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Sync your contacts with your phone; the other 1xRTT high-speed data network By Joni Blecher (8/29/02) Senior Editor Joni Blecher, a.k.a. the Cell Phone Diva, wants to answer all your questions about cell phones, service plans, and wireless connectivity. Send her a question! Syncing solution Q: I currently use a Samsung SCH-3500 and am very happy with it, for the most part. However, I would like the convenience that a calendar and a task list offer--but only if I could actually synchronize the phone's PIM and contacts with Outlook. Are there any Sprint phones available that will sync with Outlook but not cost me both arms and legs? Thanks! --Bob A: Good news, Bob: Sprint sells a syncing solution for your phone that works with Outlook. It's called Sprint PCS Contact Synchronization Software (includes cable and software), and it costs $30. We tested it with the Samsung SPH-A460, and it does exactly what the title claims: syncs your contacts in Outlook with your phone. However, the current version doesn't recognize any subfolders that you may have set up; as a result, you'll need to place all contacts that you may want on the phone in the main Outlook Contact folder. It also doesn't sync with calendar appointments. Fortunately, FutureDial (the developer of the program) is working on an upgrade that will include these features. Data's on the rise Q: I've been putting off my cell phone purchase until now. Currently, Sprint's 3G phones are very appealing. However, the price for the service is not exactly cheap. Will any other service carriers offer similar 3G services (wide coverage that includes Southern California) soon? --Daniel A: Actually, Verizon Wireless also offers a similar 1xRTT service on its Express Network. The company offers BREW applications for download instead of Java (J2ME) apps available with Sprint's Vision service. Regardless of which programs your phone uses, you'll still have a decent choice of games and extras from both providers, so don't make that a deal breaker. These are emerging categories, and there are plenty of developers who are busy creating cool and useful features for both platforms. The bad news is that you probably won't be able to get much of a deal on data-service fees. Both Sprint and Verizon are offering different deals to get you to try out the service, but the price when the deals end is not cheap. Eventually, we'll see the prices begin to drop. However, that's not anytime soon. That said, some of the new models from both Verizon and Sprint are real eye-catchers. You may want to keep that in mind when you pick your phone. Phone basics Q: I would like to have a phone that also acts as an address book so that I can store names, numbers, and addresses. Is that too much to ask? It seems that this feature is found on only PDA-like phones, but I want something smaller. --hepcat A: Just about every cell phone has an address-book feature. The main variation is how many numbers a phone book will hold; it could be as few as 250 or more than 1,000--it all depends on the model. Additionally, GSM phones (VoiceStream, T-Mobile, Cingular, and AT&T Wireless) have one benefit other cell phones don't: a SIM card. In many cases, you can store all your contact info on a SIM card by specifying it in the phone's menu. When you're ready to upgrade to a new model, you can take your phone's address book with you by pulling out the SIM card, then inserting it into your new GSM mobile. |
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Joni Blecher is a section editor for CNET Reviews.
