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Personal Digital Assistants and Smartphones

Perhaps a combined cell phone and organizer (Smartphone) incorporating both functions is a good choice for you. A Smartphone provides capabilities beyond a mobile phone, including access to e-mail, calendar, contacts, and the internet and may eliminate the need to carry more than one device.

A Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) may be a good choice if you essentially want a small handheld computer. PDAs offer a variety of personal productivity applications, such as e-mail, contacts, calendar and applications such as Microsoft Word and Excel.

Deciding which device is right for you involves considering how you plan to use it, what you want to accomplish with it. You should certainly plan to visit several vendors to discuss price, data plans, and usability and productivity features.

MU has a multi-vendor contract for departments, faculty, staff, and students to obtain a variety of wireless cellular services, including smart devices. The cellular vendors offer the MU community the best discounts available for corporate-liable or personal voice and data plans.

For more information on the cellular vendors, visit the cellular phone services pages.

Choosing a PDA or Smartphone

• What am I going to use it for? Some devices are excellent if you want to read e-mail but are not designed to type extensive replies. Other devices are excellent for reading and responding to short e-mails but are less desirable as a phone.
• What operating system do I want to use? (e.g., Palm, Pocket PC, Blackberry) The answer may depend on what your colleagues use, what you've previously used, or what you feel comfortable with after trying several out.
• What kind of extras do you need or want? (e.g., camera, MP3 player, battery, etc.)
• Will the vendor let you "try before you buy"? This will give you the best opportunity to determine if the device will fill your needs.

Visit these Web sites for more information on smartphones and PDAs:

• Palm
• Windows Mobile

Choosing Services

• Voice: If access to a phone or voice mail is your primary usage, then perhaps your best choice is a good cellular plan — one with the coverage you need for travel and enough minutes and/or long distance to keep you in touch. Review the plans and discounts available through the University's nonexclusive contract with three cellular vendors to find your best option.
• Web: If you prefer to stay in touch via e-mail and when you're out of the office you take advantage of downtime in airports or lines to read e-mail, review documents or update your calendar, you have more varied choices, including the traditional laptop with either a modem or a wireless network card. A laptop with an aircard allows you to take advantage of nationwide cell coverage and avoid hotel DSL charges or lack of wireless coverage. The University's cellular vendors may offer a card and data plan that will fit your needs.
• Voice, Web and E-Mail: Need a way to stay in touch by voice and data? Want to get away from carrying a cell phone, laptop, or PDA? Perhaps a smartphone is a good choice for you. A smartphone provides capabilities beyond a mobile phone, including Web access, access to e-mail, calendar and may eliminate the need to carry more than one device.

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