Mobile connectivity: the devil is in the details

When it comes to connecting on the move, vendors have so many plans that it can be overwhelming to pick the right one

Mobile data services have matured to the point that companies can rely on them for extending enterprise applications and for extending their messaging systems onto smartphones and PDAs. These services are generally clubbed under the umbrella of value added services. They start with GPRS/EDGE-based data services that are basically wireless dial-up with bandwidth caps of half or one gigabyte. If there are no caps, rest assured that the connectivity will be such that you won’t be transferring any more data than you would with a capped plan. Next up comes messaging on mobile platforms. Service providers help companies provide access to Notes/Exchange via smartphones.

Generally, a company will have a corporate account with a particular service provider for mobile connections, and it will have to go with the same provider for its data service needs.

If you are an individual looking for Net access on your cell or notebook through your cellphone, there are two options. One is to use your cellphone as a USB modem and sign up for a data plan from your cellular provider. The other is to go in for a dedicated PC card-based solution for EDGE. EDGE is 3x faster than GPRS, and providers offer embedded SIM cards that let you send SMS from your notebook. Of course, in the case of the EDGE card, you’ll have to shell out almost as much as you would for a mid-range phone, and the connectivity rates are identical to those of vanilla GPRS/EDGE offerings. Most phones don’t support EDGE, so if you need the extra speed or simply can’t be bothered waiting for pages to load, this is the way to go. Moreover, as it’s a PC card and fits neatly into your notebook, that’s one less hassle to worry about. While you can use Bluetooth to hook up your phone to your notebook (and avoid using a USB cable), setting it up is not for the faint of heart, and Bluetooth eats up a cellphone’s battery life like there’s no tomorrow.

GPRS/EDGE connectivity is not your dad’s dial-up. Connections are almost instantaneous, and the speeds compare to basic rate ISDN. The data caps of a gigabyte are good enough for mail and browsing. Overall, it’s an ideal solution for working on the move.