Accessories packed with features

Tag : mobile telephone accessories

For many people a cellphone is a business tool, but it's also anaccessory. Cellphones are getting smaller, sexier and morefeature-packed because even hard-headed executives like the devicein their pocket to have flair.
Two recently launched devices are aimed at both the consumer andsmall business markets. Palm's Centro targets everyone fromteenaged girls to small business executives, while RIM launched the8120 version of its Pearl handset.
Both devices focus on trying to fit their features into a smallerform factor.
The Pearl has an advantage over the Centro with its support forHome Calling, Rogers' Wi-Fi-based Voice over Internet telephoneservice. For $20 a month, Pearl users can make unlimitedlong-distance calls in Canada, which uses its Wi-Fi capability toconnect to a home Wi-Fi router.
Calls will transfer automatically to the cellular network when youleave the house -- handy for small business executives on the go.The lack of Wi-Fi as an option is the Centro's downside.
Nevertheless, the Centro tries to span business and personal usersby mixing personal Web mail and work e-mail in the same unit. Thedevice, which runs on the Palm operating system rather thanMicrosoft Windows Mobile, nevertheless supports Microsoft's DirectPush Technology to route work e-mails to the device over thecellular network.
Both phones feature the ability to view Microsoft Word and Exceldocuments. You'll need a separate piece of software to edit them onthe BlackBerry. That said, you're unlikely to want to edit a Worddocument without a QWERTY keyboard. The Centro has one, but thePearl 8120, like previous models, shares multiple letters on thesame key, and uses the company's SureType predictive textingservice.
Although both devices include a mobile maps service, neitherfeatures GPS capabilities, which is a shame for small businessusers on the go trying to quickly get to their next meeting.
smallbusiness@nationalpost.com