Google Answers Logo
View Question
 
Q: Wireless IM devices ( Answered,   0 Comments )
Question  
Subject: Wireless IM devices
Category: Computers > Internet
Asked by: r2-ga
List Price: $20.00
Posted: 26 Jun 2002 06:09 PDT
Expires: 26 Jul 2002 06:09 PDT
Question ID: 33482
I am looking for wireless devices with a keyboard (like a blackberry)
that can IM using either MSN or Yahoo or AOL.
Answer  
Subject: Re: Wireless IM devices
Answered By: inquisitive-ga on 26 Jun 2002 08:05 PDT
 
Hello r2-ga,

Great question! The technology you are looking for is just beginning
to come on the market. Before long, I think you can expect to see
nearly all handhelds ship with some form of wireless access, however.

If you can wait for a bit, then you may want to check out the Hiptop
by Danger Inc. which is planned to release in late July to the U.S.
market (later this year for other countries) and will offer voice,
Internet, and messaging capabilities in a single device. According to
their Web site they will support all types of messaging applications
as well as internet access, email with attachments and also serve as a
full-featured mobile phone. A large screen flips open to expose a
QWERTY keyboard.

Here's a short overview of the Hiptop from EdgeReview:
http://www.edgereview.com/ataglance.cfm?category=handheld&ID=288

Here's the info on the Hiptop from its creator, Danger Inc.:
http://www.danger.com/products.php

For now, however, most handhelds running Palm OS or Pocket PC offer a
messaging solution through a third-party application. With these free
downloads you can access AIM, Yahoo! Messenger or MSN Messenger
through your favorite handheld (most wireless handhelds support this):

Here is the Yahoo Mesenger application for Palm OS:
http://messenger.yahoo.com/messenger/palm/downloads_palm_msgr.html

Here is the AOL solution for Palm OS:
http://www.aim.com/get_aim/palm/latest_palm.adp

And MSN offers messaging for PocketPC users:
http://messenger.msn.com/clients/pocketpc.asp

My favorite of the newest wireless handhelds is the Handspring Treo
180, which comes in a version with a full QUERTY keyboard. It
integrates your phone, Palm OS organizer, email and wireless web all
in one device. It offers instant messaging through third party
solutions for Palm OS.

Another good wireless handheld (which comes with AIM installed) is the
Palm i705 ( http://www.palm.com/products/palmi705/ ). This particular
model doesn't come with a keyboard standard, but it does have a cool
mini keyboard which snaps right on for email and messaging:
http://www.palm.com/products/accessories/mini_keyboard/

If you really like the Blackberry, you can access Yahoo! Messenger
through a Blackberry with the Go.Web service from GoAmerica:
http://www.goamerica.net/html/blackberry/index.html

From the Blackberry Web site:
Go.Messenger - Instant Messaging application for chatting with other
Go.Messenger users or Yahoo! Messenger users.
http://www.blackberry.net/developers/na/programs/referral/partners/companies/goamerica.shtml

And just in case you'd prefer a smaller grafitti handheld, you can get
add-on keyboards for desktop use:
http://www.zdnet.com/products/stories/reviews/0,4161,2856041,00.html


You may also find it interesting to read this recent article from
WirelessAdWatch.com on the new wireless devices of the summer:
http://www.wirelessadwatch.com/news/2002/news20020617.shtml

Or this one from ZDNET, "End of the road for the unconnected
handheld?":
http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10738,2871073,00.html

I hope this answer helps you on your way to a new handheld. Thank you
for using Google Answers.

inquisitive-ga

Clarification of Answer by inquisitive-ga on 26 Jun 2002 10:04 PDT
Hello again,

I inadvertantly left off the URL for the Handspring Treo 180. My
apologies!

http://www.handspring.com/products/treo/index.jhtml?sub_nav_section=Overview&prod_cat_name=Treo

They have also come out with a new color version:
http://www.handspring.com/products/treo270/index.jhtml?sub_nav_section=Overview&prod_cat_name=Treo270

inquisitive-ga
Comments  
There are no comments at this time.

Important Disclaimer: Answers and comments provided on Google Answers are general information, and are not intended to substitute for informed professional medical, psychiatric, psychological, tax, legal, investment, accounting, or other professional advice. Google does not endorse, and expressly disclaims liability for any product, manufacturer, distributor, service or service provider mentioned or any opinion expressed in answers or comments. Please read carefully the Google Answers Terms of Service.

If you feel that you have found inappropriate content, please let us know by emailing us at answers-support@google.com with the question ID listed above. Thank you.
Search Google Answers for
Google Answers  


Google Home - Answers FAQ - Terms of Service - Privacy Policy