Clarification On PDA Web Access

As I understand it, for $15 I can get a plan for the TREO 650 to access
the web, email etc. Is that correct? I also understand this is
unlimited and has nothing to do with my voice minutes. Why does Sprint
charge $30 for Microsoft Pocket PC PDA devices? It seems to me they are
no different than Palm based. Why the distinction?

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› See More: Clarification On PDA Web Access

On 17 Dec 2004 13:22:51 -0800, [email protected] wrote:

>As I understand it, for $15 I can get a plan for the TREO 650 to access
>the web, email etc. Is that correct? I also understand this is
>unlimited and has nothing to do with my voice minutes. Why does Sprint
>charge $30 for Microsoft Pocket PC PDA devices? It seems to me they are
>no different than Palm based. Why the distinction?

Might be a difference how MS PC equipment request, retrieve
information. Meaning they might be bandwidth hogs verses palm
products.

Just a guess.....

later,

tom @ www.ChopURL.com

In article <1103318571.274109.131270
@f14g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>, michaeljc70
@[email protected] says...
> As I understand it, for $15 I can get a plan for the TREO 650 to access
> the web, email etc. Is that correct? I also understand this is
> unlimited and has nothing to do with my voice minutes. Why does Sprint
> charge $30 for Microsoft Pocket PC PDA devices? It seems to me they are
> no different than Palm based. Why the distinction?
>=20
>=20

To use just one example: Pocket Internet Explorer on Pocket=20
PC is much more of a "full" Internet browser than the=20
Blazer one that comes on the Palms.

What is really comes down to is the different design=20
philosophies between the two platforms. While both are=20
called PDA's, the Palm really is more of an assistant,=20
while "Pocket PC" tries to really live up to its name of=20
being a PC in your pocket.

More (preinstalled) Internet functionality means more=20
usage, means more charge for said capability.

That's heavily simplified, but it's the basic idea behind=20
what I was taught when I worked there.

--=20
R=D8=DF
O/Siris
-+-
**A thing moderately good
is not so good as it ought to be.
Moderation in temper is always a virtue,
but moderation in principle is always a vice.**
-Thomas Paine. The Rights of Man. 1792-

[email protected] wrote:
> As I understand it, for $15 I can get a plan for the TREO 650 to access
> the web, email etc. Is that correct? I also understand this is
> unlimited and has nothing to do with my voice minutes.

Correct. In fact, if you ask nicely, they will drop the monthly price
to $10 if you tell them you don't want the monthly download credit
(which is virtually worthless, unless you're really into ringtones and
similar junk).

> Why does Sprint
> charge $30 for Microsoft Pocket PC PDA devices? It seems to me they are
> no different than Palm based. Why the distinction?

The theory is that the Pocket PCs eat more bandwidth. I don't think
that's true, but since I'm using a Palm device (Treo 600), I'm not
interested in pointing this out to them...

[email protected] wrote:
> As I understand it, for $15 I can get a plan for the TREO 650 to access
> the web, email etc. Is that correct?

Correct.

> I also understand this is
> unlimited and has nothing to do with my voice minutes.

Almost. It does have a little bit to do with your voice plan in that I
believe you MUST have a voice plan to get the Vision plan.

> Why does Sprint
> charge $30 for Microsoft Pocket PC PDA devices?

A higher level of sophistication (a diplomatic way of saying "more
bloat") means that the web browser and other functions are likely to
require more data overhead and consume more bandwidth. Palm devices are
optimized for web clipping and quick discreet downloads. Pocket PC
devices are designed more along the lines of traditional internet use
which is not as compact or discreet.


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