Actually the OmniSky device, as well as the other Novatel Minstrels I've
used, have a sleep mode. In this mode the Minstrel stays registered with the
CDPD network in a way analagous to a cell phone that's turned on but not
currently making a call. When the Minstrel is in this mode it can receive a
connection that includes an identifier that's analagous to a TCP port
number. The Minstrel application on the Palm receives this connection and
based upon the port number launches a particular application and sends it
the data that was sent in the connection.
So basically it is possible to receive notifications via the CDPD network
and Novatel Minstrel devices. The major drawbacks are that the sleep mode
and "port" settings are comparatively difficult to configure, and that this
sleep mode drains the Minstrel batteries. In my experience the battery drain
was severe, and that far outweighed the usefulness of notification...but but
maybe that's because I had a poor battery in my Minstrel.
-Bob Whiteman
-----Original Message-----
From: Fitzpatrick, Joe
To: Palm Developer Forum
Sent: 8/22/2000 10:58 PM
Subject: RE: URGENT !!!! Inet with AlmSetProcAlarm
>I'm not sure why you would need to create a shared library. Why not
>just schedule an alarm like other applications (ex. Datebook,
>Clockworks, etc.) and do your work in response to the alarm?
>As for feasibility, neither a Palm VII or an Omnisky equipped V is
>particularly well suited to background internet polling. The VII will
>not make a wireless connection unless the antenna is up. Although I
>haven't played with it as much, the Omnisky modem/software also seems
>'user initiated transaction' oriented.
>Neither unit is blindingly fast and can basically hang the system for
>fairly long periods of time. I can't speak for other users, but a
>program would only need to freeze my Palm for 10-20 seconds once
>while I'm trying to enter a phone number, etc. for me to not only
>delete it, but pay a huge guy named Spike to beat up the author.
>People have been talking more sophisticated wireless options as
>Handspring modules, but I don't know what (if any) products are
>actually shipping.
>Good Luck,
>-jjf
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