A Better Blue-er Way to Communicate

[Jon Westfall]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.proximitymail.com' target='_blank'>http://www.proximitymail.com</a><br /><br /></div><i>"ProximityMail helps you meet, find, exchange and share using your wireless device. With ProximityMail, it's easy to find new friends and exchange with people who share your hobbies and interests. Our technology, BluePing Networks, turns groups of Bluetooth wireless devices into a spontaneous "random area network" completely free of additional infrastructure – no servers or base stations. Unlike other point-to-point networking or messaging products, such as SMS, IM, or email, ProximityMail allows users to communicate spontaneously and anonymously to groups of users, without knowing specific user’s PDA id, phone number or email address."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/westfall-20050310-proxmail.gif" /> <br /><br />This is an interesting idea in my opinion - a way to send messages or allow users to interact directly without the need for a central server! Imagine heading into a movie theatre with a loudmouth - now the loudmouth can simply text all of their comments to the other loudmouths in the theatre without bothering the rest of us (Assuming they turned their PPC volume down). Restaurants could use it to send out the specials of the day when you walk in, and large meetings could use it to allow everyone to be heard. Without having to know everyone's name or phone number, I suppose the possibilities are endless.

[PDANEWBIE]

now the loudmouth can simply text all of their comments to the other loudmouths in the theatre without bothering the rest of us (Assuming they turned their PPC volume down).

As I sit here imagining the same annoying loudmouths being replaced by the bright glare of the undimmed backlights I wonder if this would really be a vast improvement?

I do see some good potential though.

[Anjuan Simmons]

Hmmm, sounds interesting, but I wonder how many people you'll find in any given restaurant, movie theater, etc. that have wireless bluetooth enabled devices with this software installed? I think users will rarely find someone else to chat with, and it will take months for it to gain enough traction to be worthwhile. Of course, similar complaints were made aboue the telephone, email, instant messaging, etc. . .

[Menneisyys]

BTW, has anyone managed to use ProximityMail between 2 or more PDA's? I've installed it on 3 devices: a 2210, a 1940 and a Pocket Loox 720. They didn't see each other, not even after resets and the 30-sec-waiting the FAQ emphasized. Not even after pairing the devices (which wasn't necessary, according to the FAQ).

What have I done wrong?

(BTW, also see the thread http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=36203 on the subject.)

[bluevolume]

BTW, has anyone managed to use ProximityMail between 2 or more PDA's? I've installed it on 3 devices: a 2210, a 1940 and a Pocket Loox 720. They didn't see each other, not even after resets and the 30-sec-waiting the FAQ emphasized. Not even after pairing the devices (which wasn't necessary, according to the FAQ).

What have I done wrong?

(BTW, also see the thread http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=36203 on the subject.)

Whatever you are doing wrong, I'm doing wrong too. I tried this app with a few co-workers and never got it to work. I have an Axim X30, and tried connecting to another X30, and X3i, and a newer iPaq all with zero luck. There must be some inherent problems with the way Bluetooth was designed that makes it difficult for devices to see each other. Although, I was able to make BT connections between each of those PDAs using the 'bluetooth manager'.

[Menneisyys]

BTW, has anyone managed to use ProximityMail between 2 or more PDA's? I've installed it on 3 devices: a 2210, a 1940 and a Pocket Loox 720. They didn't see each other, not even after resets and the 30-sec-waiting the FAQ emphasized. Not even after pairing the devices (which wasn't necessary, according to the FAQ).

What have I done wrong?

(BTW, also see the thread http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=36203 on the subject.)

Whatever you are doing wrong, I'm doing wrong too. I tried this app with a few co-workers and never got it to work. I have an Axim X30, and tried connecting to another X30, and X3i, and a newer iPaq all with zero luck. There must be some inherent problems with the way Bluetooth was designed that makes it difficult for devices to see each other. Although, I was able to make BT connections between each of those PDAs using the 'bluetooth manager'.

OIC. The app must be faulty/untested, then. I've really tried everything.

[adbosch]

Hey, this is bluetooth: be sure to not exceed a distance of approx. 10 cm or it will not find the other side.

[Darius Wey]

Hey, this is bluetooth: be sure to not exceed a distance of approx. 10 cm

10cm?! 8O

Surely you mean 10m?

[PhilH]

I tried it too when I had my 2210. Couldn't get it to work no matter what I did.

Were we all missing something?

[Menneisyys]

Were we all missing something?

Dunno, I've wasted at least 2 hours on trying to making this thing up and running with three of my PDA's and scrutinized their FAQ - without success.

[Sven Johannsen]

I've tried to get thhis to work on multiple devices, using multiple revisions over the past year or more. Never got any more than maybe one message one time in succession. If it's this tough for people that hang out here to get it going, I can't imagine the peasant acceptance ;) is going to be real high.

[PDANEWBIE]

10cm?!

Yeah if your not playing twister with the next person you can't connect :)

That's okay I thought 10m was a long distance (as being a self admitted stupid american that only knows centimeters and feet) until I actually got to play around with it a little and realized its not a big as you may want.

[Menneisyys]

10cm?!
That's okay I thought 10m was a long distance (as being a self admitted stupid american that only knows centimeters and feet) until I actually got to play around with it a little and realized its not a big as you may want.

Well, 10m is enough if you want to send private messages to your roommates during a boring meeting over BT and a keyboard-equipped PDA ;)

[Sven Johannsen]

10cm?!
That's okay I thought 10m was a long distance (as being a self admitted stupid american that only knows centimeters and feet) until I actually got to play around with it a little and realized its not a big as you may want.

Well, 10m is enough if you want to send private messages to your roommates during a boring meeting over BT and a keyboard-equipped PDA ;)

10M is about 33ft so is actually pretty decent for what is supposed to be a wire replacement technology. Further the Proximty stuff is supposed to create a BluePing network such that if you are 30 ft from your friend and there is someone 30 ft farther away, the center person acts as sort of a relay, allowing all three to participate in a net converstation. Theoretically with enough participants you could chat with Kevin Bacon.

[that_kid]

Same here Sven, I've tried proximity mail with just about every build out and only once did I manage to get 3 ipaqs to see each other. After I turned them off and back on that was it. I really like the idea behind the software but I've tried and failed to get it to work over the past 2 or so years that now the thrill is gone.

[Jerry Raia]

I've messed with it too. It doesn't work and no one else has it anyway. It's junk. Delete and forget.

[Jon Westfall]

Why does all the cool-looking stuff turn out to be junk? :(

[Graffiti]

Now if someone could get a similar thing going using WiFi/GSM/CDMA instead of BT ... I do recall hearing of some company doing a "push-ad" thing to cellphones, though. Anyone else?

[Menneisyys]

A solution has been found: http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=344212