You may connect to Internet using your Palm OS handheld if you
have a modem.
A modem you may use to do this may be: 1. your desktop computer modem 2. add-on accessory for your Palm, 3. modem in your cellular phone
1. Connecting via desktop computer
This is useless if you want to "go mobile" because it is
done through HotSync cradle via your desktop computer which has to be connected
to Internet, so we will not talk much about this possibility here. The only
thing you need here is adequate software.
2. Connecting via add-on modem accessory
This is common option because it goes through regular phone line,
but you'll need to buy add-on modem for your Palm. Depending on which Palm
handheld you have you may buy:
-
Modem for Palm III, IIIx, IIIe, IIIxe, IIIc, VII, VIIx
-
Modem for Palm V, Vx, IBM Workpad c3
-
Modem for Palm m125, m130, i705 & m500 series
-
Springboard module modem for Handspring Visor handhelds
-
Sony PEGA-MD700 Analog Modem for Clie PEG-N & PEG-S Series
3. Connecting via cellular phone via Infra Red
This is probably the reason why you visit this page.
Check if your phone has IR port (Infra Red port)
Check if your cellular phone is capable for data transfer
(check it in manual or consult your mobile phone vendor).
- If it is not, sorry, you'll have to
check Option 2) at the top of this page or to buy appropriate cellular phone.
Browse Amazon store.
- If you phone may make data transfer
than it means that it has built-in modem which you may use to go online using
your Palm.
I've done some research to find out which
phone models you may use to access Internet from your Palm via IR. So here is
the list (which may not be accurate because of new models are available almost
every day)
Nokia mobile phones
* These models should work fine: Nokia 7110, 7210, 7650, 8210, 8250,
9110, 9210, 6210, 6310
(For the same phones in USA model number is different in
last two digits for every Nokia phone)
* Model Nokia 8110 needs updated firmware (system software), version V
4.05 or later. To find out Nokia firmware version, type *#0000#
* Models Nokia 6110 and Nokia 6150 in Europe have IR but it can only be
used to beam addresses and calendar notes with Palm, not for connecting to
Internet because these models do not have built in modem. USA versions of these
models do not even have IR port, only piece of plastics which looks like it -
even beaming does not work.
* Other Nokia models does not even have an IR port and/or not have built in
modem
Siemens mobile phones * Models that should work are: Siemens S25, S35, C35, M35, S35i and
probably many new models
Motorola mobile phones * All Motorola
Timeport models should work fine except Motorola Timeport P8160 which does not
have IR
Sony Ericsson and other mobile phones * I
think that Ericsson 888 models work, and I am not sure for any other model. I
recommend that you check for your model on your own.
Step-by-step
manual for connecting Palm OS handheld and cellular phone via IR
Step 1. Check Palm OS version
Check OS version in your
Palm. To do this 1) tap on application icon (house) and then 2)
tap on menu icon, 3) choose Info... from the menu and then 4) tap
on Version at the bottom of the screen. You'll see at the top of the screen text
Palm OS software v. #.#.# (where #.#.# is your Palm OS version).
Step 2. What next is depending on Palm OS version
1. If your Palm OS version is 3.0 or 3.1, then it is rather old OS and
you'll have to download and install on your handheld infra-red library to
continue. To download it follow this link:
http://www.palm.com/support/downloads/irenhanc.html
Also, if you have Palm III series, Palm V or IBM Workpad model you may
get free upgrade to Palm OS 3.3 2. If your Palm OS version is 3.3 or 3.5 (it may be Palm OS software v.
3.5.0, 3.5.2, 3.5.3...), follow the procedure instructed in monochrome screen
shots. 3. If your PalmOS version is 4.0 or 4.1 follow the procedure from screen
shots in color (even if your Palm might be monochrome)
Step 3. Make new connection on your handheld 1) Tap on Prefs icon on your Palm, 2) choose Connection from
drop-down menu in upper right corner and 3) then tap New... at the
bottom.
4) Enter name for your new connection instead Custom (for example Cellular
Modem), 5) choose Connection Method to be IR to modem and the result
should be like this (depending of your Palm OS version)
Palm OS 3.3 or 3.5
Palm OS 4.0 or 4.1
5) While on this screen tap on Details... to choose
connection speed and modem init string. For connection speed choose 19.200 bps.
For init string you may try AT&FX3 - it works fine.
All Palm OS versions
6) Tap OK on this Details screen and again OK on Edit
Connection screen and your new connection called Cellular Modem is made
Step 4. Make new Network connection to
your Internet Service Provider (ISP) via cellular phone 1) Tap on Prefs icon on your Palm, 2) choose Network from
drop-down menu in upper right corner and 3) modify one of preset settings
and fill in your data. Enter name of your ISP (Internet Service Provider) in
Service field, enter your username and password in other fields and for
connection choose Cellular Modem, connection we made in Step 3. Enter phone
number of your ISP in phone field, but take care to have dial prefix for calling
from your cellular network (the number should be the same as number you would
dial if you "call" your ISP from your cellular phone).
Result should be like this, with your
data - of course.
4) While on this screen, tap on Details... to set PPP for Connection
type, 1 Minute for Idle timeout and checked Query DNS and Automatic IP Address
fields.
5) Tap OK on this Details screen and your new Network
Connection is set. 6) Tap Apps button (House) to exit because you're done
here.
You may now proceed to "Step 5. Connecting" to connect to Internet using your
Palm and phone via IR.
Step 5. Connecting 1) Tap on Prefs icon, 2) choose Network from drop-down menu
and 3) choose your ISP (connection you've made in previous step) in
Service field. 4) Align your Palm IR port with your mobile infra red
port. 5) If you use Nokia or other phone which need activating Infra red,
then activate it. 6) Tap Connect on your Palm and wait for connection to
be established 7) Once the Connection is made Connect button should be
replaced with Disconnect button. 8) To fully use potential of using Internet via
Palm and mobile phone you'll need appropriate software (I'll recommend some in
"Step 6. Internet software for Palm OS"), so tap Disconnect for now...
Step 6. Internet software for Palm OS
So, if everything worked as planned, you learned how to Connect to Internet via
Palm OS handheld and mobile phone as well as to disconnect. You have to install
some software on your Palm and use it to browse the net, send and receive email
or access discussion groups.
There is plenty of shareware applications to enjoy the web from your Palm, but
they cost money, so I choose some freeware for your beginning.
* The most robust freeware is Eudora Internet Suite. It has Web Browser
and E-mail application and very good PDF user manual. It also have conduit for
synchronizing with your desktop PC (Windows, Macintosh OS or Linux). You can
download it following this link
http://www.eudora.com/internetsuite/download/
* I use Yanoff News Reader for accessing discussion groups. It is rather
old, but useful software and you may download
Yanoff here.
* If you have ICQ number and wish to use ICQ on your Palm
(regardless of price of phone call from your cellular) then download ICQ for
Palm from this link:
http://www.icq.com/download/ftp-palmpilot.html
* For those who wish to use Internet Relay Chat (IRC - like mIRC for PC...) here is shareware IRC client for Palm called
upIRC
