main.pl?u=xxx&h=xxxxxx (You will need to setup an account just like MyWAPLink,This is another site that will generate your Login & PW in the URL, that takes place of the x's. WAP terror is located at
http://62.146.2.89/www.wapterror.de/index.shtml

WildRice URL =http://www.wildrice.com/wap Straight forward portal designed by a fellow user, has become quite popular. No setup because no personalization. What you see, is what you get. If you just want the basics, no frills, this is it
Good site to use if nothing is working and you just want to see if WAP will work at all on your phone..

MyPDAPortal is at this web site go there to make an acct http://www.pdaportal.de/myportal.php and the WAP address will be created with your LOGIN & Password built in (in case u cant tell I prefer that, makes life so much simpler when dealing with phone keypads)

Also, remember, Verizon users, you DO NOT need to have anything enabled on your acct. This works without any EXTRA web plan etc. If you call Verizon for help with this, FORGET IT.

*For additional Help , here is the WAP Tunnel FAQ http://www.waptunnel.com/faq.html

PALM LAUNCHES "PALM PAYS BACK!!" NEW REWARDS PROGRAM !!
Palm has just announced the beginning of a new REWARDS/ REFERRAL Program, called PALM PAYS BACK! Registered Palm customers earn referral points for inviting their friendes to simply sign up for the program or gain even larger REWARD POINTS for reffering customers to Palm that actually buy and register their Palm. To register or to get more information about PALM REWARDS Program, go to PALM PAYS BACK Palm Rewards gives you $100 in REWARD BUCKS just for signing up!!

Refer, Purchase, Earn

Here's how you do it...

You can earn Palm Bucks for sending your friends referral emails and getting them to enroll in the program!

Each time a friend buys a qualifying Palm� handheld and validates it here with the Palm Pays Back program, you'll earn valuable Palm Bucks.

To Sign Up or Get More Information on the PALM PAY$ BACK PROGRAM CLICK HERE

MMS Platform to Power Next Generation of Enhanced Messaging Services for Cingular

Nokia today announced it is supplying its multimedia messaging services (MMS) infrastructure solution to Cingular Wireless, the second largest wireless carrier in the USA. Utilizing this technology, Cingular brings its messaging service to life, allowing MMS customers to personalize communication in a simple manner.

The end-to-end Nokia MMS solution enables person-to-person MMS, which is a greatly enriched messaging service, allowing users to send photographs, pictures, video and voice or sound clips with text messages. Also available are a range of content-download services which also allow users to deliver ready-made, color postcard messages to friends with their favorite pictures or animated cartoons.

Thanks to the Nokia Multimedia Application Gateway, multimedia messaging notification can be sent between MMS-capable phones or even to owners without MMS-ready phones. The Nokia solution provides intelligent connectivity to e-mail, video services and rich push/pull applications among other services.

"Cingular is a frontrunner in mobile networks in the U.S. and Nokia is pleased to continue our strong cooperation in bringing multimedia messaging services to Cingular's customers," says Scott Willis, Vice President, Nokia Networks. "More than 160 carriers globally have commercially deployed MMS and it is set to become the mass-market mobile data service that appeals to all consumers."

Deliveries of Nokia's Multimedia Messaging Service Center and Application Gateway have already been completed and the service is available to Cingular customers. Cingular subscribers will be able to enjoy the services with a variety of MMS-capable phones, including the Nokia 3600 smart phone, which is already available in Cingular's GSM markets.

I Want my Wireless TV!
By Adam Stone
The vacation pictures are stored on the digital camera. Want to e-mail them to Aunt Sally? You'll need to put them on the computer. Now you want to show those same pics to the neighbors on a big screen? You'll need to transfer them to the TV.
You can spend an hour tangled in cables doing all this, or you can do it the easy way: With Wi-Fi.
Is Wi-Fi connectivity coming soon to a consumer electronics device near you? That is the prediction of Ben Bajarin, an analyst at technical market research firm Creative Strategies in Campbell, Calif.

For Full Article With a Look at The Future of WiFi and an Informative Q and A section CLICK HERE www.wi-fiplanet.com

SEND SMS MESSAGES USING WINDOWS XP!!! ADD ON FROM MICROSOFT WORKS WITH YOUR InfraRed or BlueTooth PHONE!!

Notebook computer users should find this option very useful, as most notebooks today have built-in infrared ports.

Microsoft has released an Add-ON to Windows XP that lets you send SMS messages from YOUR Infra-Red or BlueTooth Enabled Phones (which most phones in today's market support).


This ADD ON is strictly a SENDER of SMS messages. It will not retrieve messages and let them be read or stored on your desktop or notebook computer running XP. But for those with either InfrRed or Bluetooth phones, it's a nice lil add on, for FREE, that lets you send SMS without typing out messages on that small phone keyboard. So CHECK IT OUT!!

Microsoft Releases Super Patch for XP

Update Rollup 1 consolidates 22 critical patches in one package.

Paul Roberts, IDG News Service
Friday, October 17, 2003
Making good on a promise made last week by Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer to simplify security-patch deployment for companies, Microsoft this week released a consolidated Windows XP update that brings together 22 critical updates into one downloadable package.
The new release, known as Update Rollup 1 for Microsoft Windows XP, was posted on the Redmond, Washington, company's Windowsupdate.com Web site and includes almost 9MB of security fixes for machines running the operating system.
Software fixes for a wide range of Windows XP problems are in the Rollup, including 17 patches from 2002 and 2003 that were tied to Security Bulletins from Microsoft.
While Windows XP includes an automated update feature that can download and install security patches directly from Microsoft, the single Update Rollup is supposed to make it easier for XP users and administrators to deploy the security patches, if they have not already done so, Microsoft said.
Patch Policy
The release of the XP Update Rollup comes as Microsoft revamps its technologies and policies for distributing software updates. Speaking at Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana, last week, Ballmer announced a number of changes in the way the company will handle software patches.
In response to customer complaints, the company is switching from weekly to monthly security patch releases, except in cases where customers are in imminent danger because of a flaw, Ballmer said.
The company is also working on developing smaller and higher quality software patches that will be easy to roll back should problems arise after they are deployed, he said.
On Wednesday, Microsoft released the first of its cumulative security patches, warning users about five critical vulnerabilities--four affecting Windows and one in the Microsoft Exchange Server product.
Unfortunately for Windows XP customers, those patches are not included in the Update Rollup. That means that XP customers who apply the Rollup will have to download and deploy the updates separately.

Nokia recommends using only original batteries with Nokia products
October 17, 2003
All investigated mobile phone battery explosions caused by non-original batteries
Recently, in the Netherlands a battery used in a Nokia 7210 mobile phone exploded. An investigation by Nokia experts clearly proved that the battery involved in the incident was not a Nokia battery. Over the past months, cases have been reported of non-original mobile phone batteries exploding, causing damage to both batteries and phones. In all the reported cases, the battery has been a non-original battery. Nokia offers its cooperation to authorities in taking legal measures available against those who sell and distribute poor quality non-original mobile phone enhancements compatible to Nokia products.

In general, the reported incidents are due to an internal short circuit. An internal short circuit can be caused by careless design, an uncontrolled production process or a combination of both. Original Nokia batteries and chargers are designed and manufactured adhering to stringent safety and quality measures. These include very strict requirements regarding the materials and insulation used inside the batteries as well as continuous production control and intensive product testing.

"Nokia invests a lot in research and development to constantly safeguard and improve the quality and safety in Nokia products," said Juha Murtopuro, Director, Mobile Enhancements Business Unit, Nokia Mobile Phones. "With the non-original batteries we have been able to inspect, it appears that they did not fulfill the safety and quality requirements comparable to those that Nokia applies to its original batteries. Using inferior quality standards may lead to these types of incidents occuring. The best way to prevent such incidents is to use only original Nokia enhancements and to buy them from an authorized or other reputable dealer."

In response to the recent incidents, Nokia has intensified its enforcement efforts. These include alerting its own distribution channels to the dangers of counterfeit products (a non-original product that infringes Nokia's trademark), requesting their assistance in identifying the source of such products and prosecuting parties found to be distributing counterfeit products.

Furthermore, Nokia is increasing its cooperation with local customs and law enforcement agencies. The cooperation will also include training to distinguish between original and counterfeit products. Nokia has set up an email address where concerned parties can provide Nokia with information on counterfeit products: brandprotection@nokia.com.

About Nokia
Nokia is the world leader in mobile communications. Backed by its experience, innovation, user-friendliness and secure solutions, the company has become the leading supplier of mobile phones and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed broadband and IP networks. By adding mobility to the Internet Nokia creates new opportunities for companies and further enriches the daily lives of people. Nokia is a broadly held company with listings on six major exchanges.

PRESS RELEASE

CNET'S

Which gadgets are CNET editors raving about? We rounded up the latest and greatest gear for work and play, then narrowed down our list to the top 10 devices you shouldn't go without. After all, it's all about who owns the hottest toys.
GO TO CNET'S TOP DEVICES STORY

Nokia, HP team on smartphone printing
By: J�rgen Sundgot, Monday 13th October 2003, 10:47 GMT

Courtesy of HP, Nokia smartphones such as the 7650, 3650 and 6600 will as of today be able to print to certain Bluetooth-enabled printers.


Following an announcement during 3GSM in February 2003 that Nokia and Hewlett-Packard would work together to bring wireless printing to mobile imaging phones, the two companies today delivered on their promise. As a result of this agreement, HP has developed a version of its Mobile Printing Application Software for Nokia's Series 60 platform, anticipated to be available to Nokia mobile phone customers on October 13, 2003.
FULL STORY @ INFOSYNCHWORLD

Yankee Group Report Says 85 Percent of European Mobile Users Indicate Price Is a Key Reason to Switch Providers
NEWS RELEASE - 14 OCT 2003
BOSTON - The competitive focus of mobile network operators (MNOs) in the European wireless services industry has changed from acquiring customers and market share to driving revenue and profits. According to the new Yankee Group report, "Mature Mobile Markets Require Sophisticated Marketing Strategies," the result is MNOs need to prepare their organizations for new challenges.

"The marketing divisions will acutely feel this shift in focus as marketing becomes the most important weapon in the MNOs' armories," says Declan Lonergan, Yankee Group Wireless/Mobile Europe director. "Pricing will remain the number-one differentiator for MNOs as branding becomes the second most important factor in customers' purchase decisions. Additionally, customer segmentation is becoming more complex. Behavioral models are now playing a greater role and most MNOs have an evolutionary path for customer segmentation. Customer retention is currently heavily centered on handset upgrades at the point of renewal."

The report lays out recommendations for European MNOs on ways to achieve growth in highly penetrated mobile markets and assess how they can improve their competitive positioning by adopting best practices in branding, customer segmentation and retention, service pricing, and distribution channels.

The Yankee Group's recommendations are based on extensive primary research featuring in-depth discussions with senior marketing managers from many of the regions leading MNOs.

The Yankee Group (http://www.yankeegroup.com)

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Microsoft Issues Messenger Updates for the PPC Windows Mobile Platforms

In conjunction with the service-wide upgrade of the MSN Messenger protocol, Microsoft has issued an update of the MSN Messenger client for the company's Pocket PC 2002 and Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC platforms. Available as free downloads, the updates are required for users who wish to be able to connect to the MSN Messenger service after October 15th, when Microsoft blocks access for clients not utilizing the new protocol.

In a notice posted on its web site, Microsoft declared the company is working with manufacturers to bring forward updates for devices based on the company's Smartphone 2002 platforms, as the MSN Messenger client bundled with this platform will also be affected. One week prior to the protocol change, no manufacturers have made an updated MSN Messenger client available, nor have any announcements been made in this regard.

Dell Latitude CPx Pentium 3 650MHz / 128MB / 12GB / DVD / 14" / Windows 98 / Off-Lease Notebook $549.99

The Wireless Digital Picture Frame Arrives
By Eric Griffith

In the days of the Internet boom when companies believed any product could be a success -- no matter how useful or useless it might be (3Com Audrey? Microsoft Bob?) -- there came a product category that still seems like it could catch on at any moment: the digital picture frame.

Today, San Jose, Calif.-based start-up Wallflower Systems announced a digital picture frame for the wireless world. The eponymously named Wallflower is an 8-inch by 10 inch photo frame housing a 12.1-inch LCD screen with 16-bit color at 1024x768 pixel resolution -- and built in 802.11b.

Wallflower's marketing manager, Jason Enamait, says that unlike other digital picture frame from companies like Ceiva and digi-Frame, the Wallflower is itself the image server. It has an internal 1.2GB hard drive that will appear on the home network like any other network drive. Users on the network drop JPEG files on this drive and they're ready for display on the LCD. JPEGs are the only images currently supported.

"The Wallflower cycles through pictures, but you can set them up in any order, or put them in random mode," says Enamait. Images can also be put into user-created directories. Entire directories can be turned on or off for display -- turn on those vacation pictures even you can't stand when company comes over.

The unit can talk with your wireless router to go out on the Internet and pull images from personal Web sites you designate, as well.

The Wallflower control interface is accessed via a Web browser. Type in the IP address for the product to bring up the interface like you would with a router. From there, you can manage the Wi-Fi settings. The unit comes with DHCP (define) on by default so it will try to connect to your wireless LAN automatically.

The next generation of Wallflower is already under construction by the company. Current plans are to build in speakers and audio-out jacks (including digital audio) and support for file types from MP3 to MPEG to Flash. The screen will be two inches bigger diagonally. The 2.0 product will also have better Internet connectivity, including "the kind of peer-to-peer sharing the RIAA hates," says Wallflower's president Mitch Kahn.

The current Wallflower's come in three styles (Cherry Blossom or White Plumeria for $599 each; Black Cherry for $649) but every style is limited, according to their Web site, since the frame part is hand-made. The prices are pretty steep compared to products like Ceiva's Digital Photo Receiver, which sells at retail for $149.95. The difference is, says Kahn, that Ceiva's product is subsidized by Ceiva service -- Ceiva owner's pay $7.95 a month to have the company send their own images to the frame for them. Wallflower instead hopes to build on the technology of Wi-Fi and broadband access, hoping that the wireless easy and a high quality display will make up for the high price.

"I'm tired of paying 10 bucks a month for [various] services," says Kahn. "Plus, if you line up products from digi-Frame, Ceiva, and Pacific Digital next to ours, our image quality is immensely better. It's like a painting next to a child's drawing."

NEXTEL REPORTS RECORD QUARTER
Nextel Communications today reported what it called its best quarter ever, despite retiring some of its corporate debt. Excluding charges, the carrier's revenue increased 27 percent from last year, and the company raised its full-year forecasts on continued customer demand. Nextel reported third-quarter net income of $346 million, or 32 cents a diluted share, compared with $526 million, or 55 cents, a year ago. Excluding charges, the carrier posted 44 cents a diluted share, more than triple the 14 cents it reported a year ago and beating analysts' forecasts of 32 cents. Nextel's revenues grew to $2.89 billion from $2.28 billion a year ago. The company added 646,000 new subscribers.

FULL STORY AT REUTERS

Nokia Sees Lower Profits as Dollar, Rival Bites
Thu October 16, 2003
By Brett Young

HELSINKI - Nokia, the world's biggest mobile phones maker, said on Thursday sales of handsets surged 23 percent in the third quarter with strong demand continuing, but warned a weak dollar and lower prices would crimp profits.

The Finnish firm said handset revenues were flat in the July-September quarter, despite the jump in sales volumes, and with that trend expected to continue fourth-quarter earnings would be lower compared with a year ago.

Nokia shares fell on the report as investors were concerned it would have a hard time growing its revenues despite recovering demand. Handset revenues account for more than 80 percent of the group's turnover.

"It is hard to see a growth case in Nokia," said analyst Hakan Wranne at Fischer Partners.

Subdued company comments on fourth-quarter margins in an analysts teleconference call also sapped the stock.

"We're talking about the same level of margins in mobile phones (as in the third quarter). It could be up, or a bit down, but basically at the same level," Chief Executive Jorma Ollila told a conference call. Third quarter handset margins were 22.4 percent, below the 24.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2002.

So far Nokia has been able to keep margins high as a result of huge economies of scale and tight logistics.

"There has to be a point when Nokia cannot keep these margins," said analyst Karri Rinta at Evli Bank.

Nokia shares ended down 3.5 percent at 14.17 euros (about $16.56), dragging the European industry sector index. The stock has underperformed the index by 30 percent this year.


COMPLETE STORY REUTERS

PROPORTA INTRODUCES "PRO DOC" A COMPREHENSIVE DRUG DATABASE
This is the most comprehensive and up-to-date drug reference system available for the Palm OS Handheld.

ProDoctor is the combination of the established and respected MyDoktor medical database with the ProPorta's advanced handheld technology.



The result is a unique, portable drug information system designed by physicians and pharmacists for:
Physicians
Pharmacists
Nurses
EMT's
PA's
Medical Students

Not only is the data used in ProDoctor of the highest quality, accuracy and usefullness, the application engine and interface are truely state of the art.

ProDoctor is available only by annual subscription:
Each month a new data-set will be released, comprising the most up-to-date drugs information available.
Subscribers will be emailed an announcement of this data.
Subscription is available at an introductory price of �30.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD FREE TRIAL VERSION!

If you have any questions about any aspect of ProDoctor or the MyDoktor data please email prodoctor@proporta.com.
PROPORTA REMINDS YOU: All purchases are covered by our "never argue" money-back guarantee.
If, for any reason, or no reason, you are not completely happy, we'll refund you in full.

PROPORTA HAS GIVEN THE READERS OF WIRELESS WORLD A 20% OFF DISCOUNT FOR PRODOCTOR!! USE CODE PALMPLAS20 AND RECEIVE 20% YOUR TOTAL SOFTWARE ORDER. NEED SOME SYNCH CABLES? LEATHER OR ALUMINUM CASE, GET 10% OFF ANY HARDWARE PURCHASE WITH CODE PALMPLAH10 !!!

Introducing the Dell Axim X3 Handheld
Sophisticated Styling with Outstanding Connectivity, Productivity and Entertainment Features

The new Dell AximTM X3 handheld � with optional integrated Wi-Fi� capability � is equipped with a powerful Intel� XscaleTM processor running at up to 400 MHz and the Microsoft� Windows� MobileTM 2003 for Pocket PC operating system. This multifunctional tool provides everything you expect from a high quality handheld designed for work and play. And you get all of this at an unbelievably low price!
Superior Features
The Axim X3 provides a brilliant 3.5-inch touch-sensitive, transflective display to view your work or enjoy your favorite multimedia program. Using Pocket Word or Pocket Excel, you can catch up on work when you're away from your computer, or read electronic books, play games and listen to your favorite digital music when you need a break. This small, easy-to-carry handheld keeps everything at your fingertips...you can even look at digital photos or watch digital video clips while on the go.
Add optional integrated 802.11b wireless technology, and you can stay connected any time you're near a Wi-Fi hotspot.1 Browse the Web, check your e-mail, or just update your schedule. It's never been easier or more convenient to get connected. Additional Axim X3 features include:
Up to 64 MB of SDRAM and 64 MB of Intel� StrataFlash� ROM � Ample memory for all your applications
Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Pocket Outlook and Pocket Internet Explorer(1) � Integrated applications for productivity and connectivity on the go
Built-in microphone � Voice note recording at the push of a button
Integrated speaker � Robust sound in a small package
Stereo headphone jack � Private high quality audio
Secure Digital IO slot � SDIO Now! interoperability for peripherals or memory, including external Bluetooth
IrDA port � CIR/SIR (serial or slow IR/fast IR)
950 mAh Li-Ion battery � Removable for quick and easy battery changes
Smart Sophisticated Design
The thin, comfortable Axim X3 handheld, which fits easily in your pocket, includes an attractive metallic silver-finished case. Four access application keys and a five-way navigation button let you quickly and easily select programs and data. You can quickly scroll through long lists using the handy scroll dial, located on the side of the unit. You can even personalize your Dell Axim X3 by changing the backgrounds and themes displayed on the screen.
Dell Reliability for Pocketsized Mobility
Whether you're working as you travel or just relaxing on the go, you'll appreciate the reliable, pocketsized mobility of the Axim X3 handheld. And you'll get outstanding service and support from Dell's award winning service and support team. If you want optional integrated wireless connectivity in a thin, extraordinary handheld, the exceptionally low priced Axim X3 handheld is for you. It's easy to carry, easy to use, and very easy on your pocket book. It's easy as Dell.

Priced To Sell
The Axim X3 is 28 percent lighter and 17 percent thinner than its predecessor, the company said, and is available in three configurations: the Axim X3i with integrated Wi-Fi (802.11b) for US$379.00; and two nonwireless Axim X3 models priced at $329 and $229,
All models are powered by Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) XScale processors and run the Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) Pocket PC 2003 (aka Windows Mobile 2003) OS, with pocket versions of applications, including Outlook, Word and Excel, Internet Explorer, MSN Messenger and Windows Media Player.
1 Access to the Internet requires purchase of separate Internet access service and equipment, such as an access point.
See More and the Rest of The DELL LINE

Wireless Regulations Cost Customers $2.62 a Month
Wed October 15, 2003 05:40 AM ET
By Jeremy Pelofsky
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. wireless regulations such as those that allow consumers to keep their telephone numbers when switching service cost subscribers $2.62 a month, a study to be published on Wednesday found.

Some carriers, like AT&T Wireless and Sprint PCS, charge subscribers monthly fees ranging from a few pennies to $1.75 to recoup some of the costs of complying with federal regulations.

"If a mandated service were sufficiently valuable to consumers, carriers would have incentives to provide it voluntarily," according to the study authored by two fellows at the Progress & Freedom Foundation, a free-markets think tank.

However, they did acknowledge that "some of these new mandates may be justified," said the authors Thomas Lenard and Brent Mast, who culled data from the carriers, studies and industry organizations.

The government has imposed several requirements on carriers to boost competition, provide assistance to law enforcement agencies and to ensure emergency personnel can locate callers who dial 911 in an emergency.

Wireless providers have battled for customers, offering huge buckets of minutes, and garnering some 151 million subscribers. With such intense competition, about one in three customers ends up switching services each year.

The study found that carriers' cost for offering consumers the option to switch services without giving up their telephone number, known as number portability, would be $12.4 billion over five years, or $1.60 per customer per month.

Wireless portability, ordered by the Federal Communications Commission, is due to go into effect Nov. 24 and analysts expect several million subscribers to immediately seek to switch service.

For example, Sprint charges customers $1.10 a month to recoup the costs of making its systems ready to handle portability as well as pooling telephone numbers in small groups to conserve them.

The study estimated number pooling adds up to $1.3 billion over five years, or 17 cents per customer each month. Another $1.8 billion, or 24 cents a subscriber, was attributed to meeting federal law-enforcement requirements over five years.

Additionally, wireless customers pay another 61 cents per month, or $4.7 billion over five years, for carriers to provide more sophisticated 911 emergency services, such as pinpointing the location of a caller to send help.

The economists said consumers do benefit from regulations, particularly number portability and better 911 service, but little data was available to measure those benefits.

"If these benefits exceed the mandates' costs, wireless penetration could increase," the study said.
SOURCE REUTERS

PCs Beat PDAs & Mobile Phones in Survey, We Still Want/Need That PC!
Berlin based market research firm Metrinomics is reporting that the PC is still the computing device most people simply cannot live without. Despite the proliferation of smart devices now coming to market, six out of ten people insist that they simply couldn't live without their PC. Although nine out of ten people questioned own a mobile phone, less than 10% say they could easily live without their mobile and only 15% of mobile phone owners questioned consider mobile phone ownership an absolute must.

According to Metrinomics, the marketing brouhaha surrounding the assortment of mobile phone/PDA type smart devices and smartphones being launched has also had a noticeable impact on information and communications device users adoption rates. 25% of those who took part in the study already own a so-called "smart" device, with one in five non-owners stating an intention to buy one within the next 12 months. Marginally more notebook owners than mobile phone owners expressed an inability to live without their respective devices; showing that the mobile phone�s ubiquity does not necessarily guarantee its safety in the device need perceptions of device users.

The global report, based on interviews with over 400 members of the research firm�s 11,000 person online IT panel, also finds that mobile phone/PDA type packages are the stated �ideal� device of choice. However, the company said advocates of a �one size fits all� device strategy might be alarmed to hear that around 35% of consumers consider existing stand alone devices to be their preferred devices of choice. Email and internet access are the key communications tools required by 90% of all device users, while Wi-Fi establishes itself as the standard specification need for those who favor a configured device approach. Users who prefer a mobile phone/PDA set-up prove to be the most demanding; requiring a plethora of standards including Bluetooth, GSM, GPRS, UMTS and WLAN.

Weight, portability, multifunctional features and good multimedia capabilities are the factors uppermost in the minds of user s prior to device purchase.

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Cellphone makers in sales turnaround
New generation of color-screen, camera phones catching on

The growing popularity of camera phones and other enhanced mobile devices drove third-quarter handset sales much higher than analysts had expected. Motorola yesterday reported a strong third quarter, beating analysts' expectations. Nokia also said it expects to beat analyst estimates when it posts its third-quarter results. Earlier this year, many analysts predicted that the global cell phone market was saturated and that consumers would not be interested in paying more money for newer devices. They also worried that slower 2G and 2.5G networks, and the delay of 3G, would deter wireless subscribers from moving to these newer devices. Prices of smart phones, however, have continued to fall, making these devices more affordable and attractive to the average user. However, some insiders worry that increased price competition among vendors will quickly erode profit margins for next-generation handsets.

" After two years of bad news, cellphone makers are reporting that worst of the slump in their corner of the telecom world appears to be over. Thanks to a new wave of color screens, snapshot cameras and high-speed Web access, consumers are finding more excuses to chuck their old handsets for a new model."
FULL STORY @ MSNBC

Sony Ericsson on the Rebound?

(15/10/2003) Mobile handset maker Sony Ericsson has announced an impressive growth in the number of phones sold in the three months ended 30 September 2003. The Swedish/Japanese venture recorded a 42% rise in the number of units shipped last quarter compared to the same time period in 2002.

The company says it generated sales of euros 1.3 billion on the sale of 7.1 million phones, during the quarter. In particular the company reported burgeoning sales of its handsets in Japan where it managed a 130% year on year improvement in its sales figures. Demand for camera phones was also said to be driving Sony Ericsson�s reversal of fortune.

According to company president Katsumi Ihara, he is particularly encouraged by the performance of Sony Ericsson�s PDC phones in Japan. He told reporters, �During the quarter we also announced several new products including our first GSM clamshell phones Z600 and Z200, an entry-level phone T230 and a range of new innovative accessories. We have received very positive feedback from customers about these new products," he said.

Thanks largely to the Japanese performance the company reported income before tax figures of euros 39 million and net income of euros 62 million. These represent improvements of euros 155 million for both figures.

New Portal For PALMS and PDA's
While not a new or unique idea, I did come across PDA Portal today that I thought was done rather nicely. A service of PDA Forum, it is designed to fit in the smaller screen of today's Palms and PDA's, it allows one to select their favorite links/URL's so they can go to one site, and then just click on where they want to go. One nice feature is the in the fact that you are given a link to put on your DeskTop's Browser, that takes you right to your setup/maintenance page, making adding, deleting and organizing your Portal page a breeze. Worth a look-see. NOTE: For you WAP users, these are not WAP sites. There is a distinct difference. These are just html sites with a layout that is easier viewed on a smaller PDA type screen. It will not show up on your WAP phone or PDA with WAP browser.
PDA PORTAL http://www.palmtop-portal.de/


Since I was on the subject, here is a few more that I have used recently. All done well.

PDA Portal.us is done by a user who made one just to make things easy for himself. He put the link up in a few newesgroups, and now I see it listed all the time. Thanks to the gentleman.

http://pdaportal.us/






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PROPORTA LAUNCHES NEW RETRACTABLE SYNCH/CHARGE CABLE FOR USB PORTS
(OR IN MY OPINION< NEXT GREATEST INVENTION TO THE WHEEL!!)

Proporta is proud to announce the launch of the new retractable USB sync and charge cable.


Available for Palm and iPAQ handhelds, it could not be any simpler to charge your handheld whilst on the move. These lightweight cables have a soft-feel finish and are ideal for carrying around in your pocket between USB ports. The cable can be fully extended to any length up to 85 cm, and will contract to just 12 cm in total length.


To see which PDAs this charging option is compatible with please see the below link:
Retractable cables

SPECIAL OFFER FOR WIRELESS WORLD READERS !! GET 10% OFF NOW!!
Get 10% off the purchase of the USB Sunch cable. Use the following code and get not only 10% off the Synch cable, BUT YOUR ENTIRE PROPORTA ORDER!! USE CODE PALMPLAH10

New Intellisync�: Phone Edition Software Enables Users To Synchronize Contact Data Between Their Mobile Phones And PCs

SAN JOSE, CA (10/13/03) - Pumatech, Inc. (NASDAQ: PUMA), a leading provider of synchronization software and services, today announced it is extending its market-leading Intellisync� synchronization solution to the mobile phone market with the introduction of Intellisync: Phone Edition. The new, phone-based product supports popular mobile phone platforms and provides users with a quick and easy way to ensure that contact information stored in their phones is up-to-date and in sync. The initial release of Intellisync: Phone Edition software delivers two-way synchronization of contact data between Microsoft Outlook and specific mobile phones manufactured by Motorola, Nokia, Samsung and LG.

By synchronizing directly with personal information management (PIM) software such as Microsoft Outlook, Intellisync: Phone Edition alleviates the difficulty of entering multiple contacts into a small phone interface. Intellisync: Phone Edition's synchronization capabilities allow users to employ Microsoft Outlook as their primary source of contact data, ensuring that important contact information is preserved should their phone be lost, stolen or damaged.

http://www.pumatech.com/press_releases/101303.html
PRODUCT OVERVIEW

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Spam Slayer: Hot Tips to Cool Off Spam
Eight ways to stop the spam tsunami before it hits your e-mail in-box.

Spam has been a nuisance for years, but only recently has it reached epidemic proportions. Not only does spam carry dangerous computer viruses, but its sheer volume drains bandwidth and productivity.

Daily spam e-mail messages are forecast to hit nearly 9 billion by 2004, up from more than 7 billion this year. About half of all e-mail is spam, according to antispam software maker Brightmail.
Just ignoring spam is no solution. Just deleting spam isn't good enough anymore, either. So we're going to have to deal with it: It's time for spam slayers to unite.
Tip of the Week
Fix Broken Windows Microsoft's operating system has been criticized for having more holes than a slice of Swiss cheese. Many viruses, bugs, and worms have gained access to systems as spam. It's time to start checking IDs. Activate the Windows Update feature inside your Internet Explorer Web browser (under the Tools menu). This automatically checks for patches and upgrades to Windows XP, Me, and 98. This is a good dose of preventive medicine to head off disaster.

CLICK HERE For The Rest of the Article and Get 7 Good ANTI-SPAM Tips

HP spotlights mobile gear

As part of a big push in mobile computing, Hewlett-Packard announced Monday a slew of devices that can connect to a wireless network--or often more than one network.

HP is using a Swiss telecommunications show this week to introduce a number of devices that are capable of connecting to several flavors of Wi-Fi networks as well as to other mobile devices using short-range Bluetooth technology. Among those devices is an improved version of its HP Compaq Tablet PC. Whereas its predecessor featured a Transmeta processor and was limited to 802.11b wireless networking, the TC1100 switches to an Intel processor and is also able to connect to higher-speed 802.11a and 802.11g networks.

In addition, the company introduced two new printers that have built-in Bluetooth short-range wireless technology to allow printing from mobile devices such as handhelds and cell phones. HP also announced a pact with Nokia in which the Finnish cell phone maker will include HP printing software in its Bluetooth-equipped phones.

COMPLETE STORY ANNOUNCING MORE DEVICES

IBM Gives Laptop Hard Drives A Soft Landing
IBM Gives Laptop Hard Drives A Soft Landing
Kelvyn Taylor
October 07, 2003
Simple ideas are often the best, and IBM's latest innovation for notebook PCs must rank as one of the simplest for many years.

Technologically it's not trivial, but the idea itself is wonderful - put an accelerometer inside a notebook PC and use it to monitor any sudden changes in motion - such as when the notebook's being dropped. Then use this information to instantly park the heads on the hard disk to prevent them bashing against the data areas on the platters.

As hard drive damage due to impact is a common cause of data loss in notebook PCS, this could be a godsend for companies with large numbers of mobile users. Until now, manufacturers have concentrated on physical protection such as shock-absorbing rubber pads or silicon gel padding to minimise shock damage.

Active Protection System is the name IBM's given to this technology, and it's being premiered in the new ThinkPad T41. The accelerometer used is similar to those used in car airbag sensors and is an example of nanotechnology, using tiny micromachined silicon levers and pivots.

Technically such chips are known as Micro Electro Mechanical Systems, or MEMs for short. Since their commercial introduction in the early 1990s, costs have come down until now some MEMs accelerometers are available for about $2-3 each.

Applications in IT hardware have so far been limited to motion-sensitive pointing devices such as 'free motion' game controllers.

The IBM ThinkPad T41 will go on sale in the UK priced from around �1,830 (ex. VAT) and includes Intel Centrino models.

To see more of VNUNet

The Dawn of a New Wireless Experience

Hiawatha Bray
October 08, 2003
The unwiring of America continues apace, from our laptops to the phones on our hips - and soon, perhaps, our thermostats.

It began further back than many people realize. Just look at your TV remote control. That uses infrared radiation - basically a kind of light that's undetectable to the eye. But infrared has some limitations. For one, there's the line-of-sight thing. Like a beam of light, infrared travels in a straight line, so your remote has to be pointing at the TV set in order to work. It'd be tough to use an infrared wireless headset with a cellphone; toss the phone in your pocket, and you'd break the connection.

Enter Bluetooth radio networking. With a range of about 30 feet and an indifference to personal attire, Bluetooth wireless headsets have begun to catch on worldwide. But Bluetooth is on the same frequency as those WiFi wireless data networks so many of us have installed. So signals from a Bluetooth phone will sometimes interfere with the Internet data flowing into a WiFi-equipped laptop. Indeed, one Bluetooth phone may even interfere with another. This sort of thing is always an issue when different radio devices share the same frequencies.

So why not get rid of the radio, for products like headsets? Not with an infrared headset - we've considered that. There's another option - magnetism.

Wilmington's Aura Communications was started in 1995 by scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The company's latest product, the result of six years' labor, is a chip called LibertyLink that generates an incredibly weak magnetic field, a ``bubble'' about five feet in diameter.

The chip can then transmit data by modulating the magnetic field at low frequencies - 10 megahertz or so, compared to 2.4 gigahertz for WiFi and Bluetooth. But even during modulation, the magnetic field emits no radio waves, so the headset can't interfere with any other wireless devices.

Now, just plug a LibertyLink device into your cellphone, don the wireless headset, and you're ready for a nice, long chat. Especially since the whole thing can deliver up to 25 hours of talk time on a single double-A battery, according to vice president of sales Dan Cui. The Globe didn't confirm Cui's 25-hour claim; even journalists don't talk that much. But Aura's magnetic bubble technology still seems like a winner. A prototype of the system, plugged into a standard cellphone, worked exactly as advertised.

A Michigan firm, Fonegear LLC, plans to have LibertyLink headsets on store shelves in time for Christmas, at a price that demonstrates another advantage over Bluetooth. An equivalent Bluetooth headset, the Jabra FreeSpeak, runs about $130; Fonegear's headset will cost about $60.

And that's just the beginning. Cui says NASA is interested in putting LibertyLink chips into future spacesuits, so the suits can relay life-support data to receivers mounted inside the space shuttle. And the next generation of the chips will support high-fidelity music, so a cellphone can double as a wireless MP3 music player. There's even a manufacturer of airline seats who wants to embed LibertyLink chips inside the headrests, then hand out wireless headsets to the passengers. You couldn't do that with radio chips that might muck up the navigation gear in the cockpit. But a mild magnetic field never hurt anybody.

Here on the ground, there's still plenty of work for radio-based wireless, and new ideas continue to sprout. One of the latest has a name even sillier than WiFi. It's called Zigbee, and it may finally bring about the long-awaited era when we can manage our homes by remote control.

Zigbee is a lot like WiFi, only weaker and much cheaper. While WiFi devices have a range of up to 300 feet, a Zigbee will only reach about 30 feet. Each Zigbee chipset is expected to cost just a few bucks and will run on a standard battery for a couple of years. That's because you'll only use them in brief bursts.

Say you've got a Zigbee inside your refrigerator, and it begins to malfunction. The fridge's diagnostic computer notices the problem and generates a trouble ticket. This gets handed off to the Zigbee, which sends a digital data burst to your home's wireless network, and from there to Ol' Lonely at the local Maytag dealership.

We've been hearing about such automated appliances for years. Why haven't we seen them? Because the necessary devices cost too much and are too hard to set up. A consortium of 50 leading companies, including Philips, Motorola, Intel and Hewlett-Packard, think that Zigbee is finally simple and cheap enough to make a go of it.

But never mind those guys. How about Leviton Manufacturing Co., a maker of light switches? Or Honeywell International Inc., the world's leading producer of thermostats? They're members of the Zigbee consortium too. And they're the ones that really matter. When the real estate ads boast of new houses with Zigbee light switches and thermostats, you'll know that home automation is finally for real.

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NAPSTER IS BACK, BUT, WILL THE PUBLIC PAY 99 Cents A TUNE?
Legit Napster Hawking 99c Downloads
By Ryan Naraine

NEW YORK - The legitimate reincarnation of the once-hated Napster digital music service is ready for prime time.
Almost a year after shelling out $5.3 million to pick at Napster's bones in bankruptcy court, Santa Clara, Calif.-based Roxio (Quote, Chart) formally unveiled Napster 2.0 Thursday as a paid-download service hawking downloads at 99 cents per song and full-length albums for $9.95.
Napster 2.0, which is now running as a limited beta service, will be widely available on October 29.
At a spashy media event here, Napster executives showed off a slick new interface for the service that incorporates peer-to-peer functionalities for members and one-click shopping and download options.
As previously reported, Napster 2.0 will be available with two pricing plans -- 99 cents per song a la carte downloads running alongside a $9.95 monthly subscription plan.
Napster is using Microsoft's (Quote, Chart) Windows Media 9 Series technology for digital rights management (DRM) capabilities. For using purchasing via the a la carte option, Napster is offering unlimited burns and transfers to portable devices.
COMPLETE STORY ON INTERNET NEWS

IS IT THE WAVE OF THE FUTURE? LETS HOPE SO!!
October 10, 2003
Missouri Files First Spam Suits
By Brian Morrissey

Missouri's attorney general announced on Thursday the first lawsuits under that state's new anti-spam law.
The suits, filed in St. Louis City Circuit Court, stem from the anti-spam law Missouri enacted in late August. The law requires that commercial senders carry an "adv:" label and comply immediately with unsubscribe requests. It defines spam as any commercial e-mail from a person or business that does not have a pre-existing business relationship with the recipient. Violators are subject to prosecution by the state and civil penalties of $5,000 per e-mail, up to $25,000 per day.
Jay Nixon, Missouri's attorney general, accuses two Florida-based e-mailers with violating these provisions. In the first case, the attorney general says Palm Beach resident Phillip Nixon e-mailed five unsolicited offers for architectural plans to the state's anti-spam e-mail address, nospam@moago.org. The suit claims the messages were not labeled and did not stop when requested.
The second suit was filed against a Boca Raton company called Fundetective.com. The action alleges the company sent out a number of unsolicited messages advertising short-term loans and personal information gathering services. Again, the attorney general's office said the e-mails were not labeled as required under the law.
Both suits seek the maximum $5,000 penalty per violation, in addition to injunctions against further unsolicited commercial e-mail that violates Missouri law.
Missouri is one of 35 states to enact anti-spam measures. Earlier this month, California enacted a tough anti-spam law that requires e-mail providers and advertisers to receive "direct consent" from consumers they e-mail. Many commercial e-mailers complain the hodgepodge of state laws make full compliance nearly impossible. The industry's trade groups want proposed federal anti-spam legislation to supercede state laws and create a universal standard
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So, you just parked your car (and an incredible job it was I may add!) and you dig in for that quarter, and you come out EMPTY HANDED!! So, waht do you do? Well In Vienna , Austra, you just pay with your cell phone! Here's how it works:
Austrians Love m-Parking

(10/10/2003, BWCS Staff) Just one week after its introduction in Vienna on 1 October, m-parking has become the most popular m-commerce project in Austria. By Day 7, a total of 20,604 m-parking applications had been received, a milestone which had not been expected to be reached until April 2004.

The m-parking system, which is being financed by the City of Vienna and provided by equipment vendor Siemens and wireless operator Mobilkom Austria, allows users to pay for parking via their mobile handsets. Similar teleparking schemes have been successfully trialled in Singapore and Australia.

While users are reluctant to bump up their mobile phone bills with higher priced goods and services typically paid for by credit card, an Australian survey carried out in late 2002 found that 83% of mobile users would be willing to use their mobile phone for small payments such as for parking and vending machines.

�m-parking is one of the micro-payment solutions that will drive the market for mobile proximity payment services forward,� claims Ross Parsons, author of BWCS�s latest report Mobile Proximity Payment Services, which forecasts that mobile transactions in stores and at vending machines around the world will be worth over US$380 billion by 2010. For a free review pack of the report, please email Eileen Fisher at eileen.fisher@bwcs.com.
BCWS Newsletter

The guys at Penny Arcade have a very funny look at all the hype created around the new Nokia N-Gage mobile gaming device...

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Making the In-Flight Broadband Connexion
By Colin C. Haley

Boeing (Quote, Chart) has chosen satellite operator Intelsat to power its Connexion in-flight broadband service for trans-Atlantic flight beginning next year. Financial terms were not disclosed.
"This is a contract spread over several years and is critical in terms of our ability to 'light up' the North Atlantic corridor with real-time connectivity," Connexion spokesman Terrance Scott told internetnews.com
Lufthansa and British Airways tested the system for the trans-Atlantic route earlier this year.
The contract includes two transponder leases that enable the transfer of Web pages, e-mail, data and entertainment content. Passengers will connect laptops or PDAs to wireless networks or Ethernet jacks inside equipped airplanes.
The companies say the speed is comparable to land-based cable modem or digital subscriber line (define) service.
"This service is going to radically change the air travel experience and it has opened a new type of opportunity for the satellite industry," said Ramu Potarazu, COO of Intelsat.
Intelsat operates 25 satellites that provide telephony, corporate network, video and Internet connectivity to users in 200 countries.
For Boeing, the Intelsat pact comes just weeks after it signed a deal with Tokyo-based Space Communications Corp. to support Asia-to-Europe airline routes.
As part of the deal, SCC plans to establish and operate a satellite ground station north of Tokyo to provide a link between passengers using the service aboard commercial airliners and the ground network.
With the two recent deal, Connexion will now have coverage over the United States, the North Atlantic, Europe and the routes between Europe and Asia
Thanks To Wi-Fi Planet

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SIEMENS MOBILE PHONE SALES SOAR 44%
Sales of Siemens' mobile phones jumped 44 percent to 11.5 million units last quarter, up from 8 million units the previous quarter. The company credits its new handset designs and richer feature sets for the increased sales. Siemens is aggressively pursuing both the mobile phone and the network infrastructure markets. The company recently committed $200 million for wireless R&D in China. Siemens is also aggressively lobbying the Chinese government to adopt the TD-SCDMA standard for 3G networks, hoping to use its expertise in this technology to beat out network rivals such as Ericsson and Nokia. Siemens is the world's No. 4 handset maker with a 7 percent global market share

FULL STORY AT REUTERS

Nokia Blames Counterfeit Batteries for Exploding Phones

Nokia on Thursday pointed the finger at counterfeit batteries after another of its phones exploded and burned its user, the third such case in two months, and said that original batteries sold with its phones were safe.

The Finnish phone giant said earlier that a young Vietnamese woman was hospitalized with burns after her mobile phone apparently exploded.
The incident postdates two similar accidents in the Netherlands, one last week and the other in August.
After the latest Dutch incident, which left a 15-year-old boy in the town of Hengelo with leg burns, the country's consumer watchdog said it would probe the case.
"We don't yet have any information on what is the origin of the battery in the Vietnam case," Nokia Mobile Phones spokesman Kari Tuutti told Reuters, adding that there "hasn't been a single case of an original battery exploding anywhere in the world."
Nokia has cited faulty batteries from independent electronics manufacturers for similar incidents in the past. The company has said these manufacturers violated security requirements that should prevent the battery heating up after short-circuiting, for instance, after the phone is dropped.
Contraband and counterfeit mobile phone batteries are widely available in Vietnam in local markets at around $2 to $3 apiece, compared with $20 for a genuine product, a local Nokia representative said.
"The biggest issue is with counterfeit, illegal batteries," Tuutti said. "Therefore we recommend that retailers and consumers try to verify the products sold have original batteries."
Mobile phones are becoming increasingly popular in Vietnam despite modest incomes. There are around 1.6 million mobile phone users among the population of 80 million.
SOURCE CNET


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Sony Hands Over New Clies

Two new PDAs rival Palm's latest releases.

Sony is updating its Clie range of personal digital assistants with two new models that represent a step up from its low-end models, but are not as capable as midrange models.

The PEG-TJ25 and TJ35 are both based on a 200-MHz version of Motorola's i.MXL processor and PalmOS version 5.2.1, the company said in a statement Thursday. Each has a TFT LCD capable of supporting 65,536 colors and with 320-by-320 pixel resolution, and a memory card slot that accepts MemoryStick and MemoryStick Pro media cards.


(TJ35 featuring 32MB of RAM SHOWN ABOVE, TJ25 Almost Identical )

Comparing the Models
The biggest technical difference between the two models comes in the amount of memory, with the TJ25 having 16MB of RAM, of which 11MB is available to the user; and the TJ35 featuring 32MB of RAM, of which 23MB is free for the user. The remaining memory is used to store programs.

Additionally, the TJ35 also has a built-in MP3 player, Decuma AB's Decuma Latin handwriting recognition software, and Picsel Technologies' Picsel Viewer for Clie software that allows users to view Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.

The TJ25 and TJ35 will be available in the United States in October, and cost $200 and $250 respectively.



Palm Rivals?
Details of the new Sony models come less than a day after Palm announced three new PDAs. The devices announced included two models in its Tungsten range and a low-end Zire device.

The Tungsten E, which at $200 is closest to the new Clie PDAs in terms of price, is fairly equivalent on technical specifications. It is based on a 126-MHz OMAP processor from Texas Instruments and runs PalmOS 5.2.1. It has 32MB of memory, of which 28.3MB is available for the user. That's more than double the amount of memory of the similarly priced TJ25 and also more than the more expensive TJ35. Screen resolution is identical.

The devices are about the same size and weight, and users will probably be hard pressed to notice a difference between them.

The Clie TJ25 is slightly smaller and measures 75 millimeters (mm) by 110 mm by 12 mm compared to the Tungsten E at 78 mm by 110 mm by 12 mm. In terms of weight the positions are reversed and the Tungsten E is lighter at 131 grams compared to the Clie's 140 grams.

Ron Pendleton Associate Writer , PalmPlace

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LOOK MA, NO KEYBOARD!!

Although not "BRAND NEW" technology, these two pictures from a Japanese web site show the latest application in a very acceptable form factor, of the "No Keyboard" Keyboard.
The concept is that the scanner device projects a "Virtual" keyboard onto a flat surface. Any flat surface. Then scanner half of the system reads the actual pattern of the fingers moving and inputs the character you have "pressed".
I believe the expression is "What Will They Think Of Next?" I guess the keyboard is projected on a table and the display will be projected on the wall? And all from a device the size of a pack of cigarettes? Im not even gonna speculate on that one. I will probably be writing about that next week !!!!

Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace



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Mention This Review on PALM PLACE (Use Code PALMPLAH10 & Get 10% Off From PROPORTA!!

Recently I was fortunate enough to be put in touch with the Sales Manager of PROPORTA. She gave us the opportunity to sample some of their products and report back to our readers. Well, I must say I am OVERWHELMED. After attempting to save money, and get the best "DEAL" from "BIDDING" (I'm sure you can figure that out) I am here to tell you that not only does quality exist, but it exists at the same or very little more then you pay by bidding. The first item I received from PROPORTA was their Aluminum Case for the PALM m500/ IBM WorkPad c500 Series of devices. The construction of the PROPORTA Aluminum Case is just plain EXCELLENT and the appearance is STUNNING. It fits perfectly, everything lines up exactly where it should be and when it closes you get that positive "CLICK" sound that rings out "QUALITY". I like the fact that even when closed, you have complete access to insert/remove your memory card while never opening the case.There is a felt like material lining that completely protects your PALM while it is encapsulated in the case. Another nice feature is the retaining system that keeps the unit from coming out of your case by accident. Attached to the hinge of the case is a rod that slides into the left side Stylus slot of your PALM. You slide your PALM onto the rod and it as secure as you can get in that case.I n the hinge of the case that utilizes the left Stylus slot, holds your PALM inside the case so should you be fumbling when opening the case, or even after a hard drop, the PALM cannot come out of the case. NICE FEATURE.!! Overall I give this case a 9 outta 10, and the reason is a 10 has a built in PALM!! If you are looking for a case for a PALM m500 or IBM c500 Series, you will not be dissapointed with case from PROPORTA. This case is also available for several different device models so just vist PROPORTA and see if they have an Aluminum Case for your device.



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What Palm Chiefs Learned From Newton
Execs recall their days of working on Apple's 'ahead of its time' handheld.
Palm will divide into two separate arms--PalmOne, the hardware vendor, and PalmSource, the OS developer--"in late October," the company has said.

The company will also acquire handheld-device maker Handspring, which was created five years ago by Palm's original founders, Jeff Hawkins and Donna Dubinsky.

Palm employs a major cadre of ex-Apple people, with the corporate headcount said to comprise a third of former Apple employees.

Palm executives admit they learned from working on Apple's Newton personal digital assistant, which was discontinued in February 1998.



Ahead of Its Time
Two executives--PalmSource Vice President Business Development Albert Chu, and Senior Vice President Worldwide Marketing Gabi Schindler--spoke to Macworld about the lessons the company learned from Apple.

While at Apple, Chu was responsible for the Newton, which launched in January 1992. He said: "Newton was good technology. It had a lot of great features, but when we launched it, it was not launched as part of Apple.

"Yes, it was ahead of its time and was a great exploration, but it was just not ready for primetime: handwriting recognition did not work, for example."

Schindler, who was also involved in the Newton project, added: "It was a great personal information manager in and of itself, but it didn't connect to anything. It was a stand-alone thing and it just became another organizer."



Lesson Learned: Licensing
Despite its marketplace failures, the Newton attracted many converts. Some still use it today. Schindler said: "It showed there's a need for these devices. People loved it, people wanted it. I think that is what happens usually--there's a product, not necessarily the most successful product, but it shows the direction. And I think that's what Newton did, it clearly showed a direction."

She continued: "One thing we're doing at PalmSource is deliberately seeking licensees and making this into a truly open platform. With Newton and Mac OS, we weren't looking for licensees in a serious manner."

Chu and Schindler agreed on four key lessons they learned from their time at Apple which Palm has been able to apply in its dealings in the handheld space: open standards, the user interface, strong partnerships, and diversity.

While Palm OS could be construed as a proprietary system, becoming a developer couldn't be easier. Potential developers need only register online, download the software, and they can begin work, the executives agreed.

"With the Newton, we weren't interested in licensing the operating system, because we didn't have the experience we now have at Palm. If licensees are investing in your platform, you have a lot of responsibility to make their business successful in order to make your own business succeed," said Schindler.

"At that time, Apple was competing head-to-head with its licensees, which you shouldn't do. In terms of a business model we could later apply at Palm, we learned quite a bit at Apple," she agreed.

Apple began licensing its operating system to third-party manufacturers for Mac 'clones' in November 1994. The experiment ended September 2, 1997.

Licensees are critical to PalmSource, however: "Every licensee is very important to us. We work to make sure their software and hardware work well together. The result of that work is that we now have a wide range of diverse and innovative products, because they can innovate on top of the OS. This works because we want different devices; people want different things," Schindler said.

Apple's clone model required third-party manufacturers to stick to rigid designs. "We don't believe in that kind of model," Schindler said.



Hidden Apple
Apple and its Mac users remain important to Palm, said Chu. "We very much value the Mac user community," he said.

Palm's desire to maintain feature parity for users of Palm-powered devices despite their choice of platform is hindered by Apple's famed corporate secrecy. Chu described the hurdles faced by third parties tasked with keeping pace with Apple's fast-changing OS:

"Apple is very secretive with developers, and isn't revealing when the next OS releases are due to take place, or what's on the road map. This means we need to be reactive, not proactive. This is a lot harder for us to plan for because we're trying to get our platform to work with another platform.

"Apple's secrecy isn't helping us plan ahead, so if we knew, for example--and I certainly understand why Apple wouldn't want to tell us--that it would release on this date with these different features, then Palm can plan for that. But we just hear about it maybe the day before, whenever--and by that time, we can't come up with everything.

"I think in the end the customer ends up losing because of that," he said.



Looking to the Future
Chu added that in recent years, "Apple has done a tremendous job of getting a whole bunch of open standards to work with the Mac platform."

Looking forward, the PalmSource executives see critical trends that must drive the handheld industry: wireless connectivity, including Bluetooth and wireless fidelity; multimedia; communications; and data security.

Looking ahead, Schindler said: "I think that wonderful, usable, diverse and innovative devices are part of the future."

"I'm just curious myself where it's all going," she said.
Thanks to PC WORLD

SAVE $$$ on Palm open box handhelds. New Special Offers Everyday. Plus FREE Shipping til Sept 30! FREE Multi-media Bag w/Palm Zire 71 open box handheld for JUST $218! One Day Only -Oct. 9th!

It's a Palm! It's a Game Boy!-New Devices at DEMOMOBILE!!!


The Tapwave Zodiac devices (there's a 32 M-byte model for $299 and a 128 M-byte model for $399) were clearly the ones that everyone wanted to play with. The Zodiacs are Palm (Nasdaq: PALM) OS-based handheld PDAs that also act like a personal-entertainment handheld and can play games, MP3 music files and video clips. These are being aimed at the 18- to 34-year-old "executive" market.

I wouldn't expect companies to begin placing a ton of orders for these anytime soon as a way to mobilize their data-entry applications, but the specifics on the device still are enticing enough for sales executives and others who want a combination game device and PDA. The Zodiacs are expected in M mid-October. Go to the Tapwave Web site to order.

Hands-Free Without Bluetooth

Another must-have or at least must-see item is the Aura Communications' and fone-GEAR's Cord Free headset, which uses magnetic induction to create a hands-free and cord-free headset for mobile phones .

The headset works on a single AA battery and offers up to 25 hours of talk time and up to three months of standby power, the company says. It is compatible with phones that do not have Bluetooth , yet creates the same kind of effect of not having to be connected to your phone by a cord to use a hands-free headset.

My favorite phrase during the demonstration was that the device creates a "secure communication bubble" for end-users. The device also might cost less than Bluetooth headsets, with starting prices ranging from $60 to $80. The product will be available in the fourth quarter, the company said. Go to the Aura Web site for more details.

Why Is My Cat Calling Me?

Many current cell phones have the ability to take caller ID and associate a photo with the call. Some also can have personalized voice ring tones associated with them. Now comes Mobile Veepers from Pulse 3D -- the technology can take a two-dimensional photo and create a 3-D animated picture with voice capabilities.

Soon, expect to see "face tones" that lets the caller ID have an animated photo telling you to answer the phone. More details on the technology are available at Pulse 3Ds Web site. During their demo, Pulse 3D officials showed an example in which a dog was "calling" using a French voice. I guess you had to be there.
WIRELESSNEWSFACTOR

Cingular Plans $80M Upgrade

In the second stage of an infrastructure upgrade, Cingular Wireless will add more than 200 cell sites in Georgia to provide better coverage on its advanced network.

This portion of the project will cost the Atlanta company $80 million. Earlier this year, Cingular spent $200 million in the Peach state. Nearly half the new sites should be operational by year's end, with the expansion to continuing through 2004.

Patrick Foarde, a spokesman for Cingular, said the company does not release specifics about equipment types and vendors.

In the past, the company has used equipment from Ericsson and Nortel in its Georgia upgrades, he said.

The company announced its move to a GSM/GRPS network in August, and has rolled out the technology in about three-quarters of its markets.

GSM is the Global Systems for Mobile Communications. Worldwide, 880 million people in 179 countries use this technology, more than 70 percent of the total wireless market.

What GSM delivers for voice, GPRS technology delivers for data. General Packet Radio System, is an enhancement for GSM that transmits and receives data in packets. It provides "always-on" connectivity and greater bandwidth and connection speeds.

Cingular, a joint venture between SBC Communications (Quote, Chart) and BellSouth (Quote, Chart), has 23 million customers in 43 U.S. markets.

It recently moved to increase its presence, bidding $27.6 million to U.S. Unwired for additional spectrum and operations in Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana.

Today's announcement helps confirm the view of many industry watchers that both wireless and landline carriers are spending money to enhance their networks again, so they can offer advanced voice, data and video services that will generate new revenue.

Heres an interesting item from Proporta. Its a MMC memory card with BUILT-IN BACKUP Software. Thats right, with the PRO BACKUP you can backup your complete PALM without a PC ! And whats even nicer? Now you can RESTORE your Palm's DATA without a PC. Proporta is sending me one to evaluate and I should have that review up for you in a week or so. In the meantime, read more about it, and other fine PDA accs at PROPORTA

Insert this clever MMC card into your Palm, hit BACKUP and your data is safe; hit RESTORE and it's back in place. (PROBACKUP is available in 32 MEG and 64 MEG sizes)

POLICING & LAW ENFORCEMENT

Text messages will be sent to remind people to pay their fines as part of a three-month trial, Courts Minister Rick Barker said yesterday.
The Department for Courts would run the trial between November and January.

Collections Contact Centre staff would send payment and action date reminders by text message to fine defaulters with text capable mobile phones, Mr Barker said.

"This group are predominantly male, aged between 15 and 30 years and these are the people who owe the greatest amount of overdue fines, usually drivers with licence offences," he told Parliament.

Market research showed a high percentage of people in the 15-30 age group used a mobile phone as their primary means of communication.

There were two million text capable mobile phones used in the country.

"One day I expect people will be able to pay their fines by telephone," Mr Barker said.

Text messaging was seen as more personal than other types of communication and more likely to generate a response.

Assessments would be carried out during the trial period, along with the economic viability of a fully interactive text messaging service operated from collections centres.

Mr Barker also said he hoped to have an answer in six months on how the fines collection process could be improved.

New Zealand First MP Ron Mark yesterday questioned the minister on how a female driver had racked up 60 traffic infringements totalling $22,712 in fines between May 2000 and August 2003.

Mr Barker acknowleged there was an issue with people racking up fines when there was no central place from which these could be collected immediately.

There were delays in the time fines were issued by police and chased through the courts if unpaid.

"It's an issue that I am looking at. I would hope to have an answer for this House in the next six months as to what we can do to improve the process," Mr Barker told Parliament.
Thanks to STUFF NZ

The Death of the Handheld Computer

The Death of the Handheld Computer
By Rob Enderle
Vendors made three strikes when handheld computing came up to bat; is it game-over for the market?

Whatever happened to the handheld computer market? A segment that seemed to have limitless potential just a few years ago now seems to be flirting with irrelevance.

Right now, there are too many vendors in the space. Dell is driving the margins out of the segment; laptop computer prices are dropping to within a few hundred dollars of high-priced handhelds; and converged devices (cell phone/handheld computer) have generally proven to be a joke on those who bought them.

The choice seems clear: Either the market for these devices needs to expand, or some vendors will have to exit. Some (like Philips) have left, and Handspring was recently acquired by PalmOne.

Three major mistakes stunted handheld computing's growth. The first is standards (or the lack thereof); the second, excessive focus on technology instead of user needs; and the third, a dearth of marketing focused on the segment itself, not the devices.
FULL STORY AT EWEEK

Special offers everyday at the Official Palm Store. Plus FREE Shipping on new handhelds and accessories!

New IBM Notebooks Pass Crash Tests
IBM has announced an updated line of notebook computers geared toward
enterprise users featuring a sophisticated new antishock protective
system that will soothe the nerves of mobile professionals whose
machines are dropped into airport X-ray bins and subjected to other
indignities on a regular basis...

See the Full Story from WirelessNewsFactor

Do-Not-Call Program Moving Forward

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission can go forward with its national "do not call" registry while an appeals court considers whether the list violates telemarketers' free speech rights, the U.S. Court of Appeals said on Wednesday.

THE DECISION BY the U.S. Court of Appeals in Denver makes it easier for the federal government to enforce its popular anti-telemarketing program, which had been thrown into legal limbo after a lower court said the FTC could not act.
Another federal agency, the Federal Communications Commission, has been tracking complaints about telemarketers who call those who do not want to hear from them, but without the FTC�s help the task was made more complicated.
The legal status of the list is still not resolved as the appeals court must determine whether it unconstitutionally discriminates between commercial and charitable calls, which are not subject to the no-call rule
But until then, the FTC will be able to fine telemarketers up to $11,000 for each time they call one of the 51 million phone numbers on the list.
In its decision, a three-judge panel said the FTC stood a good chance of winning its case.
�We conclude there is a substantial likelihood that the FTC will be able to show ... that the list directly advances the government�s substantial interest and is narrowly tailored,� the judges said.
The court used similar logic last week when it allowed the Federal Communications Commission to enforce the list.
Many telemarketers had said they would voluntarily observe the list.
MSNBC

If You Haven't Added Your Phone Numbers, Home, Business and Cellular, You May Do So By
CLICKING HERE FOR "DO NOT CALL" LIST REGISTRATION
www.donotcall.gov
Consumers also can register by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the phone number they wish added to the list.

WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE SAYS WIRELESS CARRIERS WANT TO PROVIDE THE "411" ON YOUR WIRELESS NUMBER!!
411. Online directories. The plain old phone book.

There are lots of ways to find out someone's number if that person's phone happens to be tied to a traditional land line. But if you need to reach someone on a cell phone and you've misplaced the digits, you're out of luck.

Starting next year, that may change.

For STORY WASHINGTON POST

Cell Phone Explodes-
Manufacturer is Investigating
Wireless phones have become a way of life for many people but one of those phones knocked one woman for a loop over the weekend.

Tina McChristian's granddaughter was full of smiles on Monday but her family had a real scare the day before.

Tina says, "I really thought my car was on fire because there was that much smoke."

She says the smoke was coming from a new cell phone that the family had just purchased two days earlier. It was sitting on her daughter's lap as they were driving down the street.

Tina says, "My daughter screamed 'my phone exploded. Pull over.' It sizzled. It exploded. There's a mark on my seat."

Tina says when the phone exploded, the battery blew out of the compartment and ended up lodged in the car seat that held Tina's granddaughter.

She says, "The baby could have gotten burned. Or what if my daughter had been using the phone?"

Tina says there was absolutely no warning. The phone was just sitting there. It wasn't being charged or used.

Tina is thankful that no one was hurt but she says she's a little reluctant about putting a phone up to her ear again.

Tina got the phone at Cricket but they turned her over to Kyocera, the manufacturer of the phone. She's waiting to hear back from them about replacement of the phone and possibly the car seat.

Six on Your Side contacted Kyocera headquarters and they released a statement saying that they are aware of the incident and are currently investigating the matter. They add that the safety of their products is of utmost importance to them.
Thanks to WOWT 6 NEWS,OMAHA NEB

SAVE $$$ on Palm open box handhelds. New Special Offers Everyday. Plus FREE Shipping til Sept 30!

BLUETOOTH SALES SOAR!!

A new report by Frost & Sullivan predicts that Bluetooth chipset sales will increase to 70 million units this year, about double 2002's sales. The consulting group calls Bluetooth technology 'mature'. Find out more about the report in this article.
http://www.synchrologic.com/r.asp?link=XbffjcccCG,YdidcgeadCJ&oid=ScgI&iclitemid=XbejfabiCI&tid=WbeffgjDA



BEWARE BOGUS BLUETOOTH!!
Counterfeit Bluetooth products are flooding the UK market, and resellers
caught selling them could face a court appearance and hefty fines,
according to wireless vendor TDK Systems. The firm claims that up to 50
per cent of Bluetooth accessories either have not undergone official
qualification or violate trademark standards...

See the Full Story:

Wi-Fi HotSpots- News Relating to Wi-Fi and HotSpots


Using WAP to find Wi-Fi?
The Wi-Fi Alliance today made available a Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) based application that will let anyone with a WAP-enabled cell phone or PDA find hotspots listed in the Alliance's Wi-Fi ZONE database. Users can bookmark the URL http://wap.wi-fizone.org in their phone, and from there define a country, state, and city to get a list of available public access locations. The Wi-Fi ZONE list currently boasts 6000 entries from almost 50 countries. A listing is free to any hotspot that uses Wi-Fi Certified products that wants to sign on. -- October 6, 2003

Starbucks hotspot fun for October
The coffee maker, T-Mobile Hotspot, and HP (Quote, Chart) are celebrating a year of Wi-Fi service by offering laptop users video and audio performances by blues musicians. The multimedia is from HP from the CD Got a Feeling Called the Blues. Plus, the company lit up another 250 Starbucks locations with Wi-Fi; the stores are in North Carolina and Michigan. T-Mobile plans to add 100 more Starbucks by the end of the year, for a total of 2,700. Starbucks has 7000 locations worldwide.

o


Nokia gauges hefty sales for game phone
Last modified: October 6, 2003, 7:13 AM PDT
By Reuters


Nokia said Monday that it would start selling its mobile gaming phone N-Gage in more than 30,000 stores globally on Tuesday, and it predicted hefty sales of the handset in 2004.

The Finnish cell phone maker is attempting to use its mobile dominance to break into the gaming sector. "We are targeting selling several million N-Gage units in 2004," Nokia Mobile Phones spokesman Kari Tuutti told Reuters.

When asked about N-Gage's prospects for the current quarter, which includes the key holiday season, Tuutti added, "We have had a very promising order intake from the distribution and retail outlets in different countries. It indicates good momentum for N-Gage."

N-Gage, the first portable gaming device designed to compete with Nintendo's GameBoy, is Nokia's attempt to branch out into different markets to offset slowing sales in a global mobile phone market that has become saturated.

Tuutti declined to comment on reports that Nokia has invested more than $117.1 million (100 million euros) of its $11.6 billion cash pile in the launch of N-Gage, but did say that the company was investing significantly in building the phone's brand.

He also said that by the end of next year Nokia would launch phones with embedded megapixel cameras, which afford better picture quality than current integrated phone cameras in Europe.

"We are starting to challenge the whole traditional camera industry," Tuutti said.


Story Copyright � 2003 Reuters Limited

JD Powers Releases 2003 Cellular Satisfaction Survey-VERIZON Tops IN 5 Out of 6 Regions!


WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.�As wireless penetration continues to slow and legislation soon goes into effect allowing consumers to keep their phone numbers after switching providers, customer retention has become a top priority among wireless carriers, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2003 U.S. Wireless Regional CSI StudySM released today.

The study finds the overall wireless growth rate between 2002 and 2003 among the 27 largest U.S. markets was just 5.3 percent�considerably lower than the 7.6 percent overall growth rate between 2001 and 2002. In addition, more than one in four (26%) subscribers say they have switched wireless carriers at least once in the past 12 months�up from 24 percent in 2002, and the length of time a subscriber stays with a carrier before they switch has shortened a full three months since 1999.

"It�s imperative that wireless service providers concentrate on retention strategies as the ability to expand the customer base becomes more difficult," said Kirk Parsons, senior director of wireless services at J.D. Power and Associates. "The issue of number portability, which becomes a reality for consumers in November, removes a major barrier for customers in switching providers. With the cost of acquiring each new customer ranging between $300 and $425, wireless providers must make a serious effort to retain customers with superior service and loyalty programs."

The study indicates that providing superior customer satisfaction has become critical in the wireless industry to bolster customer retention and increase revenue potential. Just 7 percent of current customers of the highest-ranking providers are likely to switch carriers in the next 12 months, compared to 21 percent for the lowest-ranking providers. Furthermore, customers of the highest-ranking providers are 38 percent more likely to renew with their current carrier than are customers of lower-ranking providers.

FOR COMPLETE PRESS RELEASE w/ RESULTS BY REGION

i


Product Reviews- Headset/Earpieces for Your Wireless Phones

Sound matters, but so do looks; Hands-free headsets for your cellphone vary in quality and comfort, and they shouldn't make you look like a high-tech geek
by David Colker, Los Angeles Times
When it comes to headsets for cellphones, there are three basic looks: air traffic controller on lunch break, Secret Service wannabe and Lt. Uhura.

Though they can vary greatly in design and quality, all three are a step up from one of the most inconvenient poses that high tech has given us: walking down the street or driving with a cellphone plastered to the ear.

A good headset can at least free up your hands and provide better sound fidelity on both ends of the conversation.

And although most of these headsets look pretty nerdy, one has broken through in terms of style: Jabra FreeSpeak is a state-of-the-art cordless model (think Uhura) that looks almost good enough to qualify as a high-tech fashion accessory.

In all, we tested more than a dozen of the headsets by making calls from them in several situations, including automobiles and public buses.

Before going into detail on styles and models, there's a major caveat having to do with driving. A headset allows you to keep both hands on the wheel and avoid the all-too-well-known shoulder scrunch that comes from trying to keep the phone to the ear while making a sharp turn.

Anyone who regularly drives Los Angeles streets and freeways has seen numerous examples of drivers so occupied by keeping their phones in place that their cars become unguided missiles or, maybe worse, suddenly stationary obstacles.

But there is evidence that headsets won't be much help in that regard. A peer-reviewed 2001 study from the University of Utah made use of computerized driving simulators to show that cellphone use while driving is alarmingly disturbing, with or without a hands-free headset.

Cordless

By far the coolest thing going in cellphone headsets is Bluetooth, a wireless technology that has been around for years and finally found a use that might actually become popular.

These cordless headsets fit around the ear, usually with some kind of looping mechanism, and communicate with a cellphone that can be several feet away.

This allows you to carry your cellphone out of sight in a shirt pocket, resulting in a situation in which it's sometimes difficult for passersby to see any visible evidence that you're talking on the phone.

The best of these headsets tested was the aforementioned FreeSpeak ( www.jabra.com). First, you don't need a Bluetooth-equipped phone to use it -- the headset comes with an adaptor that plugs into a non-Bluetooth cellphone (cleverly, the adaptor also serves as the charging unit for the headset).

Unlike the other cordless models tested, the FreeSpeak was comfortable enough to wear for fairly long stretches. And although the sound fidelity was inferior to that of the best corded headsets -- several call recipients complained of the sound being overmodulated, or as one put it, "It hurts my ear a little bit" -- the headset is more than passable for relatively short calls.

"It sounds better than a lot of cellphone calls I get," said another participant in the tests. "Some of the corded ones sound like you are calling from home, but this is not bad."

Finally, the gray and silver Free- Speak, with its blue gel earpiece, simply looks cool, which is refreshing compared with other Bluetooth headsets that at their worst resemble large insects attached to the ear.

The FreeSpeak with Bluetooth adaptor costs about $130. Without the adaptor, the price is about $80.

The best sound fidelity on a Bluetooth headset was produced by the recently introduced Sony Ericsson HBH-35 ( www.sonyericsson.com). "Now that one does sound like it's from home," said the call recipient. On the caller end, the earpiece likewise produced a clear sound that could be easily raised or lowered with the use of discreet buttons built into the unit.

The main problem with this headset is that it's simply too uncomfortable to wear for more than several minutes at a time, especially for users who also wear eyeglasses.

The HBH-35, which does not come with an adaptor for non-Bluetooth phones, is available for about $130.

The Plantronics M3000 Bluetooth headset ( www.plantronics.com) is quite lightweight and provides good sound. The unit is fairly comfortable to wear, although it jiggles around a bit while walking and has the most insect-like appearance of the lot.

The M3000 is priced at about $70 and does not come with an adaptor for non-Bluetooth phones.

These Bluetooth headsets are probably the way of the future and are likely to get more comfortable and better-sounding as time goes on. But like any cutting-edge technology, they are not entirely plug-and-play for the consumer.

Plan on taking some time to set them up and get used to them. Definitely don't use them while driving without making sure you're comfortable with their operation.

And note this drawback with the Bluetooth headsets: They operate on batteries and need regular recharging.

Corded

Jabra again takes the honors with its new ProBoom model that comes with a built-in volume control. It provided the best sound quality of all headsets tested.

It comes with two ear-holding systems -- a gel earplug for fitting it directly into the ear, and a loop that allows it to rest on the ear. The gel insert provided the best sound.

The main drawback of this headset is that it's relatively heavy, which takes some getting used to. The ProBoom costs about $30.

A more lightweight choice is the Plantronics MX150, which cleverly clips to the bottom of the ear to hold the headset in place.

The sound quality is not the best, and the unit tends to come loose after a short while, but the MX150 certainly does the job for quick calls. It costs about $30.

A budget choice is the Belkin Earbud Hands-Free ( www.belkin.com). It fits into the ear without a gel insert and has a tiny microphone that provides adequate voice quality if the background noise is not overwhelming. The price is about $15.

First 802.16a Product to Debut This Month
By Vikki Lipset

A Canadian fixed wireless company plans to unveil the first product compliant with the new 802.16a wireless metropolitan area network (MAN) standard at the ITU Telecom World Conference in Geneva this month.

Redline Communications, of Markham, Ontario, said that its product, which operates in the 3.5GHz band that has been licensed for fixed wireless access in Europe, the Middle East and Asia, is fully compliant with 802.16a. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) approved the amendment to the 802.16 standard in January 2003 in order to address non-line-of-sight (NLOS) requirements in outdoor broadband wireless applications.

802.16a is expected to jumpstart the deployment of wireless MANs in much the same way as 802.11b did for wireless LANs. The standard operates in the licensed and unlicensed frequencies between 2GHz and 11GHz using orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM), which is also used by the 802.11a and 802.11g standards.

Redline's 802.16a system offers a throughput of 70Mbps with a range of up to 30 kilometers, according to Mitch Vine, product development director at the company. He said the product, which will work for point-to-point and point-to-multipoint deployments, is currently in trials with major carriers. (He declined to identify the carriers.)

The news is an indication that the supply chain for wireless MAN equipment is getting underway, said Andy Fuertes, a senior analyst at Visant Strategies. "It's not the big bang, but it's starting."

However, while the Redline product is compliant with the standard, it has not yet been certified by the WiMax Forum, the industry association backing the 802.16a standard. The group is not expected to begin testing products until early next year.

The WiMax Forum will likely test products in the 3.5GHz, 5-6GHz and 2.4GHz bands first, according to Fuertes. "Those are the bands that are seeing the greatest activity on a worldwide scale," he said.

Early products such as Redline's will be targeted at backhaul applications for enterprise access, he said, but products for the residential and SoHo markets will emerge throughout 2004.

PALM FIGHTS BACK !!
or
WHY BUY A PALM INSTEAD OF A PPC ? (My Title)

In case you have been shacking up with a hibernating bear or your the last Japanese soldier, still fighting WWII on a small island in the Pacific, PALM has just released 3 new handheld PDA's. I know that as a consumer and sometime writer, there just hasn't been enough press surrounding the release of PALM's 3 new handhelds, and I feel your pain. Your thirst for knowledge. While Sammy and the rest of the PALM ADDICT's staff struggled and scoured through web site after web site, computer magazines, EMAIL'd newsletters etc to provide you with SOMETHING to enlighten you about the new PALM models, it was tough folks. (OK, my career in stand up isn't quite working out yet)
Anyway, I just ahppened to come across this article that I found a little bit different then the hordes of PALM reviews out there. PC Magazines writers took a fresh approach by comparing the new PALMS to the comparable PALM Clones and some of the Pocket PC or Windows Mobile 2003 units that are out there. They also took a good luck at what you were getting in the new PALMs that the werent in the predecessors, excpecially some of the bundled applications. It's a good read. Enjoy it.

Palm Fights Back
By Bruce and Marge Brown
October 1, 2003

Palm, the market-leading PDA company, will have a new name (palmOne as of mid-November) and a new lineup of handhelds to combat the raft of Microsoft Windows Mobile PDAs that have surfaced.

The line now consists of seven models, including three that the company has just announced: the entry-level Zire 21 ($100 street), with a more powerful CPU and more memory than the previous Zire; the Tungsten E ($200 street), a business-oriented handheld at an affordable price; and the Tungsten T3 ($400 street), a beefed-up version of the outgoing T2 featuring a class-leading display, more powerful productivity and multimedia software, and improved Bluetooth configuration and management software.


Those two Tungsten entries also come with software improvements. The basic PIM applications have increased capability, including more fields and views. And the significant applications are now preloaded in ROM, so you don't have to load them from an auxiliary CD.

For Microsoft Outlook and Office compatibility, the new DataViz Documents to Go 6 Professional Edition has native file support for Word and Excel. This lets you view files directly from e-mail or file transfers without conversion. Multimedia is handled by RealOne Mobile Player, Kinoma Video, and Palm Photos (all conveniently preloaded). A new addition is J2ME compatibility via IBM's WebSphere Micro Environment, which opens a world of J2ME programs for Tungsten users.



The Palm Zire 21 takes over the entry-level slot in the Palm lineup, and it's an even greater value than the original Zire. Now boosted to 8MB of RAM (from 2MB) and running a 126-MHz CPU, the Zire 21 features the latest Palm OS version and PIM applications. That's good, since with its monochrome 160-by-160 display and lack of a memory expansion slot, the Zire 21 is really suited only for those basic applications.

The Zire 21's main competition is the Sony Cli� SJ20 ($130 list, before $30 rebate). The SJ20 is also a monochrome unit, but it has 16MB of RAM, a 320-by-320 display, and a Memory Stick removable media slot, giving you more PDA for the money.


That said, if the Zire 21 really winds up selling for closer to $80, as its predecessor did, it's well worth the price. This model isn't good for multimedia handling, and power users will want more capacity and expansion. But we found it adequate for students, teens, or anyone who wants a low-cost PDA for handling to-do lists, contacts, and calendar items.

CONTINUE ARTICLE & Tungston E & T3 Reviews

Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace



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PHONES and PDA"S GET CAMERAS, AND THEY"RE GETTING USED!!

Thanks to our evergrowing technology, the features and similarities between today's wireless phones and PDA's are becoming so entertwined that it's getting to be a chore to decide which is which. So close are these devices that some Phones are more PDA's then Phones and vice versa. In fact, it seems that the consumer nowdays has to decide whether they need a phone with PDA features as an extra, or, a PDA that can make phone calls as well.

The Treo 600 offers the capabilities of a 21st century mobile, as well as those of a PDA and a digital camera.

So, in any given story/article these days, it's really very easy just to change the word Phone for PDA or PDA for Phone, and have a completely interesting and ACCURATE story. So on that note, read on:

People Are Finding Reasons to Take Photos with Their Cell Phones
Akron Beacon Journal, Ohio
Thursday, October 02, 2003

Don't like being photographed?

Well, traditional cameras soon may be the least of your worries. Now, cell phones and PDA'si have eyes, too, and they're everywhere.

Take the Sprite Liquid Mix concert in Cleveland last month. Dozens of camera phones floated above the standing crowd to snap shots of the stage, even though traditional cameras were prohibited.

Or take the Dallas Morning News. A day after space shuttle Columbia crashed, the newspaper published photos taken with cell phones.

Or take the teen-ager in Clifton, N.J., who led police to a man who tried to kidnap him in August. Police arrested the suspect the next day based on a photo of the man and his license plate, the Associated Press reported.

"The demand for camera phones is definitely growing," said Laura Merritt of Verizon, the nation's largest wireless carrier.

Companies such as Sprint and T-Mobile are rolling out camera phones left and right to make the most out of this craze. And unlike services to surf the Web or play games on mobile phones, camera phones are catching on. People are finding reasons to take pictures, whether it's for work or for pleasure.

The result, some say, could be a society where cameras become almost as ubiquitous as cell phones are now. That's already happened in Japan where the cellular camera phones have been around for a few years.

According to researchers at San Francisco's Zelos Group, about one-third of all wireless subscribers will have a camera phone, by 2008. That's a marked change from many Americans' current habits.

Americans don't do much more than yak on their phones, even though the total number of minutes we spend on them has doubled over the past two years, analysts say.

The only nonvoice service that's really hooked people so far is text messaging. Twenty-two percent of cell-phone subscribers said they use the feature, according to a recent survey by the market research firm TNS Telecoms.

So what makes camera phones so popular?

It could be the convenience. (How many times have you said "Oh, I wish I had a camera?")

It could be the novelty. (What says "cool" like having a camera phone?)

But most likely, it's the ability to zip pictures to other camera phones, e-mail them, or upload them to personal Web pages.

Sprint Vice President Chip Novick said its subscribers shared 10.5 million pictures in the second quarter. And researchers from the Zelos Group say revenue generated from transmitting photos from phones will grow to more than $440 million in 2008, up from about $10.3 million this year. The companies make money on the camera phones by charging for the service and sometimes by the number of photos you save on their Internet servers. Uploading pictures to the Internet has become so popular that it's even got a name: moblogging.

The word "blog" itself is short for "Web log," which is a personal Web site full of information posted by cell phone users, arranged in chronological order. Blogs can be photo albums, diaries, poetry, work information or just about anything. For instance, numerous blogs dedicated to the Aug. 14 blackout are floating around the Internet, most with camera-phone photos of packed New York streets.

Verizon's camera phone taps the blogging phenomenon by letting users send photos with voice recordings, Merritt said. The wireless carrier also offers customers an online photo gallery, much like No. 4 wireless provider Sprint does.

Blogging aside, some people are content to just take photos at concerts.

Mixx Nelson, of Canton, Ohio, put his Sprint phone to use at last month's Sprite Liquid Mix concert at the Tower City Amphitheater in Cleveland."I wasn't really thinking about it at first, but then I saw the long list of stuff we couldn't have, including cameras," he said, shouting over the music. "I thought (the security) dude was going to take my phone away for a second. But he didn't. I've been taking pictures ever since." Clear Channel Entertainment, which sponsored the Liquid Mix show, doesn't allow cameras in most of the concerts it promotes. The San Antonio-based company didn't return numerous calls seeking comment about its camera-phone policy.

Christi S. Bechtold of Litchfield, Ohio, said wireless companies are missing the boat by targeting users like Nelson. The real market and money, she said, lies with small business owners who will use camera phones to work.

Bechtold, who runs the custom-cabinet supply company CS Bechtold Designs, said she uses her phone to convey exactly what she's facing at a job site. Sometimes words just won't do when a house's plumbing juts off at weird angles and the cabinet installer needs to know exact dimensions.

In those situations, Bechtold said she had to call the installer out to a job site, or take a picture of the problem with a regular digital camera and drive home to e-mail it.

But with a camera phone, she said, "I can e-mail a picture and call you right back."

Now, Bechtold said she's trying to talk her installers into buying camera phones. That way she can avoid driving to a job site when an installer discovers a problem that she needs to see.

Such a situation arose last month.

"I spent five hours yesterday driving out to Sandusky and back to meet with a client for something that could've been handled in five minutes," she said.

Ron Pendleton Associate Writer, PalmPlace



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"THE NEW PALMS ARE , THE NEW PALMS ARE HERE!!"
Well the moment that many of us Palm Lovers have been waiting for has arrived (well REAL, REAL, CLOSE) And as our Fearless Leader Sammy has promised, not only are we getting enough new product to create BIG excitement, it appears we are gonna get some news about new developments and product that we don't know about. So the question arises, what is about to come down the pipes and what are we gonna do with it?
One feature that is always desired and becomming more and more standard is wireless capability. Whether it be simply a Landline Modem, Wireless (Cellular Capability), or WiFi or Bluetooth, we want the ability to "Surf The Net" and we want to check that EMAIL!! EMAIL, now thats a good subject. And with EMAIL comes the inevitable problems. We spend more time nowdays (and money) dealing with the problems presented to us by just that medium. EMAIL! We get SPAMMED to death. We get so many Virus's and Trojan Worms we need our own IT Depts in our homes to deal with it. So now, we are gonna be getting all that email on our PALM PDA's as well ?
YOU BET YA!! So , in the next couple of days I will try and provide you all with some info to try and stop the mess before it starts, and try and "Beat The System" before it beats you. So for now, I found a good basic article discussing SPAM. Thats right, if they can spam your HOME and Work PC, now they can SPAM that PDA, if they aren't already. "THINK ABOUT IT!"

Spam Slayer: Unite Against Spam
Don't encourage them--and urge others to be more careful with e-mail.

Tom Spring, PCWorld.com
Monday, September 29, 2003
This new weekly online column chronicles the spam wars and offers advice. Send your spam gripes and questions to spamwatch@pcworld.com. As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome. Return to the SpamWatch page for more articles.

The unnerving reality about spam is that it works. Somehow, enough people answer e-mail about bogus university degrees, Nigerian cash transfers, and herbal aphrodisiacs to keep the whole nauseating industry revolving.

When people buy items advertised in spam pitches, they do the virtual equivalent of throwing gasoline on a fire. Some of the spammed have the excuse of being victims of online con artists. But others have no excuse except for not quite catching on.

The situation warrants a strict antispam defense: Don't answer spam under any circumstance. And urge your correspondents to do the same.

Tip of the Week

Don't even open suspected spam in your e-mail program's preview pane. Many spammers can verify your e-mail address by including images in e-mail. These so-called "Web beacons" alert the spammer that the message was opened, and you get more spam.

Don't Ask, Don't Answer
If nobody answered spam, spammers would have to resume their previous occupation of sniffing glue full-time. But people reply to even the most despicable spam.

That's right, some folks actually fall for those pitches. The Nigerian "investment" scam is expected to gross $2 billion in 2003, making it that country's second-largest industry, according to security vendor MessageLabs.

And people even answer those bawdy pitches for male anatomy enlargement pills.

A recent report by New Hampshire Public Radio gives a fascinating glimpse into the New Hampshire firm Amazing Internet Products. Its accidentally exposed order log reveals that 6000 people in a four-week period paid $50 for a bottle of the herbal supplement Pinacle.

The purchasers aren't 6000 heavy breathers. They include a mutual fund manager, at least two company presidents, a restaurateur, and a veterinarian. Apparently none of these hopeful customers was fazed that Amazing's Web site has no phone numbers or mail or e-mail addresses, according to NHPR reporter Brian McWilliams.

"When it costs next to nothing to send 100,000 e-mails, all you need is one gullible recipient to make spam worthwhile," says Jared Blank, a Jupiter Research analyst.


Just Say No to Spam
Filters are getting much better at winnowing legit e-mail from spam. But technology is no more a solution to spam than it is to water pollution, says Jason Catlett, president of the antispam advocacy group Junkbusters.

The right approach is to stop the polluters and spammers, rather than getting consumers to clean up the mess, he says.

"Obviously, if nobody responded to spam, spammers would eventually stop," Catlett says. "But educating the masses is like trying to abolish world poverty."

Tell your friends and colleagues to slam the door on spam by deleting it without reading. Don't even click on the hypertext link embedded in a message, as it alerts the spammer that you're there.


Spam Q&A
Question: Someone is sending spam using my e-mail address. I am getting undeliverable mail notices for e-mail I did not send. How do I fight this problem? Earthlink support is of little help.

--Dorothy O.

Answer: Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do to prevent someone from sending spam using your e-mail address as the return. It's impossible to prevent this, just as you can't stop someone from mailing a letter using your street address as their return address. The good news is that spammers usually borrow your e-mail address for only a short time and will move on to another victim quickly.

To be sure a virus isn't camped out on your PC and sending e-mail using your account, you should update and run antivirus software. Another tip is to report this abuse to the Federal Trade Commission or your ISP's abuse team. Contact Earthlink's abuse team at abuse@earthlink.net. To stop the return e-mail messages, use your spam filter software to create a personalized ban on the nuisance messages.

Spoofing a return address is illegal. Online retailer Amazon.com has filed 11 lawsuits against online marketers in the U.S. and Canada, alleging they misuse the Amazon name when sending e-mail advertisements. Earthlink shut down the notorious Buffalo Spammer after the spammer sent 825 million messages in a year with spoofed reply e-mail addresses.

Question: Why can't Microsoft incorporate a security fence around the address book in Outlook and Outlook Express so no program can access the address books without a user-assigned password? Surely this would not be much of a programming problem.

--James Burnett

Answer: Address books are targets of many viruses, such as the recent BugBear worm that forwarded itself to anyone in a victim's address book. Even a password-protected Outlook or Outlook Express in-box cannot prevent viruses from hijacking your addresses.

However, a company called Sentrybay says its $20 product ViraLock prevents these types of worms from biting you by locking up your address book so no program or person can access an e-mail address without permission.

ViraLock encrypts your Outlook and Outlook Express address book, as well as any e-mail addresses in a message's header information or in its body.

If you only want to protect your address book from snoops, you can password-protect both Outlook Express and Outlook. In Outlook, right-click on your Outlook Today e-mail folder and go to Properties. Next, click on Advanced, then Change Password, and set a password.

Password-protecting Outlook Express is trickier. First, go to File, Identities, Add New Identity, and select a password. The catch is you must create a second identity, even if it's a nonfunctional one. That's because in order to log off from an Identity on the File menu, Outlook needs multiple identities defined.

Tom Spring is PC World.com's Spam Watch columnist.