VisorCentral.com (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/index.php)
- Springboard Modules (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=10)
-- Handspring Visor and Samsung SCH-3500 Connectivity (http://discussion.visorcentral.com/vcforum/showthread.php?threadid=7587)

Hi Gang,

Here's a copy of a message I sent to Handspring, Sprint and Mark/Space this evening:
----------------------------------------------------------

Hello,

I am an end user of the Handspring (www.handspring.com) Visor Deluxe Palm OS (version 3.0.1H)
based handheld computer as well as a customer of Sprint PCS (www.sprintpcs.com). I have a Samsung SCH-3500 dual
band phone with the Sprint PCS Wireless Web Connection Kit (part no. SPS3DK001).

I have been attempting, without success, to utilize my Samsung SCH-3500 phone to access email and the
Internet with my Handspring Visor. The setup is as follows:

1) Samsung SCH-3500 phone
2) Sprint PCS Wireless Web Kit Cable
3) Male to male serial null modem adapter (part of the Sprint PCS Wireless Web Connection Kit)
4) Handspring Visor serial HotSync cradle

I've tried all of the Flow Control settings in the Visor's Modem Preferences. I have also tried a
male to male serial gender change adapter in place of the null modem adapter. Nothing is working.
I receive a "Modem Not Found" error message.

I have verified that the Handspring Visor serial HotSync cradle is functioning.

I have also verified that my Samsung SCH-3500 phone, Wireless Web Service and Wireless Web Connection
Kit are working. I have successfully used it to access the Internet with my Compaq Presario 1600 laptop.

Through discussion groups on the Internet, I've learned that many other Handspring Visor users are
experiencing the same issues when trying to use the Samsung SCH series phones for Wireless Web Access.
Sprint PCS Wireless Web customers with Qualcomm Touchpoint, Sanyo SCP-4000 and some Motorola phones are
not experiencing any problems.

Neither Handspring's or Sprint PCS Wireless Web's tech support have been able to offer a solution.
In fact, Sprint's tech support was not even aware of Handspring's existence. From an end user/customer
perspective, this is very frustrating. Especially when both of these products are so popular in the
market. It's a shame that there isn't a solution.

I've also contacted Mark/Space (www.markspace.com). They are coming out with a line of cables for
the Handspring Visor. Brian Hall of Mark/Space indicated that the Handspring Visor "does not
have hardware handshake lines, so if the phone requires that, you would be out of luck."

I would like to be the facilitator/catalyst that initiates the dialog among your three companies
to determine if there is a solution. I am sending this message to Handspring, Sprint and Mark/Space.
I'm also posting a copy to an ongoing discussion thread regarding this issue at http://www.visorcentral.com
to keep other Handspring and Sprint customers with Samsung phones informed.

Please let me know if there is anything that I can do to help.

Thank you.

Regards,

Charles H. Root, III

__________________
Charles H. Root, III

AmericaOnline Instant Messenger: chazroot
Yahoo! Pager: chazroot
eXcitePAL: chazroot
Mirabilis ICQ Pager: 11187684

As a fellow Samsung user, I hope you hear from them soon!

__________________
Dr.Art

Word.

Update!

Here's the response I got from Handspring:

Charles,

Thanks for your interest in developing for Handspring's popular line of
Visor (TM) products. Our focus in Developer Relations is primarily
partnering with 3rd party developers for Springboard modules, both hardware
and software. Springboard modules utilize the proprietary expansion slot on
the back of the Visor and developers can create modules on a royalty and
license free basis. This platform allows the Visor to be infinitely
expandable. I would like to first point you in the direction of our
website, specifically the portion on the 7 steps to module development.

http://www.handspring.com/developers/index.asp

Our current product roadmap is quite full but I think a connectivity tool
for the Samsun SCH 3500 is extremely compelling. Please see the following
link for a list of software and hardware partners looking for development
ideas. http://www.handspring.com/developers/sboardpdesign.asp

Regards,
DevInfo

__________________
Charles H. Root, III

AmericaOnline Instant Messenger: chazroot
Yahoo! Pager: chazroot
eXcitePAL: chazroot
Mirabilis ICQ Pager: 11187684

Mark/Space Response

Here's the response I got from Mark/Space:

There is a second issue that could prevent the cradle from working. The
voltage level conversion chip in the cradle is powered from the device it
is connected to. Many devices do not/can not provide that power. The
Delorme Earthmate GPS for example. To work around that, the circuit board
on our own modem cable is powered from the Visor side (the draw is
negligible).

We should have our first batch of these cables ready for sale next month.
We'll send out an email at that time, as well as update the web page
(http://www.markspace.com/datacord.html)


Regards,
Brian Hall
_____________________________________________________________________
Mark/Space Softworks voice 408-293-7299
111 West Saint John, 3rd Floor fax 408-293-7298
San Jose, CA 95113 <http://www.markspace.com>

__________________
Charles H. Root, III

AmericaOnline Instant Messenger: chazroot
Yahoo! Pager: chazroot
eXcitePAL: chazroot
Mirabilis ICQ Pager: 11187684

SprintPCS Wireless Web Update

Hey Gang,

Just got off the phone with Sprint Wireless Web Tech Support.

Their current position is:

1). They are not currently supporting connectivity to the Handspring Visor via SprintPCS Wireless Web enabled phones.

2). They are working on a solution to enable connectivity and hope to roll it out soon.

3). They do not have a target date for when they will begin supporting the Handspring Visor.

Thanks!

chaz

__________________
Charles H. Root, III

AmericaOnline Instant Messenger: chazroot
Yahoo! Pager: chazroot
eXcitePAL: chazroot
Mirabilis ICQ Pager: 11187684