Cables, Cables Everywhere

Posted By: Ed Tuesday, November 20, 2001 8:21:40 AM

While Bluetooth has tremendous potential for hooking handhelds and peripherals together wirelessly, currently cables are the way to go. Recently, several companies have announced new cables to connect almost all Palm OS models to devices like mobile phone and modems.

Supplynet has developed direct connect cellular cables for all Palm and Handspring Visor models to fit to the most popular cellphones, including; Motorola, Samsung, Kyocera, Audiovox, Sanyo and many others. These "smart" cables with built-in electronics take advantage of the new Web-enabled technology built into today's mobile phones, eliminating the need for a modem.

Cables are approximately 8 inches in length and connect to the bottom of the PDA and then plugging into the bottom of the phone.

Purple Data Cables has come up with a unique way to connect handhelds with other devices. They make a line of short conversion cables with a plug on one end that fits a specific handheld and a standard RS232 plug on the other. This can be connected with a PC Data Cable cable with a RS232 plug and one that fits the specific mobile phone or other device.

For example, a Visor Solo owner would get the PDCH-M9-6 is appropriate for a Visor Solo, Deluxe, or Prism. This is connected to the PC Data Cable which then connects to the phone or other device. PC Data Cables for almost all mobile phones are available.

PC-Mobile has cables to connect most Clié models to some Sony mobile phones.

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I have waited since 9/10 for my v60c cable

alee @ 11/20/2001 8:33:45 AM #

I have waited since 9/10 for my Motorola v60c to Palm m505 cable from Supplynet, and the ETA has been pushed from 9/30 to 10/31 to 11/30. I wouldn't be surprised if the cable ETA was pushed off again this month.

I can't really blame them since they don't produce the cables, but it is aggravating to be without wireless since abandoning my Palm V w/Omnisky. All I want is a realistic ship date.

-Al

RE: I have waited since 9/10 for my v60c cable

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/20/2001 8:27:53 PM #

I am on the same boat as you. I ordered in October, and await the shipment at the end of next week. Odd thing is I found a site that was advertising the same cable with a ship date earlier. I emailed them and asked about the cable they said it was due in October 30th. This was until I found out Supplynet was selling them their cables. They confirmed it, and as of a week ago they still had the ship date as 10/31/01.

If they move out the delivery date, I will probably cancel since I may drop my M505 for a better HiRes screen Sony. Palm can't get off the line with anything remotely nice.

Six Million Devices Will Use Bluetooth This Year

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/20/2001 8:31:55 AM #

Some companies will always sail against the stream. There will always be a market for cables. So?

Ericsson Says Six Million Devices Will Use Bluetooth This Year
By Keiko Kambara and Kyoko Suzuki

Tokyo, Nov. 20 (Bloomberg) -- More than six million models of electronics devices, such as mobile phones and computers, will communicate this year without a tangle of wires by using Bluetooth technology.....
http://makeashorterlink.com/?Y1FF65C2

Colour-screen mobiles coming for Christmas

"The T68 has been very well received by consumers and operators. There is a big pull for the product," said Wareby, who is second-in-command at the Japanese-Swedish company.

"We can't deliver enough to meet demand yet," said Wareby. The device retails at around $600 (£380) in the Nordics, among its first markets, and has the biggest waiting lists among for phones, according to retailers GEAB, a unit of Carphone Warehouse, Europolitan and Stockmann.

The T68 works in Europe, Asia and North America and can be used to quickly access the Internet through General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) technology and has a short-distance wireless connection with other digital devices through BLUETOOTH

more
http://boards.fool.com/Message.asp?mid=16078949

Nokia Bluetooth

The avalanche of new service and devices from the Finnish telecom giant is huge. Nokia Bluetooth products are some of the new treats.

Silje Beite Løken, WAP.com November 19 2001

Ericsson, or Sony Ericsson as it is called nowadays, has been the Bluetooth investor and manufacturer until now. However, Nokia is jumping the Bluetooth wagon and can give Sony Ericsson some competition.

and....

Nokia 7650 is for real

Nokia has officially launched the 7650 and it looks like it has a lot of goodies in store for us.

Silje Beite Løken, WAP.com November 19 2001
The Nokia 7650 is not just a phone. It has an in-built camera, a large colour display and MMS functionality.

Business AND pleasure
This is also a phone for the business segment. It includes GPRS and HSCSD connections, WAP, wireless Bluetooth and infrared connectivity, email and MIDP Java support. The Symbian Operating System (OS) allows the phone to be customized and upgraded by corporations and individual users, who will be able to purchase numerous add-on software applications designed by independent software developers. The Software Development Kit for the Nokia 7650 can be obtained through www.forum.nokia.com.

more
http://makeashorterlink.com/?D20031D2

RE: Six Million Devices Will Use Bluetooth This Year

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/20/2001 10:29:11 AM #

Nokia's crazy...they are cramping 640x480 pixels into the size of a 8210....

RE: Six Million Devices Will Use Bluetooth This Year

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/20/2001 6:08:33 PM #

"Nokia's crazy...they are cramping 640x480 pixels into the size of a 8210...."

Lol, I *wish* it was the size of a 8210. Check your info again...

Ethernet cable for m505 or IIIc

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/20/2001 10:16:25 AM #

Does anyone make an cable which can hook up my Palm to my router? I want to be able to surf the Internet using my broadband connection?

I have seen a cradle type device, but I would prefer a smaller cable instead.

Regards,
ed...

RE: Ethernet cable for m505 or IIIc

popko @ 11/20/2001 10:38:09 AM #

Heh heh ... broadband on Palm :) No really, I don't think you'll notice the difference between broadband and phone line ... the little 33MHz chip just won't cut it.

RE: Ethernet cable for m505 or IIIc

huggy @ 11/20/2001 11:25:40 AM #

actually I really would like to surf using my cable connection; If not for speed, because it's free, fast and much more reliable... and always on!

-------------- huggy ---------------
*-- I accept language corrections --*
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RE: Ethernet cable for m505 or IIIc

Coyote67 @ 11/20/2001 11:36:00 AM #

The DataCradle series has cradles that use ethernet. I'll stick with my visor + wifi springboard

---------------------------------------
When you find yourself in the company of a halfling and an ill-tempered Dragon, remember, you do not have to outrun the Dragon...you just have to outrun the halfling.

RE: Ethernet cable for m505 or IIIc

Ed @ 11/20/2001 11:54:56 AM #

You aren't going to be able to just connect up a cable and go. Some additional electronics are necessary.

Portsmith makes a series of Ethernet cradles:
http://www.portsmith.com/pspda.shtml

I don't know of a sled. There is Xircom's wireless Ethernet module if you want to go that way.
http://makeashorterlink.com/?E19013D2

---
News Editor

RE: Ethernet cable for m505 or IIIc

blind505user @ 11/20/2001 12:52:59 PM #

My company makes a device that connects to your Ethernet and serves the internet connection to any Palm device running Palm OS 3.2 and higher through their Infrared port.

I use it at home and it works great when my wife is on the PC and I want to get connected. The advantage to this approach is it's form factor independent so you can connect any device with an IrDA port to the internet.

www.clarinetsys.com

RE: Ethernet cable for m505 or IIIc

Ed @ 11/20/2001 12:56:50 PM #

If your company would be interested in a review of this, please have them send me some email at ed@palminfocenter.com

---
News Editor

RE: Ethernet cable for m505 or IIIc

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/20/2001 4:53:28 PM #

Thanks Ed,

Man you guys are fast...

Anyhoo, Portsmith has has a new product that will transform a serial hotsync cable into an ethernet cable:
Its called a Portsmith MobileDox Net Serial-to-Ethernet Adapter.
Specs:
Add MobileDox Net to a standard serial synchronization cradle and transform it into a direct access point for network connectivity
Ethernet - 10BaseT interface with LED indicator for activity and status
Compatible with DHCP or Static IP Address
Supports server synchronization software
Supports most handheld serial cradles

The price they quoted was $170US

Question: What kind of 'realistic' surfing speeds and file transfer speeds can I expect?
Regards,
ed....

RE: Ethernet cable for m505 or IIIc

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/20/2001 10:38:03 PM #

Am I missing something? WHy the hell would you want to surf the web on your PDA at home when you got a big computer on your desk to use? If it was wireless it would make a lot more sense IMO.

RE: Ethernet cable for m505 or IIIc

I.M. Anonymous @ 11/21/2001 9:10:16 AM #

Try surfing while reclining in a comfy sofa or bed with a laptop and its not too easy to do.

I check email and surf now with my Palm using an wired external modem dial-up connection and its great but it can be slow and can be a hassle sometimes.

Wireless=too much cost
Cat5 Ethernet=lower cost

ed...