In my previous blog article, I discussed the forthcoming Windows Mobile - Version 6. It was my recommendation to hold off with any purchases of mobile devices until the Summer of 2007. However, if you can't wait that long to upgrade your phone or you need web and email access on your phone, there are other alternatives...
Most services providers, such as VerizonWireless and T-Mobile offer phones that -- while they may not have all of the Windows Mobile capabilities -- allow you to have basic access to the web, send and receive email, provide GPS navigation (requires GPS capability), download and play music (MP3's, etc.), save and create your own ringtones (including playback of MIDI files), SD memory card storage and more. VerizonWireless and the others have additional services (for a fee) providing access to video, music, news, weather and more.
A good example of these types of devices is VerizonWireless's LG VX8300 phone, which I switched to after first trying out a Windows Mobile Pocket PC phone device. It has allowed me to surf the web, watch news clips, play my favorite MP3 music files, create ringtones, I now let its Verizon Navigator (GPS) system provide visual and verbal directions while driving. It also has a built-in camera and Bluetooth capabilities. The phone is one of the more rugged phones I've had and comes with excellent built-in stereo speakers.
Because text input is limited to the phone keypad, it is not something that you will be using for regular web browsing, but it has proven useful... I can even access and view ActiveRain.com, although admittedly, it can get cumbersome and tedious over an extended period of time.
Depending on your provider and your contract status, you may be able to get the phone for free (or free with rebates).
Service costs (approximate, per month) are: Web access, $5; V Cast (Video Clips and Web, with unlimited minutes -- i.e., no minutes charged for usage), $15; Navigation (requires GPS), $10. If you don't have the full V Cast package, then you will pay for peak minutes usage (free on off peak) when Web and Navigator services.
Here are some resources links for the VX8300 for you to obtain more information and get the most use out of the phone:
LG VX8300 - Tips, Tricks, Tutorials and Hacks - user blog.
LG VX8300 Specifications - Information provided by LG, the manufacturer.
Buy Online - PhoneDog - also includes specification information.
VX8300 - Complete Tutorial - (note some of the information here is dated. For example, there is no longer an MP3 playing issue with version 4 of the control software).
Note: I realize that, with regard to smartphone and PDA devices, there are other alternatives to Windows Mobile, such as the Palm operating system, among others. I'm a regular Palm PDA user myself (with a large investment in Palm application and utility software), but currently see no long-term development path for the Palm system and a shrinking market share. As most know by now, Palm split off the Palm software part of it's company -- so any new Palm hardware devices are free to use Windows Mobile or any other operating system. There are too many disadvantages to me at this time to allow me to comfortably consider equivalent alternatives to Windows Mobile devices.
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