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Domain: bam.com

Stories and comments across the archive that link to bam.com.

Comments · 6

  1. A few questions and a recommendation by onion2k · · Score: 5 · on What's The Best Cell Phone Calling Plan?
    Yet another international perspective I'm afraid..

    • Are the minutes you get useable at the times you'll be using the phone? Ignore the free minutes if they're off-peak. What are the chances you'll be doing work stuff at night.
    • Are the free minutes useable to networks you'll be phoning most? Some talk plans don't include free time to other mobile networks, premium rate lines (eg tech support.. or pr0n if you have a weird job 8)).
    • Is the phone billed per-second? I've heard nasty thing about some US telcos rounding a 65second call up to 2 mintues..
    • Whats the coverage like? Is it going to work where you are going to be..
    • What are the toys like? Are the options for things like WAP, email to the phone etc..
    • Whats the phone itself like? Theres nothing worse than having a chunky, poor quality, poor interfaced phone that you need to use quickly and easily everyday.
    I've heard some pretty good stories about Bell Atlantic's SingleRate tarrif, its a good network with coast to coast coverage. A couple of American consulatants I've spoken to are with the network. That said though, I'm fortunate enough to live and work in the uk, our 4 mobile operators are pretty much equal.
  2. mobile CONNECTIVITY with CDPD and Libretto by FJ!! · · Score: 1 · on Inexpensive Linux/BSD Handhelds
    I have a small Toshiba Libretto 110ct I picked new up on an online auction (800x480 24bit LCD, 32Mb, 4.1 Gig) with a iNet Spider CDPD modem card running. The service is called Airbridge from Bell Atlantic Mobile, and it works just fine. Ok, so it isn't really a 19k2 but more of a bursty 11k connection, and coverage is spotty in the suburbs, but hardware wise it works. I read Usenet over telnet, I email, I even browse (slooooowly) with this tiny package. You could do slashdot with it. The screen's really good for the size. It's just a sweet little gadget. I am happy as a clam with it. I read and browse on the couch, in the bus, everywhere.

    I've een thinking of replacing the current Win98 with some kine of *BSD, but I am not sure whether that will support the PCMCIA CDPD modem, so I haven't invested the time yet. Considering this is just a small comms machine, I also don't think it is worth it.

    FJ!!

  3. It's a step in the right direction by cyoon · · Score: 1 · on PCS Phone + UP.Browser == Killer App?
    Sure, Sprint PCS and the phones that they have aren't so great. I have a Sanyo SCP-4000 in Boston and there's no web service here! BUT, look at what's coming around the corner:

    1. Phones big screens, dedicated toward bringing the web to your hand. Check out the Nokia 7100 series.
    2. Watch for more advanced web services to come about. Services like maps, phone directories, and entertainment guides are rapidly moving toward deployment for such services.
    3. Bell Atlantic Mobile will soon be offering unlimited use for a monthly fee. This is what will truly get the ball rolling. Cellular phones were executives' toys until the companies started offering free off-peak time, allowing ordinary people to benefit from them. Now cellular phones are everywhere.
    4. Phones will get more advanced. Watch for phones with GPS built into them to come out in a year or two.
    5. Systems like the Palm VII will become a lot more commonplace, with cellular modems built right into them.
  4. There are Better Solutions.... by cjs · · Score: 2 · on Hands on Review of pdQ Palm/Cellphone

    Personally, I'd go with the Bell Atlantic AirBridge solution instead. For $55/month with a one year contract ($40/month with a two year contract), you're always connected and you get unlimited traffic at 19.2 Kbps anywhere between about Boston and Washington on the east cost. As well as the $240 cradle for the Palm III, for $150 or so you can get an external or a PCMCIA wireless modem for your laptop or other device.

    cjs

  5. There are Better Solutions.... by cjs · · Score: 2 · on Hands on Review of pdQ Palm/Cellphone

    Personally, I'd go with the Bell Atlantic AirBridge solution instead. For $55/month with a one year contract ($40/month with a two year contract), you're always connected and you get unlimited traffic at 19.2 Kbps anywhere between about Boston and Washington on the east cost. As well as the $240 cradle for the Palm III, for $150 or so you can get an external or a PCMCIA wireless modem for your laptop or other device.

    cjs

  6. What about the Minstrel? by -Kurt · · Score: 1 · on Palm VII vs BlackBerry

    I have a Palm IIIx and a Novatel Minstrel. Wireless IP access from Boston to DC via CDPD. See Novatel's page or Bell Atlantic Mobile