08-28-2003, 03:12 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Pocket MSN Details Revealed
Ever wondered what that "Pocket MSN" icon was on your Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PC? Well, Microsoft has started to release information about the service by targeting Microsoft Service Providers.
"Pocket MSN� is a new, rich, client-based subscription solution. Delivered as a subscription service with MSN mobile operator partners, Pocket MSN will give your Pocket PC and Smartphone users instant, one-click access to core MSN services, including MSN Hotmail�, MSN Messenger, MSN Alerts, and MSN browse content (where available). Designed for seamless integration into the existing Pocket PC and Smartphone applications, Pocket MSN offers users a familiar and consistent experience. In addition, the service enables true mobile data scenarios by providing both always-on functionality and offline mobile functionality."
The primary features of Pocket MSN appear to be as follows:
� "Always-on functionality so users are connected, signed on, and available to their online contacts, without requiring a continuous network connection.
� Ability to communicate with online contacts on MSN Messenger regardless of device (PC, phone, Pocket PC).
� Real-time updates of Hotmail messages and MSN Alerts.
� Offline Hotmail capabilities so users can compose e-mail in a non-connected state.
� Personalization features that give users rules-based sync with Hotmail filters and message download options.
� Ability to seamlessly send Hotmail messages to offline MSN Messenger contacts.
� Quick, one-click access to MSN Hotmail, MSN Messenger contacts, and MSN information resources from the device Today screen."
I've heard a rumour they're going to price it out at $24.95 per year - not bad, but I'm not sure I'm their target audience. If you're hardcore Hotmail user, the offline message composition might be invaluable, but none of the other features seem to really jump out at me. What do you think about the services listed so far?
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08-28-2003, 04:37 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 461
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Re: Pocket MSN Details Revealed
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Originally Posted by Jason Dunn
The primary features of Pocket MSN appear to be as follows:
� "Always-on functionality so users are connected, signed on, and available to their online contacts, without requiring a continuous network connection.
� Ability to communicate with online contacts on MSN Messenger regardless of device (PC, phone, Pocket PC).
� Real-time updates of Hotmail messages and MSN Alerts.
� Offline Hotmail capabilities so users can compose e-mail in a non-connected state.
� Personalization features that give users rules-based sync with Hotmail filters and message download options.
� Ability to seamlessly send Hotmail messages to offline MSN Messenger contacts.
� Quick, one-click access to MSN Hotmail, MSN Messenger contacts, and MSN information resources from the device Today screen."
I've heard a rumour they're going to price it out at $24.95 per year - not bad, but I'm not sure I'm their target audience. If you're hardcore Hotmail user, the offline message composition might be invaluable, but none of the other features seem to really jump out at me. What do you think about the services listed so far?
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I wonder, and please excuse my ignorance, how can you have "always-on functionality" in a handheld? Do you need to be connected to the WWW via a modem equipped cell phone or something alike?
Concerning your question, I would be very interested in this kind of service, given I can use it bypassing our local cell phone providers... :mrgreen: very expensive services!!!:evil:
It would be great to receive updated building plans right into the handheld while in the field via email . I even think that if this is to give the ability to chat from the handheld, it would be a killer herearound since this will cut communication costs with designers sitting in front of their desktop workstations.
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08-28-2003, 05:19 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Re: Pocket MSN Details Revealed
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Originally Posted by Prevost
I wonder, and please excuse my ignorance, how can you have "always-on functionality" in a handheld? Do you need to be connected to the WWW via a modem equipped cell phone or something alike? Concerning your question, I would be very interested in this kind of service, given I can use it bypassing our local cell phone providers...
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No, you'd still need to have an Internet connection via a modem, cell phone, etc. You'll still have to deal with those evil providers. :wink:
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08-28-2003, 05:21 AM
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Mystic
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,911
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Seems like a lot of money for what you can do for free. If you want hotmail get the pocket hotmail plug-in for inbox. You can get it off handango (sorry I don't have the link I'm on my ppc). Pocket Hotmail is only $5 for life.
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08-28-2003, 06:17 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 144
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by dean_shan
Seems like a lot of money for what you can do for free. If you want hotmail get the pocket hotmail plug-in for inbox. You can get it off handango (sorry I don't have the link I'm on my ppc). Pocket Hotmail is only $5 for life.
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Pocket Hotmail doesn't work with WM2003, and it doesn't work with T-Mobile GPRS (Phone Edition). Trust me. I've tried. An update is supposed to be on the way, but who knows when it will arrive...
I'm very much looking forward to Pocket MSN for the offline Hotmail capabilities. Rather than switching email addresses every time I switch providers, I've been using Hotmail as my permanent personal email address. Right now, with MSN alerts, I can get SMS notices on my T-Mobile Pocket PC Phone Edition when I get a new message, but for some reason, the Hotmail section of MSN Mobile (designed for the PPC screen) doesn't work well at all under WM2003 (keeps getting "Session timeout" errors while signing in). So I don't even have web access to my Hotmail on my PPCPE.
I really hope they don't charge existing users of MSN or Hotmail Extra Storage. I paid for Extra Storage, and I'm getting MSN bundled with my new DSL connection from Verizon (my old provider went bankrupt - feels like 2001 all over again  ). Hopefully I won't have to pay (again) for access to Pocket MSN.
Does anyone have any info on when this is going to be available? I'd like to get a hold of it as soon as possible. Hmmm... There's a deadline coming up in October when all MSN Messenger clients will have to upgrade to protocol version 6. Maybe this will be ready by then (or at least a new MSN Messenger client).
JoshB
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08-28-2003, 08:25 AM
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Pupil
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 18
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I believe Pocket MSN uses SMS to give a "virtual always on" experience for PPCPE. If the MO supports it, it will trigger an MSN server sync whenever you get an SMS message (specially formatted by the pocket msn servers to trigger the event).
Pocket MSN also seems to be much better integrated experience for MSN Messenger�though you might not, kids go crazy for this stuff. It may allow "virtual always on" for MSN Messenger, though I am not that sure that will happen (in this first release).
This scenario is similar to Exchange 2003 (w/WM2003) server based activesync technology "always up to date". Ex2003 alerts the device through an SMS message to initiate a data call...only when you recieve a new mail (can be filtered by rules), appointment, contact, etc. This helps alleviates wasted bandwidth when no changes have occurred on the server, but you want near instant alerting.
Pretty cool stuff!!
Humor
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08-28-2003, 07:29 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 267
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I think this is $10 too much. I'd subscribe at $15 and after the beta testers...err.... first users get done suffering and MS fixes those bugs
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08-28-2003, 11:03 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 48
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by JoshB
I really hope they don't charge existing users of MSN or Hotmail Extra Storage. I paid for Extra Storage, and I'm getting MSN bundled with my new DSL connection from Verizon (my old provider went bankrupt - feels like 2001 all over again ). Hopefully I won't have to pay (again) for access to Pocket MSN.
Does anyone have any info on when this is going to be available? I'd like to get a hold of it as soon as possible. Hmmm... There's a deadline coming up in October when all MSN Messenger clients will have to upgrade to protocol version 6. Maybe this will be ready by then (or at least a new MSN Messenger client). |
Hey Josh,
This will be an add-on subscription for MSN Premium (MSNIA/MSN 8 BYOA) & MSN Extra Storage subscribers. MSN Extra Storage is for just that...Extra Storage. As for MSN Premium subscribers, not everyone would use MSN Mobile Plus Edition, or Pocket MSN. Keeping the price at $9.95/mo or $79.95/yr makes more sense than increasing it above that dreaded $10/mo threshold and adding mobile capabilities to the plan. $24.95/yr isn't bad at all if they end up sticking with that price...it comes out as ~$2/mo!
Since you are using MSN with Verizon DSL...if you are the account manager, you will get a storage boost to 25mb when MSN Premium comes out at no extra charge. (sub-accounts will get a boost to 10mb)
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08-28-2003, 11:04 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 48
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Oh...and in addition to what Humour stated...non PPCPE devices can use Pocket MSN over Wi-Fi.
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08-29-2003, 12:38 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 144
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Is it just me or is Microsoft getting you for subscription after subscription. I remember the fuss about when they gave Internet Explorer away, and how that devistated the then leader Netscape. It was huge. So they populate the majority of the computers in the world with IE. Then they release MSN Explorer for free... Ah, but then the catch. They make MSN Explorer 8, and they improve on it, but wait, now we like it and boom, it's $10 month just to use the MSN Explorer. Then all these subscription come out...
Don't get me wrong. I think Microsoft is awsome, and I love my Pocket PC and MSN. But now I pay a subscription for MSN8 even though I have broadband at home, I use MSN 8 for dial-up, plus the subscription to MSN Radio, now the up and coming subscription to MSN Mobile... wow, it makes my head spi just thinking about it. 8O
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