Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 7

Guys just to let you know that today I called OmniSky and they suprised me with a great offer. I am considering OmniSky wireless service for my VDX and they told me that the SpringBoard Module they sell works only on the Prism/Platinum handhelds (any comments?). To my surprise they also informed me that if I get a new Prism/Platinum they will send me a check for $100 if I buy their modem within the next 30 days of the purchase of the handheld. This $100 rebate is in addition to the $200 rebate they currently offer for the wireless modem and service holiday bundle.

Today I had the opportunity to use the OmniSky service in a Palm V device from a friend and I can tell you that is awesome!!! I was chatting with my Yahoo Messanger friends wirelessly from a restaurant.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
AM

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Modesto, CA USA
Posts: 599

andresmino,

I was a beta tester and user (still am technically) on my Palm Vx. Wireless is definetly the way to go and I can tell you that in the major metro areas I go - West Coast and to Dallas, it does rock.

Omnisky is now in version 2.0 and it's much quicker. If your friends have not upgraded tell them to get with it because it's definitely an improvement over version 1.0.

I am surprised though by the $100 rebate because I just received an email from customer support and they couldn't tell me diddly about when the modem would be available nor how they were going to transition me/transfer the service when it becomes available.

Did you get this in writing? It could be that the email was early this morning and they have since updated their database for C.S.

Be advised though, Omnisky can not work at the present with MSN email if you want to be able to check that type of account and according to Omnisky it'll still be awhile before they can service the number online system.

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Moose Man
I may be from the LEFT coast but that's not the correct political view in my mind!

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 7

I got the information over the phone dialing 1.800.860.5767 that is OmniSky sales I believe. I specificly asked about the $100 rebate and it seems is clearly stated in their notes.

Has anyone tried the service with any Visor??

AM.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Modesto, CA USA
Posts: 599

Visor - not publicaly available yet. Any Beta Testers are swore to confidentiality, at least I was during the Palm testing and I'm not a Visor/Prism beta tester.

When they do become available rest assured that I'll have one ASAP you can check back then. Did you sign up on their web page for their email notification service?

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Moose Man
I may be from the LEFT coast but that's not the correct political view in my mind!

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 7

Not over email. I went to lunch today with a co-worker that happend to have a Palm V with the Ministrel wireless modem and after I saw it work.... man I fell in love with the gadget !!!!

To OmniSky Customer Service, I didn't ask about the Springboard Module shipping/availability information but I assume that they are shipping or they are almost there.

I will try to get one soon.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Modesto, CA USA
Posts: 599

I'll end tonight with this post: Omnisky C.S.'s email of today stated that they did not have a release date for the modem. Their only commitment was by "fall" and I got one email about 2 weeks ago that stated fall is officially over on Dec. 21st.

Go to their web page and sign up for the notice and you'll be in the loop as soon as everyone else is. A word to the wise, don't try and buy a basic 2MB Visor and use Omnisky unless they bundle the software on the Springboard/Modem because Omnisky version 2.0 takes about 650K of RAM and by the time you start adding web content it can be size prohibitive.

They may however, bundle the software on the modem but until they release data on exactly how the device will function I'd recommend purchasing a Visor Deluxe or better if you don't already have one.

The plus is though, it's getting closer because they have updated their picture of the springboard modem just recently.

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Moose Man
I may be from the LEFT coast but that's not the correct political view in my mind!

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 148

Okay.. $100 rebate.. .Now, is this 30 days after you get the modem or when you place the order? I was one of the first to get a prism and my receipt says 10/17.. Now, as long as I place the order by nov 17 (give or take a day), then I should be in the clear?? Also, I probably have to point this out to them that I am a Visor Prism user right??

All input greatly appreciated! Sounds like a good deal to me!

Mike

Registered: Jun 2000
Location:
Posts: 594

Hey, I hate to be the voice of dissent in this general atmosphere of joy, but if OmniSky is 650k ... doesn't this beg even more the question of:
"Why Didn't HS Give The Prism 16Mb of RAM"?
Or at least 12Mb.
Let's get real, w/color comes more mem requirements.
And there's still nada but the 8Mb for $79 solution.
Yeah, word is CF is in the works, but meanwhile...

For $200 more than the VDX, it'd've been nice to get a few more Mb.
Jeff?

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 7

MikeD, as far as I know, they told me that you need to purchase the OmniSky SpringBoard Module within the first 30 days of the purchase of your Prism. By Nov-17 you are fine... call them and double check, the number is in a previous post.

Regards,
AM.

Registered: Feb 2000
Location: Moved to Clie Land
Posts: 331

I'd like some idea of the monthly fees before I pre-signed. Has anyone broached the subject with Omnisky?

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"Stupid Handspring."

Registered: Aug 1999
Location: Inverness, FL
Posts: 428

Same as the Palm V Service $39.95 /mo unlimited usage.

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<B>Marcus Adolfsson</B>
Editor

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Posts: 89

World Wide Wait

Timing could be an issue here. Since OmniSky is dependent on Novatel for their Springboard module and Novatel hasn't shipped yet. Since Novatel is located just a few blocks away from me, I decided to stop by there on my lunch break today. The good news is that the Novatel Minstrel S modem has been fully tested, has received FCC approval and has completed packaging. It is basically ready to ship. The bad news is that because of some 'Red Tape' (as they called it), they will not be able to sell the modem for another 4 to 6 weeks.

So I wonder how OmniSky will handle this rebate offer, since they won't have product for a month or more?

Additionally the representative at Novatel told me that they will only be shipping the 2 megabyte version of the Minstrel S modem. The 4 MB version has been dropped. I was also informed that OmniSky will be reselling the Minstrel S modem and will be offering a subsidy (rebate) on the modem. Additionally the OmniSky service uses either the AT&T or Verizon network for connectivity. OmniSky does bundle a different browser than the one provided by Novatel, and both packages are compatible with the Visor Deluxe, Platinum and Prism. The representative at Novatel told me that he had been using the Minstrel S modem with his Handspring Visor Deluxe for several months now and was very happy with it (I wonder if he gets paid to say that?). He also recommended that I visit their web site tommorow to check for new announcements.

Additionally I called OmniSky to find out what the price of the modem was going to be and to find out how much of a rebate that they will be offering. The representative replied that OmniSky is currently updating the price of the modem and of the rebate, and that they would announce the new prices when they are ready to ship the product. I was informed that the prices that were previously offered would most likely be updated to the new price (when it is announced). Because of this I am unable to determine which service will be cheaper.

Novatel modem from Novatel - $369 for modem
Service through Verizon is $24.99 month (12 * 24.99 = $299.88 year) - unlimited use
Service through AT&T is $29.99 month (12 * 29.99 = 359.88 year) - unlimited use

Novatel modem from OmniSky (price unknown), rebate (unknown)
Service through OmniSky is $39.95 month (12 * 39.95 = 479.40 year) - unlimited use

Novatel is an established company and so is OmniSky, so I think the best route for me to take would be to sign up now so that I can take advantage of their offer, and then just be patient while all of the red tape gets worked out.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 148

From what I got from an Omnisky rep today....

Modem should be $299 from webpage but the Omniskky rep I spoke to insisted it was $99 (I think He's talking with rebate)... Either way... $299 (just assume this) for the modem... $200 rebate after 6 months of usage, and $100 rebate if you have a receipt of your Visor Prism/Platinum for proof and $50 for proof of your Visor Dlx. That's what info I got! So it looks like you save anywhere between $250-$300 in rebates from Omnisky.

Mike

Registered: Mar 2000
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Posts: 89

To the quick

After I posted the previous message I received a call from my contact at Novatel. He told me that the Minstrel S might be out sooner than expected, and that OmniSky would be selling the modem/service at least a month before Novatel. So it sounds like OmniSky is the way to go right now. I just wish that I could get a confirmation on the price. Since OmniSky is reselling the AT&T service, they have to be making money somehow. Selling the modem for $99 sounds like they would be cutting their profits to the quick.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 148

Well, either way, we have to wait.. (sigh) but just one question, for those that have tried it on a palm III or V, how do you like it? Do you like the bundled apps? I'm concerned about the 19kbs speed... Pretty slow considering I'm used to 56k dialup at home and T1-T3 speeds at work. Any comments? I heard about this Ricochet service that's supposed to be "broadband" I think 128Kbs... That would be great if we had a springboard modem for THAT AND keep the $39.99/mo rate!

Mike

Registered: Oct 2000
Location:
Posts: 7

As I told you guys in the first posting, I used a friend's Palm V with the Omnisky Modem/Service and I even questioned him a minute a go about his opinion. Bottom line is that the speed is enough for what you need to do and that's email, browsing, yahoo messanger, etc. I used it and I can tell you that the response time for the Google Search was good enough for me (around 3-4 seconds)and it was very similar to the response of the Yahoo Messanger and for me this is good.

Just my opinion.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Modesto, CA USA
Posts: 599

Full time Omnisky User's Speed Opinion

OK I was a beta tester and user and will continue to be with my Prism once they have a springboard modem for Omnisky. Novatel just released their Springboard but Omnisky hasn't yet annoucned theirs.

Regarding speed:

It's not going to run like a 56K but it will operate plenty fast enough for you to do most basic tasks such as check email and surf the web. The PQA files or web clipping applications are actually quite fast. These are usually applications that have web sites that are strictly for mobile/wireless users and will contain most of the same information as the normal web pages but strictly in a text format.

You can open just about any web page using either AvantGo or Omnisky's scout sync (similar proprietarty application to Omnisky). If you preload the page it loads relatively quickly. Example: PalmGear will load in under 15 seconds if preloaded using AvantGo or ScoutSync but if you open it "raw" it'll take about 2 minutes to load all of the graphics etc.

If it's strictly a web clipping application it usually take less than 5 or 10 seconds to load depending upon the content. The web clipping applications are all free and available from Palm on their software site. Not all Palm web clipping apps will work with the Omnisky system - they will install and function and not cause any "fatal errors" but some only work with Palm.net because of differences in cellular network.

Regarding the email checking speed: you can choose the file size to download, preview or just to check headers. All email remains on your client/server until you tell it to either delete from the palm, delete from the Palm and/or server. So most email, unless there are large file attachments and you have it set to receive large file sizes will only take a couple of seconds to receive and likewise transmit. Also, it will tell you when you have new mail so you don't have to keep checking constantly. The L.E.D.'s (one of the 3) will burn red if you have mail waiting.

Version 2.0 of Omnisky, just released about 2 weeks ago, is much quicker than version 1, which was faster than the beta.

One other speed point: MapBlast will take about 20 seconds max to provide you with detailed driving instructions. It will take longer if you want it to show a map. MapQuest will take longer than MapBlast for both map and driving directions. Both will hold history so you don't have to leave the item loaded or stay connected to re-get the information.

If you want to surf graphic oreinted sites from your Visor/Prism/Palm wireless is not the way to go. You can do it but you'll be frustrated. If you want to search text only sites and send and receive email. It's pretty cool and it's plenty quick enough.

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Moose Man
I may be from the LEFT coast but that's not the correct political view in my mind!

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Texan in Calgary for a while
Posts: 1361

Does Omnisky work with AIM for the Palm?

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James Hromadka
Old Friend

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Modesto, CA USA
Posts: 599

AIM?

Not familiar with AIM. What is it?

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Moose Man
I may be from the LEFT coast but that's not the correct political view in my mind!

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 431

Moose,

AOL Instant Messenger http://www.aol.com/aim/home.html