Re: Re: Treo & HotSync

Replies inline

 --- Adam Tauno WIlliams <[email protected]>
wrote: 

> Much like doing LANSync via a PC attached palm.  We
> currently have that
> working, we want to loose the "PC attached" part. 
> And hopefully the
> implied "near 1825 Monroe St NW, Grand Rapids, MI"
> part as well

It's exactly like LANSync, except you're using the
Treo or Palm handhelds native TCP/IP stack and it's
network connection.  You basically set it up as
LANSync, key in the IP of your OGo Server as normal,
and away you go.  The client/user will have to
remember to engage the VPN first if they are syncing
from the Treo.
 

> URLs? :)

This is a URL for setting up a Windows workstation as
a BlueTooth Accesspoint.  Also good info in general on
BT on palms. 
http://www.whizoo.com/bt_setup/

There are also a few for Linux at www.bluez.org, or
this one in particular (Ben is a Palm enthusiast, and
is very active on Palm related mailing lists).
http://www.metacon.ca/bcs/view.php?page=bluetooth

For Mac Fans, here's how to do it on OS-X
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20021103062212288

Basically, all any of this does is allow people to use
their workstation as a BT access point.  There are
also real commercial BT access points.  Axis
communications makes the 9010 BT access point.

And this is the URL for NetSync, a freeware program to
allow you to quickly choose the service (ie ISP or
LAN) and the connection method.  Once that's done,
pushing the large button in the centre will start a
Network HotSync rather than a regular (local) HotSync.
http://www.whizoo.com/apps/netsync.php

> And bluetooth is a 'generally available' service, or
> is it a 'hotsplot'
> kind of service?  There seems to be several flavors
> of blue tooth based
> upon the lit I have in front of me.  (Bluetooth vs.
> Bluetooth GSM?)
 
Here's where folks in North America are confused when
it comes to BlueTooth vs Wi-Fi.  The folks in Europe
have a greater penetration of BT, whereas it hasn't
quite taken off as well in NA because of the confusion
between the technologies, and the way the
manufacturers in NA have marketed them.  People think
WiFi is BETTER than BT, when they're really not
competing products at all.  They're actually very
COMPLIMENTARY.  WiFi is a Wireless LAN/Wireless WAN
solution (depending on config and products involved). 
BT is a PAN (personal area network).  BT has 3 classes
of devices
Class 1 has a range of 100' or 33m  (100mw TX)
Class 2 has a range of 30' or 10m  (1mw TX)
Class 3 has a range of 10' or 3m  (0.1mw TX)

Handhelds are typically class 2, and have a range of
about 30'.  They support different 'profiles' like
Serial, Lan access, OBEX exchange (FTP).  It's more
designed for Ad-hoc networks, so you won't really find
BT "HotSpots" the way you will with WiFi.  BT is a
communications technology that is built into many GSM
cell phones, and is starting to be found on CDMA
phones.  You would 'pair' your BT enabled cell phone
to your BT enabled handheld (like a Tungsten T series
or a Zire 72), in which case your cell phone becomes a
"trusted" device; a device that can communicate with
the handheld.  Think of BT as a cable replacement
technology.  Where you used to have to connect things
with a cable (ie computer to modem), you now have BT.

Here's a typical scenerio.  You have a Tungsten T3, a
BT enabled cell phone, and a BT enabled handsfree
headset.  A call comes in on your phone; the phone
wakes up the handheld by sending the CID information
to the T3, and the T3 pops up the address book
information on that caller.  You then push the answer
button on your BT headset and the phone hands the
audio off to the headset.  The phone could be in your
pocket the entire time.  Your call ends, you push end
on your headset.  You now need to call someone else. 
You look them up on the T3, select the number, and tap
dial.  The T3 then sends the number to the cell phone
and commands it to dial.  As it's dialing, the audio
is routed over BT's headset profile to your headset. 
This same scenerio can work with current cars like
some Accura's and Toyota's, that have BT handsfree in
the car.  Instead of handing off to the headset, it
would handoff to the car.

Here's a site that explains BT very simply, without
marketing speak, and gives applications.
http://www.swedetrack.com/images/bluet00.htm

> Is your VPN an opensource one?
> 
> Yes, PoPToP.  Been using it for years.  We've had
> very good luck with
> compatibility.

Cool!  I'll have to look into that.

> Aha!  Thats the piece I was missing:  the carrier
> provides some data
> service.
> 
> Just for clarification:  The Treo supports a data
> service from your cell
> phone providers,  the other devices Tungsten and
> such require a hostspot
> (be it Bluetooth or Wifi)?

Correct.  The Treo is a "smartphone" whereas the
Tungstens and Zires are "handhelds" or "PDA's"
(unconnected devices).  The Treo is much like the
Blackberry, in that it's always on.  You can configure
it to pull information (usually e-mail) on a schedule,
or manually.  Blackberry is working with PalmSouce on
"push" technology for PalmPowered smartphones.
 
> Yes.  It is the "how the phone/palm/whatever gets to
> the Internet" that
> is/was confusing me.  I see things like "Browse The
> Web!", etc... but
> nothing that says "This is an IP device, IP service
> is provided by your
> cellular carrier".  I understand the 'local' access
> part via WiFi or
> whatnot.

The marketing folks are creating hype for a solution
that they can bill for, but they're not really big on
giving you the technical details.  They go so far in
some cases as to REMOVE the desktop software (Palm
Desktop) and give you a CD for a "free" trial of their
wireless desktop (which is one of those collaboration
products for which they are an ASP), and then start
charging you for the "convenience" of HotSyncing to
their servers using their product, at your expense
(remember, billed by the 'k').  If you get some
Treo's, make sure you get the desktop software, so
folks can sync in the office using cradle/cable. 
It'll save you a few bucks on the cell bill.

Hope this helps!

/Mike

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