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Modem & Online Services
For those who require mobile access to their corporate
network, email or the Internet, you'll need a PDA with
connectivity built-in or available as an accessory. If your
PDA has a PC Card or Compact Flash slot you can buy a modem
that will connect via that slot. Other PDAs have proprietary
snap-on modems that attach to the back or bottom of the
device. Devices are also available that combine a PDA with
cellular phone for the ultimate in connectivity.
Web
So your PDA has a modem and the proper software and you're
ready to hit the internet. Just remember you can't expect to
see the web in its full glory on a 4 inch monochrome screen,
though a high-end handheld color display comes close to
desktop surfing. That said, there are a number of programs
that are text-only or graphical web browsers for PDAs. They
reformat regular web content so it can be viewed on your
PDA. Some browsers support many features of full-fledged
desktop browsers like frames, cookies, downloads, bookmarks,
and security encryption. Even better, many PDA browsers are
shareware or freeware.
Another process called "web clipping" lets you send an
online request or query to a content provider, and you get
back stripped down "clips" of information from the site.
Many sites tailor and trim down their content to create a
specific channel for PDAs. Other applications like ProxiWeb
use proxy servers to reformat web content before it gets
sent to you.
It's also possible to download web content to your PDA for
offline viewing. Client software like AvantGo lets you
choose the web channels you want, then every time you
synchronize your PDA the web content is updated through your
PC's internet connection. If your PDA has a modem you can
also download AvantGo content online.
Email
Naturally, you'll want access to your email when you're on
the road. Using a PDA you can read, write, send and receive
email with the proper software. Depending on your set-up,
you can synchronize your email with a desktop application or
send and receive it online with a modem. Keep in mind that
if you need to write a lot of email on a PDA, you might want
a handheld with a keyboard. Applications also exist that let
you read newsgroups, participate in online chats and use
instant messaging.
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