Wireless Web Modem

The latest enhancement on wireless mobile computing for notebook computers lets you combine current technologies with your existing monthly cell phone minutes to connect to the Internet(with a PC Card).

Most digital phones can work as wireless digital modems via add-on data cables, but the wireless Web modems require fewer pieces and cables. With a plug-and-play card and activation, you can get to the Internet at any place that has digital phone service.

To use the wireless Web modem, start the software, check that the digital network signal strength is sufficient, select standard or enhanced Internet and click on the Connect button. You don’t hear typical modem connection noises, but the connection occurs within a minute.

One drawback of the installation process is that the wireless Web modem software automatically changes the default browser connection proxy settings. If you also use your notebook PC with other modems or on a LAN connection, you have to reset the browser proxy setting manually.

Currently no PDA drivers for Microsoft Windows CE devices are available for the wireless Web modem, unlike the Sierra Wireless CDPD PC Card modems that were sold with Windows CE drivers before regular Windows drivers were released. Thought Windows CE drivers are in development, no release date has been set.

The new Sprint PCS Wireless Web Modem (priced at $400, plus monthly phone charges) combines the AirCard 510, a Type II PC Card manufactured by Sierra Wireless, with service provided by the Sprint PCS CDMA digital phone network. This modem system currently works on in the US as it is dependent on the Sprint PCS network. You can use the Wireless Web Modem either as a conventional 14.4-Kbps wireless modem (via dial-up networking) or, if you connect to the Sprint PCS network (for no extra charge), you can use it with the included Watcher dialer. You can also run the product in an enhanced mode with a technology called BlueKite, which works with network server software to compress Web-based data for performance that Sprint PCS claims is equivalent to 56K.

However, only HTTP information can be compressed. BlueKite has no effect on SSL FTP, Gopher or Socks connections. The technology downloads PDFs and zipped files quite easily. The only noticeable difference with viewing regular Web sites is that pages appear to come up as fast as they do with a 56K connection.

If you need to be connected to the Internet around the clock, the Wireless Web Modem is not a feasible option due to high connection charges. However, it’s an easy (and surprisingly fast) way to make Web connections while traveling in Sprint PCS coverage areas. Just remember to write down or memorise your browser proxy settings.