Smartphone & Pocket PC magazine - Cellular

Upgrade or switch network?

admin — Tue, 19 May 2009 15:47:51 +0000

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Upgrade or Switch Network

Turn off the screen during calls

Daniel Hart — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:26:50 +0000

A tip from WMExperts.com describes how to use a freeware program to turn off the LCD screen on your smartphone during calls to save battery power. Click here for the article.

http://www.wmexperts.com/articles/howto/tip_of_the_week_month_whenever.html

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Sending an MMS video message

Daniel Hart — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:40:44 +0000

Amy Mayer from pdastreet.com describes how to send a video you record using your smartphone's camera as an MMS message. Click here for the article.

http://www.pdastreet.com/articles/2008/7/2008-7-30-Tip-Windows-Mobile.html

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Avoid skyrocketing cell phone bills

Daniel Hart — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 20:09:51 +0000

John Frederick Moore at CNET.com gives advice on how to keep cell phone bills at a manageable level. Click here for the article.

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Different factors may affect mobile phone call quality

Daniel Hart — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 14:27:00 +0000

Here is a list of different factors that can affect calls on your mobile phone:

Built-in components: The receptivity of the phone’s antenna as well as the quality of the built-in microphone and speaker can affect call quality. Different phones are built with different components, and bad performance may not always be the carrier’s fault. That said, most phone-enabled Windows Mobile devices in the U.S. are sold by carriers, and they test them extensively before offering them. If there is a problem with components, the carrier should be aware of it.
Your location: If you’re outside in an area with a lot of hills or tall buildings, call quality can vary. You may be relatively close to a cell phone transmission tower and still experience problems.
Buildings and the materials out of which they are made: If you are inside a building, you can experience dropped calls and poor reception. Signals pass more easily through glass and wood then they do metal or concrete.
The band frequency your phone is using: Lower frequency bands pass more easily through buildings than high frequency bands do.
Atmospheric and solar interference: Thunder storms and periods of strong solar flare activity can interfere with transmissions.
A large amount of call traffic: Call quality can be inconsistent if many other subscribers are making calls at the same time, such as at a sporting event or concert.

As you can see, of all these factors, only the first directly relates to the quality of device you are using.

Based on an article by Kent German on cnet.com

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Connecting to the Internet on the go

Daniel Hart — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 21:51:17 +0000

Most recently-released Pocket PCs and Smartphones have the wireless capabilities you need to stay connected wherever you are. For example, most Pocket PCs and a few Smartphones have integrated Wi-Fi capabilities. And since Wi-Fi hotspots are becoming widely available in coffee shops, university campuses, municipal building, and malls, users of these devices will be able to browse the Web, via high-speed connections, wherever they can find a hotspot. To avoid disappointment, check out a few things before you leave on your next trip:

Stay in hotels with high-speed Internet access. More and more hotel chains offer in-room wireless Internet access. This is especially true of chains that cater to business travelers. Check this out before you make your reservations. If an assistant makes your reservations for you, make sure they ask about this. Some chains offer this service for free; others charge for it. Note also that some hotels offer wired Internet access. If you stay in one of these establishments, you’ll need to pack an Ethernet adapter card for your device, from Socket Communications (socketcom.com) or another vendor. Note also that you may need an account to access the Internet, and you may need to set this up on your PC beforehand.
Check the coverage of your phone’s high-speed data plan. It’s great if you have a Smartphone or Pocket PC Phone Edition device with a high-speed data plan, but remember that “nation wide coverage” usually means coverage in major metropolitan areas across the country. Before you leave on a trip, check to see that the coverage includes that area. If not, you may have to rely on Wi-Fi hotspots. You can check out the location of hotspots in the area of your travels at wi-fihotspotlist.com or similar sites.
Get ISP phone numbers for dial-up accounts. You can use modem cards or wired modems with your Windows Mobile device to access dial-up ISP accounts. If you do, find the dial-up phone numbers for the areas you are traveling to. This should be listed on your ISP’s Web site, but you may need to phone your ISP to get it.
Test connectivity before you leave. Try out your various connectivity options before you leave on your travels. If you will rely on Wi-Fi, find a hotspot and make sure you can connect using the Wi-Fi manager application built into the device. If you are using a modem for a dial-up connection, place a long distance call to the ISP access numbers for the cities you are traveling to, to make sure they work. Use the Connections utility on your device to create a dial-up connection for the number, and make sure it works. If you encounter problems, it will be easier to get technical assistance from your ISP while you are at home.
Will your phone and data service work abroad? If you plan on traveling abroad, you need to make sure your phone and its data capabilities will work in other countries. Most of the world has standardized on GSM/GPRS cellular networks, and the Cingular and T-Mobile networks in the U.S. are based on this technology. However, the other major U.S. providers, Sprint and Verizon, use networks based on CDMA technology. If you’re traveling abroad, you probably won’t be able to use a Sprint or Verizon phone. Check with your service provider before you leave to make sure you have the service you need.

Based on information from Frank McPherson's "How to Do Everything with Windows Mobile"

Find a wireless service provider first and then buy a device they support

Staff — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 21:02:03 +0000

The best way to find a wireless solution that works is to choose the wireless service provider that offers the coverage and services you want, and then buy a Windows Mobile device with a built in phone (Pocket PC Phone Edition, Smartphone Professional, Smartphone Standard) that they support or sell. This is particularly important when working with Sprint and Verizon in the U.S. Their cellular networks are based on CDMA technology, and phone-enabled devices designed to work with GSM technology will not work on a CDMA network.

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Activating your phone service

Staff — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 19:41:48 +0000

If you buy a phone-enabled device from a wireless carrier’s store, they will activate the phone service for you before you leave. If you order a phone from a wireless carrier via phone or online, you may have to activate the phone service yourself when you receive the phone. The process varies and the carrier will give you instructions on how to do it. If you have problems, contact the carrier’s help line.

Most wireless carriers around the world use either CDMA or GSM technology. For example, in the U.S., Sprint and Verizon have CDMA networks, and AT&T and T-Mobile have GSM networks. Phones must incorporate the appropriate technology. For example, a GSM phone will not work on a CDMA network, and a CDMA phone won’t work on a GSM network. A few phones have both GSM and CDMA technology built into them, allowing them to work with either technology.

Most of the rest of the world has standardized on GSM networks. Phones using these networks carry owner and network access information on small SIM cards, which can easily be swapped between phones. Once your service is activated, you can remove the SIM card from one GSM phone, place it in another, and use the network. The point here is that it’s the SIM card that gets activated—not the phone. (Warning: Some GSM carriers lock the phones they sell, so they only work with their network. If you want to use a GSM phone with another network, make sure it is an unlocked device.)

CDMA phones are different. They do not use cards to store owner and network access information. That data is stored in the phone’s built-in memory. If you buy another CDMA phone, you have to have your wireless carrier activate the phone to use it. (Important point: Make sure your CDMA carrier supports a phone before you buy it. Many will only support and activate phones they sell.)

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Make phone calls over the Internet using VoIP

Staff — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 19:00:04 +0000

A growing number of people are using the Internet to make inexpensive or free phone calls to places all around the world. These people are taking advantage of a technology called Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Skype (skype.com) is a popular program for making phone calls on the Internet, and you can download a free version of this program that runs on Windows Mobile devices.

Skype requires a high-speed connection to the Internet, so it works best with wireless LAN connections or 3G data connections from services such as Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T. If you use Skype on a device that has built-in wireless networking, it needs at least a 300 MHz processor. If you use an external wireless card, the device’s processor requirements increase to 400 MHz.

From Frank McPherson's "How to Do Everything with Windows Mobile"

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