Innovative wireless accessories expand the capabilities of Windows Mobile.
With the continued proliferation of the Windows Mobile platform and its emphasis on wireless connectivity, its no surprise that were seeing more and more wireless accessories introduced. In addition to phone capabilities, there are three wireless technologies used in Windows Mobile devices: infrared, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.
Almost all Pocket PCs and Smartphones have an infrared port, which allows you to beam contact information and other files to another device. In addition, more devices now have Wi-Fi technology, which lets them connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi hotspots. If the device does not have Wi-Fi, it can usually be added via an SD or miniSD Wi-Fi card.
The third technology is Bluetooth, which is nearly ubiquitous on Pocket PCs and Smartphones. Its similar to Wi-Fi, but has a slower data rate (1 Mbps) and range (about 10 meters or 30 feet). Its big advantage is that it consumes less power than Wi-Fi. Because of its range and power consumption, its the technology of choice for wireless accessories.
Rather than provide a comprehensive buyers guide of every compatible Bluetooth accessory, this article examines a selection of the more innovative ones out there; the accessories designed to extend the Windows Mobile experience.
Portable keyboards
Wireless input accessories help you enter data into your device and control it. They generally fall into three classifications: keyboards, mice/tablets, and joystick/game controllers. Of these, only the keyboard category makes sense for the Windows Mobile platform. The stylus/touchscreen technology found on Pocket PCs eliminates the need for a mouse, and the game controller market (as it relates to Windows Mobile devices) is small and not economically viable.
However, anyone who has used a Pocket PC or Smartphone has experienced the pain associated with pecking out a short e-mail or document. Devices with QWERTY thumb keyboards make these tasks easier, but its still slow going.
The obvious solution to this problem is a small, portable keyboard. The earliest versions of these products physically connected to the device via cable or docking port. The problem was that you needed a different version of the cable or port for each device. Wireless keyboards were introduced using infrared technology, but these were limited by IRs line-of-sight nature and mobile device manufacturers didn't always put the IR port in the same place.
Bluetooth portable keyboards solved both of these problems. It is not a line-of-sight technology, and its 10 meter range was more than sufficient for keyboards. And because Bluetooth is wireless, it eliminated the need for a proprietary cable or cradle. This article looks at three Bluetooth keyboard solutions:
Freedom Mini Duo Keyboard
39.99: http://freedominput.com; $66.95: http://mobileplanet.com
The Mini Duo is an ultra-compact keyboard that folds up into a case the size of a thick credit card. The 3 ounce (83 gram) 62-key device contains a rechargeable battery supplying 9 hours of continuous operation. However, to keep the keyboard as small and lightweight as possible, the designers have opted for a membrane keyboard design, requiring more pressure to register a key press. The keys are also so tightly packed together that it may make touch typing a challenge. Of course, the advantage to this constraint is the extremely portable, lightweight design that the Freedom Mini Duo keyboard has to offer.
The Freedom Mini Duo Keyboard, when folded, is about a quarter inch thick and slightly larger than a credit card.
The iGo Stowaway Ultra-Slim Bluetooth Keyboard
$149.95: http://igo.com
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