Gadgets & Services
News: A Faster Wireless Networking Standard
With throughput speeds of at least 100 megabits per second, a new wireless networking standard, 802.11n, promises to be at least twice as fast as 802.11g (with speeds of up to 54 mbps). The 802.11n standard is also expected to cover twice as much territory as 802.11g and will be backward compatible with the 802.11b and 802.11g standards. The standard hasn't been ratified yet, but coming this fall are Belkin's Wireless Pre-N Router ($180) and Network Card ($130), which promise 802.11n's benefits. As of this writing, Belkin's Web site had no further information about the products.
Trend: Cell Phones With Keyboards
Ever since the success of PalmOne's Treo 600, with its built-in QWERTY keyboard, the trend has been to add keyboards to mobile phones and smart phones whenever possible (though not always probable). New phones from Danger, Hewlett-Packard, Motorola, Nokia, Research In Motion, Sierra Wireless, Sony, and others are following the trend. Though they're not designed for a lengthy session of touch typing, the keyboards make it much easier to respond to text messages--otherwise you're stuck hammering out letters on a numeric keypad. Read more about the trend in "Does Your Phone Speak QWERTY?"
News: EarthLink Adds BlackBerrys to Its Menu
Major ISP EarthLink is now offering Research In Motion's BlackBerry 7750, which is both a wireless phone and a data device. (Atlanta-based EarthLink has traditionally offered only data delivery, not cell-phone service.) EarthLink will sell the BlackBerry 7750 for $549, minus a $150 discount it was offering at press time. For unlimited data, service plans begin at $40 per month; about $80 gets you 500 minutes of voice and free nights along with the unlimited data.
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