Pocket MSN to Deliver Always-On Services

[Brad Adrian]

<a href="http://216.239.35.120/translate_c?hl=en&amp;u=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2003/Feb03/02-17PocketMSNPR.asp&amp;prev=/search%3Fq%3Dpocket%2Bp">http://216.239.35.120/translate_c?hl=en&amp;u=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2003/Feb03/02-17PocketMSNPR.asp&amp;prev=/search%3Fq%3Dpocket%2Bp</a><br /><br />Hot off the presses: "At the 3GSM World Congress 2003, the MSN® network of online services announced that mobile operators can look forward to the release of Microsoft's first feature-rich mobile data service optimized for Windows® Powered Pocket PCs and Smartphones before the end of the year."<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/adrian/msn.gif" /><br /><br />"Pocket MSN will for the first time deliver to subscribers an always-on experience that enables them to remain available to other online users and always up to date with e-mail, instant messaging (IM) and other online services without maintaining a continuous network connection to their mobile device. Subscribers also will have one-click access to MSN Hotmail® and MSN Messenger...In addition, Pocket MSN will allow subscribers to wirelessly browse online and receive other MSN services, including MSN Alerts, which include news, sports and weather updates."<br /><br />This is great news! I am only now beginning to gain the benefits of true wireless connectivity, and this is sure to create an even better wireless experience. I think this kind of bundle of applications and access is critical to helping novice wireless users really "get their feet wet" in an easy, organized manner.

[Paragon]

So.........I assume we will see some features in the new Pocket PC 2003 to back all this up. :) A new version of PIE with a link on the home page to sign up for MSN/Mobile. :) As well an inbox that will read HTML :idea: and so on, and so on!

Dave

[bdegroodt]

OK...I'll be the bad guy. How does this get past the battery issue? Did they mean to say that users will be able to stay on line for the time the battery is able to last? It sure would be cool if PPCs could go into a hibernate mode of some sort and wake up when they are pinged-Kind of like the XDA etc.

[Merlion]

OK...I'll be the bad guy. How does this get past the battery issue? Did they mean to say that users will be able to stay on line for the time the battery is able to last? It sure would be cool if PPCs could go into a hibernate mode of some sort and wake up when they are pinged-Kind of like the XDA etc.
That has always been the case.

Unless one uses the hardware switch to cut off power supply to the device, similar to a hard reset, the PPC is always powered. It moves from an active state, like when we're using the device, to a standby state, like after we pressed the "On/Off" button after using the device. This main "On/Off" button (not really a "power" switch), puts the PPC in & out of the standby state. In a true power-off state, when the power is completely cut off, everything in violatile RAM is gone, including all the data & programs you put in there, just like a hard reset. That's why it's imperative that we sync as often as possible everyday, or backup frequently, since we're liable to lose everything we put in the RAM when there's no power.

In the standby ("Off") state, when an event like an alarm goes off, etc., the PPC will wake up & sound the alarm, pop up msgs, flash the LEDs, vibrate, etc.

[bdegroodt]

OK...I'll be the bad guy. How does this get past the battery issue? Did they mean to say that users will be able to stay on line for the time the battery is able to last? It sure would be cool if PPCs could go into a hibernate mode of some sort and wake up when they are pinged-Kind of like the XDA etc.
...In the standby ("Off") state, when an event like an alarm goes off, etc., the PPC will wake up & sound the alarm, pop up msgs, flash the LEDs, vibrate, etc.

Maybe I wasn't clear. Today, while the PDA is in a "standby" state, there's no provision for clients like email or GPRS to run and continue to poll for email. I know the power requirements for that are far different than that for a little internal clock that wakes up on an event, but it's possible to be done. Palm-BlackBerry-Handspring-Sony all do it with great battery life.

[Merlion]

I see what you mean, sorry. You're right. Then there'll have to be a standby state that can continuously poll for reception & respond accordingly .. I supposed like PPCPE.

[Tom W.M.]

I have Charter Pipline internet, which is affiliated with MSN. Does this mean that I will be able to use this feature? I ask because it says the "MSN® network of online services".