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| The Treo 650 (left) and the Blackberry 7520 are pictured. |
Phone Types: GSM vs. CDMA
Cellular phones transmit and receive data via different networks. The two most popular networks are Groupe Speciale Mobile, or GSM, and Code Division Multiple Access, or CDMA.
GSM networks were developed in Western Europe and are the standard for wireless voice and data transmission throughout much of the world. In the United States, Cingular and T-Mobile are the major carriers with GSM networks. People who travel frequently may want to consider a GSM phone, as it will function anywhere in the world. The disadvantage of GSM is that coverage in the United States, although good, is not as extensive as CDMA. Additionally, data transmission rates are slower than CDMA. A GSM phone that supports the EDGE protocol offers faster data transmission.
CDMA coverage in the United States is more comprehensive than GSM, but the ability to roam internationally is limited to countries in South America, Eastern Europe and Asia. For those who prefer faster data transfer and who do not often travel internationally, a CDMA phone may be the better choice.
OS Affects Software Availability
As with handheld computers, smartphones primarily use one of three operating systems: Palm, Windows or Symbian. The operating system determines the functions available for the smartphone. The smartphone’s memory and operating system also limit software availability, so the requirements of software under consideration — many medical software products can be found at www.pdamd.com, www.hand heldmed.com and www.medicalpocketpc .com — should match these capabilities.
Palm Inc. was a pioneer in the handheld computer revolution. Hundreds of software applications have been written for the Palm, including coding and electronic medical records software. The author owns the Treo 650, an enormously popular choice, as confirmed by a discreet inspection of belts around the hospital.
Not to be outdone, Microsoft developed its Windows Mobile OS. There is very little difference in software availability for either Palm or Windows smartphones, and most large manufacturers of cellular phones have developed smartphones that run on Windows. Some of the more popular models are the Motorola MPx220, Audiovox SMT5600, Sony Ericsson P910a, Samsung SCHi730 and Nokia 3620.
Another major player is the BlackBerry, by Research in Motion Limited, which runs on the Symbian OS. Although third-party programs are available for the BlackBerry, medical software availability is limited compared to Palm and Windows platforms.
Focus on Functionality
For the technophile, functionality is where the Palm Treo and Windows smartphones diverge from the BlackBerry. While cell phone functionality varies among different models, the following information provides a general overview of what a prospective buyer might expect of these three main smartphone types.
The Palm Treo and Windows smartphones have personal information management, or PIM, software which synchronizes with your home computer and manages your calendar, tasks and contacts list. A smartphone can do all of this remotely if your workplace has a Microsoft Exchange Server. Additionally, documents, spreadsheets and slide presentations can be edited and transferred. Database management is trickier but third-party software for this is available.
Both the Treo and Windows smartphones come with Web browsers for wireless Internet access. Audio and video files in most formats can be replayed with Windows Media Player or RealPlayer, and most of these phones have a built-in camera with video recording capability.
The BlackBerry has synchronizable PIM software, and it allows viewing, but not editing, of documents and spreadsheets. The Web browser of the BlackBerry is less sophisticated than those of the Treo and Windows smartphones, and the BlackBerry offers neither multimedia capability nor a camera.
Wireless connectivity is also a prominent feature. Most smartphones offer infrared connectivity for line-of-sight communication with printers, handheld computers and other smartphones. Additionally, these phones often have Bluetooth capability for longer distance wireless connection. Some Windows-based smartphones, such as the Samsung and Sony Ericsson, have Wi-Fi capability for Internet browsing and wireless data transfer anywhere a Wi-Fi network exists. The BlackBerry lags behind in this area, offering only infrared connectivity.
Remote e-mail access also is available on all three smartphones. Often as many as eight separate e-mail accounts, such as those on Yahoo, Hotmail and MSN services, can be accessed. Corporate e-mail accounts are trickier, and this is where the BlackBerry outshines the other smartphones. While the Treo and Windows smartphones can access some corporate e-mail accounts, particularly those running Microsoft Exchange server with ActiveSync capability or Mobile Information server, access is not guaranteed. The solution is an e-mail redirector, which is standard on the BlackBerry, but must be downloaded from a third-party developer for other phones.
If sending and receiving e-mail using a hyper-secure corporate account is of paramount concern, a BlackBerry may be for you. For familiar PIM software, Internet browsing, multimedia functionality and wireless connectivity, a Palm Treo or Windows smartphone is a strong choice. In early 2006, a choice between Palm and Windows smartphones will be unnecessary; in late September these rivals announced a partnership that promises to produce a new “cutting-edge” CDMA-based Treo marketed by Verizon Wireless.
By combining a handheld computer, music and video playback, wireless Internet access, and remote e-mail capability in one reasonably small handheld device, a smartphone can go a long way toward cutting your waistline clutter.
K. Michael Webb, MD, is a spine fellow at Barrow Neurosurgical Associates in Phoenix, Ariz.
For Further InformationPrzybylski, GJ. “Harnessing IT with a PDA,” AANS Bulletin Summer 2002. www.AANS.org, Article ID 9950.