Wireless Devices - Interactive Wireless Pagers

This is a relatively new class of devices that was initiated by RIM (Research In Motion) Corporation, titled Blackberry™. These devices are really a convergence product that brings together the functionality of a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a small mobile data terminal. They typically have a small QWERTY keyboard that allows for reasonable efficient typing.

Until only very recently, these devices operated primarily on dedicated data networks such as Ardis (using Motorola’s DataTAC technology) in the US and Bell Ardis in Canada or Cingular’s Mobitex Network in the US or AT&T Rogers Mobitex Network in Canada. As these networks had data speeds limited to 9.6 Kbps, coverage only in core cities and did not support voice, their adoption was somewhat restricted to usage for remote email management. Nevertheless, there are thousands of such devices still in service today.

RIM recently released it's newest generation of its product, to operate on new 2.5G generation, high speed networks, such as GPRS, iDEN and 1XRTT. See the article on wireless networks for more information. These newer networks allow new models to include full duplex cellular telephone functionality via an ear bud (note: an ear bud is small headphone inserted in the ear that provide both speaker and microphone functionality).

Both the older and new network versions can utilize a browser to access an application with the same out-of-coverage issues that effect cell phones, or they can support a client application that may provide some level of continued functionality when the device is out of network coverage.

While the display on these devices is usually larger than a web- enabled cell phone, they are still of limited size and may not be appropriate in some situations. From a capital cost perspective these devices can be purchase from between $200 to $500 USD, depending on the model selected. As these devices were designed for portable use, they are quite rugged. However care must still be taken, as the display gets larger and is therefore more susceptible to damage.

The air time costs for these devices is usually higher than web-enabled cell phones due to the fact that DataTAC and Mobitex networks have a higher tariff structure in general. This however can be balanced out with the fact that a voice airtime package is not always necessary, as some wireless networks do not support voice. The fact that there is no voice can be viewed as a benefit or hindrance, depending on the situation.

Pagers for Wireless Networks - Pro's

	Medium capital cost
	Medium to low operating cost (data air time)
	Reasonably durable – some care is required when the displays get larger
	Small physical size
	Voice and data available in one device
	Can run client applications in the device or utilize a browser
	Full QWERTY keyboard

Pagers for Wireless Networks - Con's

	More costly than cellular handsets
	Small to medium size display
	Subject to physical loss and display breakage
	Keyboard is small
	Limited ability to run programs
	Devices with browsers do not operate when out of coverage