Pocket PCs Go Wireless With Parts

Despite bundled Pocket Outlook and Pocket Internet Explorer, Pocket PCs don't have built-in wireless capability. But you can add it.

This week at PC Expo, Novatel Wireless announced a wireless CDPD modem card for the Hewlett-Packard Jornada 540. Available late in the third quarter from HP, the Minstrel 540 is a wireless CDPD modem that offers access to e-mail through Pocket InBox, and to the Web at large through Pocket Explorer. Pricing is not available, but you will have to pay for CDPD data services from a carrier such as AT&T. That can run $25 to $45 a month.

Wireless With a Price

Wireless comes to the Compaq IPaq Pocket PC via an add-on sleeve with a PC Card slot. Sierra Wireless and Novatel Wireless offer wireless PC Card modems you can use. But putting all the pieces together to make IPaq wireless can be expensive. An IPaq plus the PC Card jacket and modem will run you around $1100--and that doesn't include wireless service fees.

An easier way is through a service bundle. Aether Systems this week announced a wireless Internet service provider for corporate customers. Beginning this fall, Aether will distribute the Compaq IPaq, the Sierra Wireless AirCard 300, and Internet service, but only to enterprise customers. Aether hasn't announced hardware pricing, but the ISP service will cost $39.99 a month per user for unlimited e-mail, Web access, and specific corporate information.

Of course, if you want to try wireless service on your Pocket PC and don't mind a two-piece system, you can hook it to your mobile phone and use the phone's wireless service. With your Pocket PC connected via infrared port or a digital phone card and cable from Socket Communications, you can use your phone as the modem for your Pocket PC. HP Jornada 540s are available bundled with a CDMA connection kit for $599 and a GSM connection kit for $619.

"If you have data services on your phone, you can do this now," says Rebecca Thompson, a product manager in Microsoft's mobile devices division. "I pay $29.99 a month for unlimited data [calls on my GSM phone] from Voicestream."