Rick Cooper, The PDA Pro

Complimentary Teleseminar - Drive Safe and Talk Safe – Mobile Headset Tips

 

Do you use a mobile phone while driving? How do you stay productive while driving, but avoid the risk of DRIVING DISTRACTED?!?

Join me for a complimentary teleseminar where I will interview Mobile Headset Expert John Waller on tips to use your phone safely (and legally).

Drive Safe and Talk Safe – Mobile Headset Tips
(And Learn about California’s new Hands Free Driving Laws)
(Complimentary Teleseminar)

Thursday, July 3rd
12pm Pacific / 2pm Central / 3pm Eastern

Special Guest: John Waller, Mobile Technology Consultant

Register Now!

Click Here to Register for Complimentary Teleseminar

John Waller

Owner of Mobile Connectivity

John has been involved in technology since 1987. He started out in alpha numeric pagers, cell phones and digital pagers. He has been selling headset for over 13 years. He is a technology consultant and helps people to be more productive with technology and is a sought after speaker and consultant. He is the Founder of the Silicon Valley Palm Users Group and has been hired by Palmsource to train their employees on their devices.  He is currently writing a book on "How to be More Productive in the New Millennium". For more information about Mobile Connectivity, visit http://www.mobileconnectivity.net/

CALIFORNIA HANDS FREE DRIVING LAWS ARE NOW IN EFFECT!

New cellular phone laws went into effect July 1, 2008 in California. The changes are intended to reduce accidents caused by distracted drivers.

VC §23123: Drivers 18 years of age or older are prohibited from driving a motor vehicle while using a wireless telephone unless a hands-free device is used.

SOURCE: California Department Of Motor Vehicles Web Site:
http://www.dmv.ca.gov/cellularphonelaws/

 

Treo 755P Requires You to Remove Battery for Soft Reset

The Palm Treo 755P requires you to remove the battery in order to perform a soft reset. Amazing! I have the Treo 650 and you have to open the case and then use the stylus tip to reset it. It looks like for whatever reason, Palm engineers figured it would just be easier to have you remove the battery. Okay then.

Palm describes three processes to reset your PDA in the user manual on pages 288 and 289. The soft reset is the least invasive. Then there's the system reset. And finally the hard reset.  A hard reset on a Palm PDA will erase all of the data. It's a last resort. If you are not using backup software on the smartphone itself, you may lose data and not be able to recover it.

I haven't had to perform a hard reset on my PDA in a long time. I occasionally have to perform a soft reset. It happens a few times a month. It's not that annoying. But, I worry about having to keep opening the case and removing the battery. It just doesn't seem like the most desirable process.  I guess that's another reason to switch to an iPhone (although I have not explored what if any process is used to reset an iPhone).

Celicase Designer Lisa Rodrigues Joins us May 7th on Attracting Ideal Clients Radio Show

How do you carry your PDA or smartphone? Men often carry them on a holster or in a pocket. Women drop them into a purse and often struggle to find them when they ring.

Celicase Designer Lisa Rodrigues created a solution for that problem. She created the Celicase, a carryall designed to hold a PDA or smartphone and keep it accessible.

Lisa will join us on our Internet Radio Show Attracting Ideal Clients on May 7th at 3pm Pacific Time. Tune in every Wednesday at 3pm Pacific Time.

Clean Up your PDA

Your PDA or smartphone contains a lot of information. Over time, you have probably created word processing documents and spreadsheets. You have taken photos and downloaded files. Your PDA is getting cluttered and clogged. It’s time to clean it up. Here are some tips to clean up your PDA.

Before you clean up your PDA, make sure you sync it and back up the files to CD or DVD. It’s always best to make sure you can retrieve information before you delete it.

Calendar – It’s a good idea to clean up your calendar periodically. But, first consider how much history you need. Some people like to be able to refer back to prior appointments with clients. If you use ACT! or some other contact management system, you may be able to simply filter the data being synced to your PDA. That way, your contact management system will still allow you to see the complete history of contacts with a client.

Task List – Some tasks will never be completed. So, why worry about it. Take time to prune your task list. Copy old tasks somewhere else if you want to. Life is short. You need to be realistic about what you commit to. Eliminate tasks if there is no longer a need to do them.

Email – Make sure your email settings allow email to remain on the server so it can be downloaded to your computer. Purge the email messages on your PDA or smartphone every now and then. You will be able to check messages more quickly.

Contacts – It’s a good idea to review your contacts every year and archive records that you no longer need to access.

Applications – If you download software onto your PDA, you should consider how beneficial the software is and delete unneeded applications. Shareware and freeware applications can cause problems. If you have to reboot your PDA frequently, it’s time to remove old apps. When you upgrade to a new PDA, reinstall your applications rather than syncing everything over. Your new PDA may have a more current operating system. Incompatible software can cause problems.

Audio and Video Files – Nothing will eat up your storage faster than audio and video files. Archive them and delete them from your PDA. Enough said.

Taking time to clean up your PDA will reduce your headaches and simplify your life. It takes time, but it’s worth it in the long run.

Get Smart Phone

Are you a gadget freak? I love technology, but only it it makes my life easier and more productive. One of the concepts that has captured the imaginations of people for decades is the Dick Tracy-style wrist watch phone. This was followed by Maxwell Smart's crazy shoe phone. The fact is that we love the idea of technology that we can wear.

Well, life may be getting a little more convenient. According to Engadget, Samsung has applied for a patent for a cell phone that can be worn on the wrist and pulled out for hands access also. It could be years before a model actually shows up. But, the fact is that companies will continue to look for ways to make technology wearable. The day will come when you can integrate technology better into your lifestyle.

Engadget sees some problems with the concept:

"Granted, the idea could be problematic in a myriad ways -- leading to public humiliation and a lack of broad compatibility with mobiles for starters -- but we can't fault 'em for trying."

And that's the challenge. There are a lot of great technologies that appear and then disappear. If a product can't find a market, it will disappear, plain and simple. The market for wearable technologies is growing, but has not reached the mainstream. Costs are often too high and when it comes down to it, peer pressure often prevents people from actually wearing the technology. But, times are changing. And convenience will eventually trump social pressure. Apple has been extremely successfully at turning technology products into a fashion statement. That may be the key for creating products that create demand and generate buzz in the marketplace.

In the meantime, there are plenty of PDA/smartphone models out there which offer all of the capabilities you need. And the products are getting faster, the screens are getting crisper, the keyboards are getting easier to type on, and there is more mobile content worth accessing through the internet. Good luck and Get Smart Phone!

Palm Treo 500V Ready for Europe

What's Palm up to these days? According to Engadget on 9-12-07, Palm is releasing a new model for Europeans.

"Palm's European wing announced today that the Treo 500v was really real, and headed onto the monolithic Vodafone network in October. As expected, the new model will be coming in two colors, a bright white and gray finish (called Glacier White), as well as a muted charcoal tone (known as, surprise, Charcoal Grey), and will be running Windows Mobile 6."

The device has a new look and feel although it lacks a touchscreen.

For more information, visit Palm's UK website.

Photo courtesy of Engadget.

Future Trends in PDAs

What can you expect over the next year in PDAs? Great question! Well, for one, expect the trend toward smartphones to continue. People are beginning to appreciate the value of connecting to the internet from their mobile device and viewing websites or checking email. The YouTube generation now expects to be able to view video clips from their mobile device.

The iPhone is a perfect example of the media based mobile device. And expect to be able to use the iPhone with other carriers, according to Engadget. But, what about someone who justs wants to look at their calendar, select a contact or check their task list? The options will grow slimmer for the non-connected PDA. The market just isn't there. Smartphones represent a much higher value to telecom companies. Not only can they sell you a phone plan, they can also charge you on bandwidth for audio and video downloads. Plus, they can also potentially make money on ads through mobile marketing.

Even The PDA Guy, Anthony Caruana, has questioned whether Palm has a future on Hydrapinion. Of course , Palm has already been bought and sold a few times. So, that's probably what will happen again. I still like the Treo as an all around PDA/smartphone. But, it doesn't appeal to younger consumers who are addicted to text messaging and IM and live their lives on MySpace. Smartphones based on the Helio platform appeal to them and will grow in appeal. It's social networking on steriods.

There will always be a market for standalone, handheld devices. Not everyone wants to be connected. And some people just can't afford it. But, whatever device you select, I encourage you to think first about productivity. Yes, being able to view a funny clip from YouTube can help you while away the hours. But, remember that your time is valuable. Limit your consumption of media. Set meaningful goals that will challenge you. Leverage technology to do more in less time. Yes, relax and enjoy yourself. But, strike a balance in your life. Take control of your destiny.

Whether you pick a PDA or smartphone, take time to evaluate the options to determine what you need. Determine what will make YOU more productive. If time is not an issue, wait till January. That's when the big Consumer Electronics Show is held. Most new models for the year are released or announced then. For more information on selecting a PDA or smartphone, visit http://www.thepdapro.com/FindaPDA.asp.

Entrepreneurs Capitalize on the Mobile Marketplace

Have you noticed that just about everyone these days is walking around with their face planted in a mobile device? This is especially true for younger generations. From wireless PDAs to smartphones, from turbo-charged cell phones to mini-tablets, people are addicted to their mobile devices. What does this mean for marketers? It means profits!

Entrepreneurs across the nation are beginning to ask themselves how they can capitalize on the growing trend toward mobility. And one expert has emerged to guide the way.

According to Mobile Marketing Guru, Kim Dushinski, from MobileMarketingProfits.com:

"The reality is that the rest of the world has been ahead of the U.S. in almost all aspects of cell phone use. Odd, isn’t it? We’re so used to being in front of the new trends. This time we’re not. But that is about to change."

Are you an entrepreneur who's interested in capitalizing on the mobile marketing trend? Then, take Kim's Mobile Ready Assessment.

The big companies have figured out a way to reach their target market through devices. Why not small businesses? The future is bright. You can't even imagine what's coming down the line. Imagine the day when you can walk into a retail store and instantly be notified of sales on products you want, based on your past buying patterns. Talk about big brother. Well, it's going to make your life more simple. And we could all use a little more simplicity. Why not make some money as well?

The PDA Pro Blog Featured on Qwest Website

The PDA Pro Blog, written by Rick Cooper, was featured in the August 2007 Small Business eNewsletter, Keeping You in the Loop, from  Qwest® Business Solutions. I must say I'm pretty pleased and proud to be featured there along with the likes of Guy Kawasaki and Merlin Mann, legends in technology and the internet.

Qwest® is a leading provider of voice, video and data services across America and the world. They offer a variety of wireless devices including the Moto Q, Mogul™ by HTC and Qwest Fusion™ HTC 5800.

Mobile email productivity is a slippery slope. At a certain point, checking email on a mobile device becomes counter-productive. It can also be dangerous in certain situations. Always think safety first, especially when driving.

I recommend setting some guidelines for checking email on your mobile device. Limit yourself to a few times a day. Don't be a robot that checks your email anytime you hear a chime. Instead, schedule several times, i.e. 10am, 2pm, and 5pm. You will be able to read email more efficiently. You also don't want people to expect an immediate response from you, unless that's a requirement of your job.

Reading and responding to email is far more efficient on your computer or laptop, but accessing mobile email is not only convenient, it may be the only way you can check email, especially when travelling.

For more information, visit http://www.thepdapro.com/PDA.asp. Or contact Rick Cooper, The PDA Pro, at 800-677-6708.

Is the iPhone an iWaste?

  Apple has scored a huge success with the iPhone. It is technically brilliant and easy to use. It is also the newest fashion accessory for anyone in the "in crowd". But, it leaves me wondering whether we are spawning a nation of media obsessed junkies.

As The PDA Pro, I have a passion for helping people improve their productivity. PDA stands for Productivity, Discipline and Action. I see too many people just getting by in life because they don't plan, set goals or take enough action to achieve their dreams. I think people spend too much time watching TV, listening to music and playing games. The iPhone makes it simple to waste a whole lot of time.

Of course, the iPhone can also be leveraged effectively as a productivity tool. But, get real! You know people are going to listen to their tunes, browse online news and download YouTube clips.

I'm not anti-iPhone. I think Apple stands as a shining example for creating user friendly and technically superior products. And they are savvy marketers when it comes to creating fashionable products that attract consumers and the media.

I'll leave it up to you to judge for yourself. I will say that I'm satisfied with the direction Apple has taken mobile web browsing. That's been one of my complaints from other devices. The iPhone make browsing easy and fun. I have heard that the speed is not all that great, but we can hope that will improve.

Long live the iPhone!

Photo Courtesy of Engadget

Is Foleo the Perfect Companion for your Smartphone?

Palm is launching a mobile companion device, the Foleo, designed to work with their smartphones. It looks like a laptop, but is much lighter and has a more focused purpose. It is designed to provide a larger graphical user interface for your smartphone, along with a larger keyboard.

It's probably one of the more exciting innovations in smartphones, responding to the increasing needs of mobile computing. I have my doubts whether Palm will be successful in finding a market for this device. There will be early adopters who will see improved productivity as an added benefit. But, I don't think it's a perfect solution for most people.

What are other people saying about the Foleo? Palm fanatic Russel Holliman states:

"I'm an early adopter, a Palm lover (I'm talking about the devices here people), and a mobile gadget freak. Seems like a 'no brainer' that I'd be out buying a Foleo right now. I'm not."

I applaud Palm for taking a chance and trying to address the needs of the marketplace. Only time will tell whether people see the value or whether the Foleo will end up on the technology junkheap.

New BlackBerry 8703e Features Full QWERTY Keyboard

The new BlackBerry 8703e returns to a full size QWERTY keyboard after recently models have featured a more compressed keyboard. With models like the Blackberry Pearl, a single key shared two letters. For instance, Q and W were on the same key. The Pearl uses a technology called SureType which predicts what word you're going to type. It's not for everyone.

So now the BlackBerry 8703e offers a slimmer model than the wider classic style Blackberry, but not as slim as the Pearl. The Pearl introduced a trackball on the phone. I had the opportunity to try it recently and I was impressed. But, it looks like Research in Motion (RIM) is going back to a trackwheel format.

At any rate, this may be a good option for people who prefer the classic features of the Blackberry. The BlackBerry 8703e is being promoted by Verizon.

Microsoft Launches Windows Mobile 6

Following on the heels of launching Vista, Microsoft is rolling out Windows Mobile 6. Can the world survive this much change at once? We'll see!

As always, I would be cautious about making an immediate change to a newer operating system, whether for computers or PDAs. Unless you enjoy living on the bleeding edge of technology, the safe bet is to wait and see what happens.

I'll follow up with some updates from what more tech-oriented sites are saying. In the meantime, Chris Ziegler from Engadget recently wrote:

"Some of us are still trying to keep straight in our brains the difference between Windows Mobile Smartphone, Pocket PC, and Pocket PC Phone Edition devices, but with the impending arrival of Crossbow, that ship has apparently sailed. In the realm of new Windows releases, Vista has obviously been garnering the lion's share of the attention, but Windows Mobile 5 is about to ride off into the mobile platform sunset in favor of Windows Mobile 6 -- codenamed the aforementioned Crossbow -- and the naming convention to differentiate between its various flavors is riding with it."

Confused? You're not the only one.

New GPS Software for Palm Smartphones

I occasionally get questions from people asking about GPS software for PDAs and smartphones. I'm very much a believer in using the right tool for the right job. I think for most people, getting a separate GPS device that will be mounted in their car is probably the best option. For one, safety is your ultimate priority when you're driving. You don't want to do anything that's going to jeopardize your safety or those around you.

A GPS device designed for the car will typically have a larger display. This is important if your eyesight is beginning to deteriorate. You want to be able to easily see maps. The sound quality for turn by turn directions will generally be better.

Another factor is that it's very likely you will want to drive, use the GPS device and make a phone call at the same time. What happens then? I'm not exactly sure, but at the very least, when you begin to make that call, you will no longer be using the GPS software on your smartphone. And some smartphones get a little dicey when you try running multiple applications at once. They have been known to crash from time to time. Usually a soft reset will fix it.

However, in certain circumstances, GPS software for your smartphone may make sense. If you travel a lot, you can cut your rental car costs by using GPS on your smartphone rather than having it in your rental car. If you ride along with someone who doesn't have GPS, it can be handy to help you navigate. In any case, it's important to consider your needs, now and over time. This will help you identify your best options.

Good news for Palm customers, Palm® GPS Navigator Smartphone Edition 3 is now available.  According to Andrew from Treonauts,

"Palm yesterday released its new Palm GPS Navigator Smartphone Edition 3 which includes an updated version of the terrific TomTom Navigator software  (see my review Travelling With A Treo GPS In My Pocket) that is now finally compatible with nearly all Treo smartphones models including the Treo 650, 680, 700p, 700w|wx an Treo 750."

I recommend you do your research first. As with any technology, consider all of your options. Visit retail stores and ask for product demonstrations. View online demonstrations. Identify the pros and cons for each option and rate them. And check out the return policy for the product. Then, you will be able to make an informed decision and not have any regrets. Good luck and happy motoring!

Using GTD with a Blackberry

There are many people who are interested in increasing their productivity. The legion of David Allen followers continues to grow. Jason Echols, who writes for the Black Belt Productivity blog, shared his dilemma for integrating Getting Things Done (GTD) with a PDA. Jason writes:

"I have recently been looking to refresh my PDA and do something new. David Allen often speaks of a PDA as a hi-tech list manager. If I wanted to do some really fancy stuff with it, I would have limited myself to buying another Windows-based machine. However, I never was a hardcore user who taxed the limits of the machine or its operating system.

I kept that in mind as I did my research. In the end, I decided that it would be best to go with a smartphone. My thinking was that it would be sort of nuts to carry around a cell phone and a PDA when I did not have to. I would want to have both on me at all times. I also (no offense to anyone who does this) feel tacky with a machine on each hip as I go throughout my day. Some in the corporate setting will take it wrong, and get the idea that I think I am important. I am not into that. I am interested in being productive, not making everyone think I am ‘Inspector Gadget.’"

I understand his concerns and am glad he has found a solution that will work for him. Smartphones offer a nice option to those who would like some of the features of a PDA, but prefer to carry only one mobile device. You can read more about his approach in using his Blackberry with GTD.

Palm Treo 750 May Be Best Pocket PC Phone Ever

Dave Ciccone from Mobility Today writes about the new Cingular Palm Treo 750. He writes:

"This year Windows Mobile enthusiasts who are currently in contract with Cingular will now have the option of buying one of the best PocketPC Phone Edition devices ever to be released! Being the first 3G Palm Treo makes this device a ground breaking device for those who have been waiting that long year!"

His review goes on to offer more glowing remarks. Check out the rest of his review.

Top Smartphone Picks from CNET

Bonnie Cha, Senior Associate Editor of CNET, recently shared their top smartphone picks. The RIM BlackBerry 7130c and Sony Ericsson P990i ranked the highest. The BlackBerry 7130c features two letters per key rather than a QWERTY style keyboard. It relies on SureType which predicts what words you want to type. It's not as easy to use and takes a little getting used to. I actually recommended the BlackBerry 7100i to a client which uses SureType. I recommended it for other reasons, but it did take her a little while to get used to it.

The only Palm Treo on the list is the Palm Treo 700P from Sprint, which comes in at #7 with a rating of 7.3. The Palm Treo 680 by comparison was rated at 7.0, but fell short of appearing in their top ten list.

I encourage clients not to get too caught up in what's rated highest. It's more important to understand how you are going to use the device in your day to day activities and then find one that meets your needs. You wouldn't buy a Ferrari to haul scrap metal to the junk yard, know what I mean?

You can find further information on PDA and smartphone models on The PDA Pro website.

Nokia E62 New Option for Cingular Customers

Cingular is offering the Nokia E62, a powerful smartphone based on the Symbian operating system. This smartphone has all of the standard PDA functions and a whole lot more. An initial promotion features the device for $99.99. This seems to be a new pricepoint for smartphones.

I haven't had much experience with the Symbian OS. So, be sure you do your research before you commit to getting this device. They appear to have all of the functions you would ever need, so there should be no issue there. Plus, because Symbian devices were originally designed to be smartphones and not just PDAs, sound quality should be excellent.

The good news is that competition is good for consumers.

Additional Information on Breaking your Phone Contract

On December 19th, I mentioned that Cingular is increasing rates on SMS. I quoted Gizmodo in indicating that customers of Cingular will have an opportunity to break their contracts.  I have my doubts that Cingular will actually let people break their contracts. As I indicated, I was unable to find details of the change on Cingular's website. The key question is how Cingular will interpret their policy. And it also depends on how much people scream.

Sprint made a similar change in October 2006. So, you may be able to find some information about how they responded to customer requests to break their contracts.

If you break your contract, I think that naturally implies you will go to another provider and not stick with Cingular. You should also consider whether you can keep your phone number. Phone number portability should allow your number to be transferred to another provider, but you will want to make absolutely sure before you make a change.

The other thing to remember is this change apparently only applies to people who are not already on a data plan that includes SMS text messages. So, be sure to contact Cingular to see if your plan already includes a certain number of text messages and ask whether the change impacts you. Otherwise it’s a moot point.

If you're dissatisfied with your existing phone, contact your carrier about upgrading to a new phone and see what charges would apply in doing so.

Good luck and happy messaging!

Cingular Increases Rate for SMS

According to Jason Chen at Gizmodo, Cingular is increasing its rate on SMS text messages from 10 cents to 15 cents.  Jason writes,

"Starting Jan 21, 2007, you'll have 30 days to give them a call and break your contract, provided you're not currently subscribed to an SMS package. Why the generosity? You can thank Cingular's own policy that allows customers to terminate their service if there's a change in the contract terms. Upgrading fees from 10 to 15 cents per SMS counts as a change. "

For most people, this probably will not make much difference. Most business professionals I talk with are not big users of SMS, but it does offer some advantages. For one, text messages will often get through when email won't when you're in remote areas. The Palm Treo (PDA/smartphone) offers a chat-like interface that uses SMS to send messages and logs the chats with date and time by person. And, it's a quick way to send a message to another person with a mobile phone.

This may be a sign that phone carriers are beginning to evaluate and adjust prices. Keep an eye out for further changes.

I searched the Cingular website but could not find details of the change, but I found the same information on GigaOM. The change does not appear to apply to customers with an SMS plan which bundles a certain number of outgoing text messages for one rate.

UPDATE: See additional information about how this change may affect you. Why it may be tough to actually break your contract.

Ladies Need Juice Too!

Michelle Ulrich, Founder of The Virtual Nation, passed along this tip from the Techie Diva who writes:

"Ladies have you realized that, nowadays you carry too many gizmos with you from cell phones, to MP3 players. Anyway you might want to include this solar mobile charger to your purse. It will add juice to your gizmos while on the go. "

Not everyone is a fan though. According to Softpedia,

"Yes, from a woman’s point of view, this “thing” may actually look pretty good if she prefers the looks of sandwich makers but, and that is what my brain is still striving to understand, why in the god's name would a company name a device the “Solar Mobile Charger”, with a hyphen on the Mobile, when the damn thing weighs around 4 kilos? "

I think this is a trend though. Expect to see more solar chargers that offer you the ability to charge your mobile devices on the go. I imagine some work with PDAs and smartphones too.

For more information on this product, visit Global Sources Direct.

Palm Treo 750v Debuts in Europe

The Palm Treo 750v is now available in Europe, offered through Vodafone. It's similar in many ways to the Palm 700w and 700wx, available in North America. All run on the Windows Mobile Platform, have a 1.3 megapixel camera and similar memory and features. There don't appear to be too many differences between the North American and European models.  Note that the 700w is available through Verizon and the 700wx through Sprint.

For more details, read the datasheet on each model: Palm Treo 700w, 700wx and 750v.

Thanks to my good friend, Andy Gray at Conselleo, for passing along the information.

HP on Mobile-Phone Computing

HP's website has an interesting perspective on trends in mobile-phone computing. The site indicates:

"The holy grail of mobile computing is a converged device that transcends the cell phone to deliver a myriad of communication, business, productivity, and entertainment applications. It brings together mobile phone, digital video camera, radio, MP3 player, TV, DVR, GPS, game system, PDA, PC, and more in a single, go-anywhere handset. "

For most people, that's overkill. But, the HP offers some compelling evidence that the technology has come a long way.

Mobile Email Lessons Learned

Isn't it great to be able to access your email from your PDA? Yes, it is.  But, it's not always fun and games. Spam continues to be a problem. And, your email inbox can quickly become flooded by messages you really don't want to read when you're out on the road.

I subscribe to a lot of ezines and in the past have received them at my business email address. This is not the best strategy. It can easily clog your email. It can also cause your email to get stuck when downloading messages from your website domain. So, save your time and boost your productivity by limiting your business email address to business. I have several other tips for you.

Instead, get an email address through Yahoo, MSN or Gmail to use for newsletters, ezines and ad related messages. These are usually lesser priority than your business. The messages also tend to be laden with graphics and you will be able to access them faster from a web based email service.

To comply with the CAN-SPAM Act, most newsletter and commercial email messages offer the option to unsubscribe, change your email address or change your interest categories. So each time a message arrives, simply follow the steps to change the email address and soon your email will be running smoothly again. And, your mobile email will be quick and easy to access.

Sprint to Offer Moto Q

According to Engadget, Sprint will begin to offer the Motorola Q. I think competition is a good thing and I'm always glad to see wider availability of products. In coaching my clients on what smartphone to select, they are often limited by what is being offered by their current phone carrier. Exclusivity is good for the phone carrier, but not for the consumer.

Cell Phone Addiction

Michael Y. Park from Fox News posts an interesting article about the nation's cell phone addiction. Are we truly addicted to cell phones? It's tough to escape them wherever you go.  Like anything, you need to exercise balance. There are times when you need to disconnect from the grid and just be. Too much electronic stimulation can be bad.

But, it certainly has changed the way we socialize and work. Those changes will continue to evolve, especially as video is increasingly used to transfer content. One day, it will be common to simply look into your cell phone to see the other party similar to the way webcams are used for internet calls. Of course, this will help in business communications because it's often difficult to interpret someone's reaction simply from listening to their voice.

In the meantime, consider what's really necessary to share over the phone and be judicious with your time. Don't sacrifice your productivity just to pass alongthe latest gossip.

Can You Hear Me Now Moto Q?

According to Engadget, Verizon is getting exclusive rights to market the Moto Q. This powerful smartphone runs Windows Mobile.

Although a powerful competitor, Motorola faces some stiff competition. According to InfoWorld,

"Motorola, the second-biggest seller of mobile phones behind Nokia Corp., is entering a four-way battle of smart phones, said Gartner analyst Ken Dulaney. The Q will go up against Nokia's E61, Palm Inc.'s Treo and the mighty BlackBerry."

According to a Motorola press release, the Moto Q is 50% thinner than its competitors. This is sure to attract younger consumers who prefer a more stylish mobile phone.

Cingular Switching Back to AT&T Wireless

Part of the fallout from SBC renaming itself AT&T is that Cingular ultimately will become AT&T Wireless. Sort of ironic considering not long ago AT&T Wireless customers had to endure the switch to Cingular.

Ultimately, this change will be minimal. They won't have to integrate two major networks into one. This change is more about marketing and branding.

Hunter from PDA Live points out the expenses the original change made. Is it worth it to change it again? Who knows?!?

Mobile Advertising Trends

In the Bloglight: Practical Blogging

Your phone is likly to face an onsluaght of ads in the future. We've been able to steer clear of ads and telemarketers for the most part when it comes to our mobile phones. But, that is likely to change. According to Robyn Tippins,

"Apparently Ingenio is in the process of developing 2 more mobile advertising products that will be available later this year. Who wants to bet one of them makes gaming free on your phone and the other is either ringtones/wallpapers/etc (bling) or either utilizes RSS delivery of news in some way…"

The other product she mentions is Free 411.

Robyn Tippins is a member of the LinkedIn Bloggers.

Mobile Web Browsers

Read/WriteWeb offers an interesting perspective on mobile web browsers and trends in that technology. I think we have along way to go to make the web function effectively on mobile devices, but it's good to know we're heading in that direction. The post is somewhat technical in nature.

The Kosher Phone...Coming to a Synagogue Near You

Gadgetopia notes that Orthodox Jews in Israel are opting for a simplified mobile phone that blocks access to "forbidden" content. The so-called "kosher phone" does not include text messaging, internet access, video or camera. So, that pretty much excludes most smartphones. USA Today reports that Arab cellphone providers are also looking into the same options. Could this be the beginning of peace in the Middle East?

The phone service also blocks access to over 10,000 phone numbers with questionable content. This list, supervised by a rabbinical team, is constantly updated.

Could this trend head to the West? I think it's possible. Perhaps Christian communities will begin demanding phone models and service which helps to protect their children from illicit content. At any rate, it shows that even though technology will deliver content, people don't necessarily want it and will take extra steps to limit access. No word on whether the same controls are being implemented on PDAs.