So what on earth are you supposed to do with a wireless Pocket PC? Angus Kidman reports

Published in AustralianIT, April 8 2003

IN recent years, Australian handheld lovers have gnashed their teeth in frustration as the latest communications-enabled handhelds passed us by. While Americans (who, let's face it, took the best part of a decade to work out how useful the mobile phone could be) were bombarded with offers, the local choice was somewhat limited.

But the situation has improved markedly over the past 12 months.

Not only have a number of handhelds with integrated access to GSM and GPRS networks become available, the growing popularity of wireless access protocols such as WiFi (802.11b) and Bluetooth has created an entirely separate method to access wireless networks on your Palm or Pocket PC device.

If you want to wireless-enable your handheld, you have two choices.

Firstly, you can purchase a device that includes an integrated receiver for GPS, GPRS, WiFi or Bluetooth.

One notable example is Palm's recent Tungsten W handheld, which is being sold in conjunction with access plans from Vodafone.

Choosing an option with GPS or GPRS support will give you widespread access, but access costs can quickly mount up.

The second choice is to add a flash memory card or other expansion device to your existing handheld.

Some of these are device specific; others, such as Belkin's Bluetooth PDA adaptor card, work on a range of systems. Typically, these devices will support wireless LAN technologies such as WiFi or Bluetooth.

To use them, you'll either need to set up a home wireless network of your own or access the internet via hotspots in cafes, airport lounges and other public locations.

So much for the supply problem.

Now there's a new source of frustration: what on earth are you actually supposed to do with a wireless-equipped PDA? The problem is the lack of a killer applications.

Sure, going wireless gains you internet access without cords, but the stark truth is that handhelds can do rather less when net-connected than a PC.

"The most popular current application used in hotspots or by GPRS-enabled handhelds is email -- checking messages and writing short replies," says Andrew Sypkes, strategic development director for hotspot provider Azure Wireless.

The restrictions of text input on handhelds tend to discourage longer replies.

Internet browsing is also possible, but painful on a smaller screen.

Even vendors admit there's not yet an obvious market for such devices in non-business contexts.

"There's no entry-level wireless LAN product [in handhelds]," product marketing manager for Pocket PCs at Toshiba, Justin White says.

White predicts such a product is a few years away, requiring the invention of better and cheaper integrated chip sets.

"The wireless option is principally useful for companies that have a wireless network already set up," Axim product manager at Dell, Jay Turner says.

By the time you've built such a network at home, you could have spent hours browsing on a broadband connection and paid less for the privilege.

While business users may be able to cost-justify checking their email on the road, consumers who want to stay in touch can do so more economically with a mobile phone.

One other disadvantage of being a consumer wireless user is that you'll still be largely paying business rates, and restricted to access in business areas.

As our table shows, there are more than 120 wireless hotspots available for general access across Australia.

However, the vast majority of these are in capital city central business districts and airports (and provision outside Melbourne and Sydney is pretty minimal).

And going wireless isn't cheap.

"Typically, hotspot access costs are about $10-$15 per hour on a casual usage basis," says Desmond O'Geran, chief executive of hotspot builder Simply Wireless.

For many of these providers, you'll also need an account with an existing ISP that supports their service.

You can get cheaper rates by signing up for long-term plans, but the prices are a long way removed from residential dial-up and broadband systems.

Despite these problems, consumer interest in wireless handhelds seems likely to increase.

Market research firm In-Stat predicts that by 2007, worldwide handheld shipments will have reached 25 million.

Currently, around 15 per cent of handhelds offer some form of internet access, and this is expected to rise to 75 per cent by 2007, In-Stat predicts.

However, many consumers are likely to leave these features switched off if sexy new applications don't become available.

"Future growth will rely on convincing consumers that PDAs can be more than just PC peripherals," In-Stat analyst Cindy Wolf says.