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Traversing the Technology Maze – Finding the PDA That's Right for You
Whether you’re in the office, at home, or traveling domestically or internationally, you need information at your fingertips. And while there’s a world of choices when it comes to selecting a PDA, the array of handheld features, technology requirements – even which cell phone carriers support which devices – can be overwhelming. Picking the wrong PDA for you can cost time, money, and the hassle of dealing with technological incompatibility. Following is information that you should keep in mind as part of the selection process.
The Major Players
Each of the following three major PDA players provides wireless handheld devices that can be used to access email, phone, web, corporate data, and organizer features.
A leader in the PDA field, Research in Motion (RIM) produces Blackberry devices.
Good Technology’s GoodLink solution supports a wide variety of makes and models, including the popular Treo and Motorola Q devices.
Microsoft’s Windows Mobile Devices are the newest entry into this market space.
Blackberry (Research In Motion). Blackberry devices are generally easy-to-use and provide good email capabilities. A proprietary/closed system, Blackberrys feature strong wireless synchronization/integration functionality, but support a limited number of devices. For single users, wireless redirection is performed via Desktop Redirector, a software applications that requires a dedicated machine specifically for this function (hence, not great for laptops). In the case of multiple users, Blackberry’s Enterprise Server software provides wireless redirection on a dedicated mobile server. It should be noted that you’ll need a fair amount of IT savvy to maintain multiple user setup and that the cost of $1000+ per license might be prohibitive for some organizations.
GoodLink (Good Technology). An excellent corporate/enterprise solution, GoodLink supports an array of devices including a variety of Treo handhelds (including the latest Treo 650 and Treo 700 models). Like Blackberry, a dedicated server and software is required and licenses can be pricey at $340 per device per year. GoodLink offers an excellent, intuitive user interface, as well as the best integration of back-end email of the bunch. It’s the only player that allows wireless synchronization of public (network) contact folders.
Windows Mobile Devices (Microsoft Corporation). This class of PDA has gained a lot of momentum in the industry over the last year because it provides wireless access to shared calendar, email, and data via Microsoft Exchange – a back-end mail server that is very commonly used among both large enterprises and small businesses. Because there’s no dedicated mobile server required, this solution can potentially save organizations thousands of dollars in hardware and third-party licensing fees. Among the devices running Windows Mobile, Motorola’s Q and Palm’s Treo 700w are currently generating a lot of buzz. While this technology works well today, it’s anticipated that these products will feature even better performance and tighter integration with Exchange as they mature.
It’s important to note that these technologies are not mutually exclusive. However, there is the additional cost and technical support of the mobile servers required for Blackberry and GoodLink PDAs.
Before Selecting a PDA – Ask Questions
Don’t take the plunge of purchasing a PDA before answering these questions:
Question 1: Who is your current cell phone provider and how happy are you with your provider’s service?
Even if you’re happy with your current cell phone provider, you should know what PDAs the carrier supports. Also, there are two separate wireless standards used by the major phone carriers. Verizon and Sprint use the CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) wireless standard, while AT&T and Cingular use the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) standard. This means that not all carriers will support all devices. For example, Verizon supports a variety of devices, but is currently the only provider that supports the Motorola Q device. If you have your heart set on a certain PDA model, be sure that you know what devices your carrier supports or determine which carrier supports the PDA that you’re interested in (as well as your organization’s non-PDA needs).
Question 2: Do you travel domestically? Internationally?
Depending on your business needs and where you travel, your PDA can sometimes replace your laptop. The core application for many businesses today is email. Critical documents frequently exist as email attachments. Calendar appointments, corporate Contacts, and Tasks are stored in these systems. A PDA that is configured to wirelessly access this data can often be the only device a traveler needs when traveling.
International travelers – Note that with reciprocal agreements in Asia and Europe, Cingular is by far the strongest choice for a carrier if you travel a lot internationally.
Domestic travelers – Be sure that your carrier is available in places that you travel to regularly / frequently.
Question 3: What’s the next best thing in technology?
Some important technologies to keep in mind are the next generation of cell phone data networks; EVDO (EVolution Data Optimized) and Cingular’s EDGE network. They offer near-broadband speeds for downloads and dramatically enhanced web browsing.
Question 4: Which device “feels” right?
We recommend that you “test drive” the devices that you are interested in. Does the device feel good in your hand? Are you comfortable with the keypad/keyboard? Is the display bright enough and sharp enough for your needs? Is there anything that just doesn’t feel right?
InfoPartners – PDA Technology Experts
This article provides a starting point for your evaluation of PDA devices. We’ve worked with a variety of Bay Area companies to address their PDA needs. Let InfoPartners partner with you to answer your questions regarding the PDA device that’s just right for you.