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| Tue Dec 18, 2001 - 6:16 PM EST - By Mark Pierson | |
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Data connection speeds of up to 14.4 kbps on a CDMA network are nothing compared to 56k dial-up or broadband connections on your desktop, but are slightly faster than the 9.6 kbps of CPDP. For surfing with a handheld, they suffice. And since the Digital Link is software upgradeable to the upcoming 3G technology (due sometime in 2002), speeds will jump to as high as 153 kbps! Try that with your Minstrel or desktop dial-up!
Data Applications
The Digital Link does not come with any web or email apps loaded on the module, nor is the memory accessible to do so. The accompanying CD-ROM contains a copy of the Blazer v1.1 browser. Sprint PCS customers can log into their online account manager and download a free upgrade to Blazer 2.0. No email app is provided, though there are links to Eudora, MultiMail, and One-Touch on the CD. Without any user-accessible RAM on the SB3000, any data applications must be installed to the Visor's main memory.
You can use virtually any TCP/IP application to surf the web or send and receive email. I succesfully used Blazer 2.0, Eudora Web, and AvantGo as web browsers, and Eudora Mail, One-Touch, MultiMail, and iambic Mail for, you guessed it, email. I even tried JP Mobile's SureWave PQA Browser with better than average results. Each application has strengths, weaknesses, and idiosyncracies that are beyond the scope of this review. The one thing I will point out is this: if your email provider requires you to be connected via their SMTP server in order to send email, you may have trouble using the QNC option. Many SMTP servers prevent what is called "relaying"... the process of sending email from another originating domain (ISP). In this case, the Sprint PCS network, serving as the ISP, may cause your SMTP server to not allow the sending of mail. The only email I was able to succesfully send was via my personal Yahoo mail account. Their SMTP servers will send mail as long as the POP server is activated first. None of my other SMTP servers permitted relaying.
The Data Preferences allow you to specify up to three different applications that can be started by simply pressing the Data Applications Button. This provides a convenient way to use your data apps without having to start them from the launcher. There's also a button on the Data Preferences screen labeled Load Data Configuration. Tap this and the Digital Link will automatically setup the proper Network and Modem/Connection settings for using the Sprint QNC connection method.
The Digital Link
also includes an SMS Text Message application.
It allows you to receive up to 200 messages. If the message
contains a callback number, the SMS app will display a Dial
button so that you can quickly contact the sender by phone.
Unfortunately, the are no provisions for sending or replying
to SMS messages from the SB3000.
You can, however, use your favorite email app to send a text
message to any Sprint PCS customer by simply addressing it to
Conclusion >>
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