Registered: May 2000
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1429

Finally Xircom has done it! They've released the first of their Sprinport modules. Oooo I can't wait to get my hands on the 56k one. I wonder how big it is. And if they will have the shipping problems that has plaughed every company sence. Also I can't wait until the ethernet ones come out.. I would love 802.11b. Has anyone odered it yet?

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-miradu

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

Check out the page below for our impressions:

http://www.visorcentral.com/article.php3?id=46&pv=1

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<B>Marcus Adolfsson</B>
Editor

Registered: May 2000
Location: St. Paul, MN
Posts: 1429

Intresting

It's cool to see it. The battery pack seems to be the thing that makes it stick out, otherwise it's cool. I like how it includes another batterypack, so that you can be in an airport and use it. but that brings up the Question, How much juice does 56k modem need!? I also like the cellphone connector, what cell phones doe sthat work on? Thanks Marcus!

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Linux + Visor = perfection

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: SoCal
Posts: 115

VisorCentral is Great - So glad I signed on this AM and found out that Xircom's springport is now shipping. I'd been debating the pros/cons of HS Modem and Thincom had settled on Thincom and planned to order it online this morning - No More.

Decided to go with Xircom's Springport 56 - seems to have everything I will need for now - MultiMail, Avantgo and it's own battery pack. I'll let you know how it goes once I test it out for a couple of days.

Registered: Mar 2000
Location:
Posts: 49

Does anyone know where I could find some detailed information on this SpringPort 56? (Eq. What Cellular phones are supported? Also has anyone tried to order this module?

Thanks.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: USA
Posts: 9

I ordered a SpringPort 56 from Xircom.com today.

I suspect that the product shipping announcement beat the changes to the Xircom SpringPort page because there seems to be so little information about the module on the site. It was, however, the only SpringPort available for order from their site.

The page provided this summary:

High-speed 56K modem access--browse the Internet, send E-mail, and exchange information worldwide. Support for GSM 900, 1800 and 1900 connectivity via a variety of mobile phones, including Ericsson, Siemens and Nokia, with optional GSM connection kit.

There is also a FAQs, but it too is minimal.

Don't forget to check out the link that Marcus provided above.

[Edited by Thomas Kjolsing on 08-22-2000 at 09:14 AM]

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: SoCal
Posts: 115

Boo Hiss on Xircom

Just received email from xircom saying modem is out of stock and on back order. GRr-r-r-r-r-r. Seems they could have at least been honest on the website and said pre-order rather than buy now.

So much for integrity in business!

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
Posts: 790

Dumb Question

From the link Marcus provided:

quote:

---

Xircom has four Springboard modules that are currently under development. The SpringPort Modem 56 GlobalACCESS will be the first one to be released. This 56k modem has a cellular phone connector and comes with AvantGo and MultiMail. No dongles here - instead there is a recessed jack for your RJ-11 cable. The SpringPort Modem comes with a 3AAA battery pack that can be replaced with an optional lithium-ion battery pack that can be used with any of Xircom's modules at a cost of $50-$60. The SpringPort Modem is due in August for $149, while the other Xircom modules (Ethernet, Bluetooth, 802.11) are due this fall.

---

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Jeff

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 604

Modem Comparison

Marcus or James:

Have either of you considered doing a side-by-side comparison of the different modems currently available? I've been waiting for the Six-Pak, but I'm starting to consider buying something else (and will definitely do so if their ship date slips again). If so, it would be nice to read something that compares the Xircom, Handspring and Thincom modems.

Just a suggestion.

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

Sure

If I can get my hands on a SpringPort, I'll do a comparison article after its review.

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James Hromadka
Old Friend

Registered: Jan 2000
Location: SoCal
Posts: 115

Latest email from CS at Xircom now says they hope to have the modems to ship in 2 - 3 weeks.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 391

Xircom 56K does do cellular...

The Xircom 56K modem *does* do cellular, but it doesn't support dual-mode phones like my Nokia 6160. I called and asked, and they gave me some rigamarole about analog calls not being secure (what, digitizing is now crypto?) and digital being superior to analog (last I checked 56K was an analog modem standard). Oh well.

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Rev. Peter da Silva, ULC<br>
<a href=http://www.taronga.com/~peter/>Ar rug t� barr�g ar do mhact�re inniu?</a>

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 604

How did you reach them? I've got a Motorola Startac, which I think is a dual mode phone, and I'd like to ask them if it would work with mine.

I agree, sounds like a dumb excuse by the way.

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 391

How did I reach Xircom?

I called their main number from their Contact page:

http://www.xircom.com/cda/page/1,12..._13-584,00.html

By the way, further digging indicates that it's possibly a CDMA versus GSM issue, because most US phones seem to be multimode and there's no way they'd cut off their main market.

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Rev. Peter da Silva, ULC<br>
<a href=http://www.taronga.com/~peter/>Ar rug t� barr�g ar do mhact�re inniu?</a>

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 28

I just got off the phone with their Customer Support 1(800)438-4526. They do not yet have a time frame for supporting CDMA. Bummer.

Here's the list of compatible phones the support guy rattled off to me:

(Please keep in mind they are probably continuing to test phones and update this list daily.)


_Motorola_

Timeport L890 (triband)
Startac 6000 series
6500
8500
8600

Connectivity Kit for these Motorola analog phones is $49


_Nokia_

5190
6190

Connectivity Kit for the Nokia is $129


_Erickson_

ER207
R250S Pro
T28SC
T28S
T18Z ??? (or was that C)
T18SC
T18S

Sorry, didn�t ask the price for the connectivity kit.

Hope this helps!



[Edited by OvaGirl on 08-24-2000 at 07:09 PM]

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(OvaGirl's home away from home)

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 391

Connectivity kit for the Nokia is $129???

That pushes the price up into SixPak territory. Unless their cable is similarly priced, but damn, that's a lot of moolah for two connectors and at most an 8 conductor cable.

quote:

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Connectivity Kit for these Motorola analog phones is $49

---

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Rev. Peter da Silva, ULC<br>
<a href=http://www.taronga.com/~peter/>Ar rug t� barr�g ar do mhact�re inniu?</a>

Registered: Apr 2000
Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 604

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately, I've got a Startac 7868, so it sounds like I'm out of luck, at least for now.

Registered: Nov 1999
Location: California
Posts: 108

It says it would work with a Nokia 5190, do you think the same connector would work on a TDMA Nokia 5160 phone?

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No handheld computers were harmed in the creation of this message.

Registered: Sep 1999
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Posts: 406

Hello? The Thincom is $30 cheaper. Why bother?
Oh, 56k Hype and ridiculously overpriced cell hookups! My bad. :P

Registered: Jan 2000
Location:
Posts: 391

Well, that's exactly it.

quote:

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ridiculously overpriced cell hookups

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Rev. Peter da Silva, ULC<br>
<a href=http://www.taronga.com/~peter/>Ar rug t� barr�g ar do mhact�re inniu?</a>