Setting up GPS on Windows Mobile 5

Ever have trouble setting up a GPS device on Windows Mobile 5? Ever wonder what that GPS control panel really does? Well, wonder no more...

Windows Mobile 5 introduced a new feature called the GPS Intermediate Driver which allows multiple apps to share one GPS device. In the past, if one app had the GPS COM port open, no other app could use it. But the Intermediate Driver creates a virtual COM port that multiplexes the real GPS port, and can handle multiple client apps simultaneously.

Windows Mobile 5 also introduced a GPS control panel to allow you to configure the Intermediate Driver. The control panel lets you set the Hardware Port, which is the real port the GPS device is actually on, and the Program Port, which is the virtual COM port the Intermediate Driver exposes. It is called the Program Port because it is the COM port that GPS programs talk to. (They no longer talk directly to the Hardware Port, so it can be shared.)

Unfortunately, there are two complications. First, only Pocket PC has this control panel. Smartphone does not, which makes the GPS Intermediate Driver unusable on Smartphone. We hope to announce a solution to this very soon. Second, some Pocket PC OEMs hid the GPS control panel. However, it can be unhidden by going into the registry and deleting any "Redirect" or "Hide" keys under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ControlPanel\GPS Settings.

The Program Port can be any unused COM port. But you may be wondering how you know what the Hardware Port is. Well, if your device has a built-in GPS, then it is on a fixed port, and you need to figure out what that port number is. There are any number of ways to do this; I usually just do a web search on live.com for the model name, "port", and "GPS".

If you have a Bluetooth GPS, you need to set up the Hardware Port yourself (regardless of whether you are using the Intermediate Driver or not). Since this process can be a bit confusing, here are the step-by-step instructions:

For Smartphone:
Start/Settings/Connections/Bluetooth.Make sure Bluetooth is set to "On".Menu/DevicesMenu/NewSelect your GPS device from the list and press Next.Enter the passkey for the Bluetooth GPS. For example, 12345678.NextYou should get a message box saying "Your Smartphone has connected".OKNextCheck the "Serial port" checkbox.DoneDoneMenu/COM PortsSelect your GPS.Menu/New Outgoing Port.Select your device and press Select.You will see a COM port that has been chosen for your GPS. For example, COM6.DoneDoneDoneNow your GPS is set up on COM6. Start your GPS app and configure it to use COM6.

For Pocket PC:
Start/Settings/Connnections/BluetoothCheck the "Turn on Bluetooth" checkbox.Press the Device tab.Press "Add new device..."select your GPS device and press Next.Check the "Serial Port" checkbox and press Finish.Press the COM Ports tab.Press "New outgoing port..."Select your device and press Next.You will see a COM port that has been chosen for your GPS. For example, COM0.Press Finish.Now your GPS is set up on COM0. If you do not want to use the Intermediate Driver to share the GPS port, just start your GPS app and configure it to use COM0. If you do want to use the Intermediate Driver:
Start/Settings/System/GPS. (If you do not see GPS listed, see the registry hack above.)Set the "GPS Program Port" to any unused COM port, for example, COM9.Press the Hardware tab.Set the Hardware Port to COM0.Set the baud rate to the baud rate of your Bluetooth GPS (usually 4800, or 9600).Press OK.Start your GPS app and configure it to use COM9.

Location-Based Services

In this age of significant telecommunications competition, mobile network operators continuously seek new and innovative ways to create differentiation and increase profits. One of the best ways to do accomplish this is through the delivery of highly personalized services. One of the most powerful ways to personalize mobile services is based on location. We will discuss Location Based Services (LBS), but we will first discuss the basis of LBS - location technology.

One of the most obvious technologies behind LBS is positioning, with the most widely recognized system being the Global Positioning System (GPS). There are however, other means of positioning in addition to GPS. These other technologies are network based positioning and typically rely on various means of triangulation of the signal from cell sites serving a mobile phone. In addition, the serving cell site can be used as a fix for location of the user.

Geographic Information Systems
Geographic data is an important aspect of any location system. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provide the tools to provision and administer base map data such as man made structures (streets, buildings) and terrain (mountains, rivers). GIS is also used to manage point-of-interest data such as location of gas stations, restaurants, nightclubs, etc. Finally, GIS information also includes information about the radio frequency characteristics of the mobile network. This allows the system to determine the serving cell site of the user.

Location Management Function
It is not enough to be able to position the mobile user and know the map data around that position. There must be a location management function to process positioning and GIS data on behalf of LBS applications. The location management function acts as a gateway and mediator between positioning equipment and LBS infrastructure.

Services:
Location based information
Many people are familiar with wireless Internet, but many don't realize the value and potential to make information services highly personalized. One of the best ways to personalize information services is to enable them to be location based. An example would be someone using their Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) based phone to search for a restaurant. The LBS application would interact with other location technology components to determine the user's location and provide a list of restaurants within a certain proximity to the mobile user.
Location based billing
The ability to have preferential billing is provided by this type of application. Through location based billing, the user can establish personal zones such as a home zone or work zone. Through arrangements with the serving wireless carrier, the user could perhaps enjoy flat-rate calling while in the home area and special rates while in other defined zones. This type of application can be especially useful when use in conjunction with other mobile applications such as prepaid wireless.

Tracking
This is a rather large category that contains everything from the difficult fleet applications to enabling mobile commerce. Fleet applications typically entail tracking vehicles for purposes of the owning company knowing the whereabouts of the vehicle and/or operator. Tracking is also an enable of mobile commerce services. A mobile user could be tracking and provided information that he has predetermined he desires, such as notification of a sale on men's suits at a store close to the user's current proximity.

Location is a strategic asset of wireless carriers. Leveraging this information enables the user to experience value-added services and the mobile network operator to offer differentiation and incremental profitability. See the book Wireless Intelligent Networking for more information about the technology behind LBS and applications.

Cell Phone Care & Maintenance

How to get the most life from your phone :

- Keep it safe. Cell phones are delicate and need to be cared for like any other electronic. The best way to protect your phone is with a case.- Don't drop it. Take utmost care not to drop or slam down your phone.
- Extreme heat. Do not expose your phone to extreme temperature changes. That includes leaving it in your car in hot or cold weather.
- Avoid moisture. Keep your phone away from all water and liquids. Most phone manufacturers have a mark on the inside of the phone behind the battery that will change color if exposed even slightly to dampness. If this happens, your phone's warranty is essentially null and void.
- How to clean. Never use a spray bottle to clean your cell phone. Instead, dab a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and lightly go over the keypad. Do not use alcohol near the phone's charging port or its interior.
- Mouths off! Do not let your pets and kids (or self!) put your handset into their mouths. Saliva should be treated like any other liquid and kept away from your phone. That includes drooling, licking, and spitting.
- Exercise caution. Do not strap your cell phone against your skin while working out, if you sweat excessively. The perspiration could be enough to damage your phone.
- Steer clear of rain. Protect your phone in downpours. While you can't always help getting stuck in the rain, take precautions to cover your phone as best as you can.
- Don't bag it. Beware of tossing your phone into a bag or purse that contains cosmetics, perfume, lotions, or oils that can leak.
- If it does get wet. If your cell phone does get wet, try Heloise's tip that may salvage it: Handsets rescued from washing machines and toilet bowls can sometimes be saved, but you must act fast. Pull the battery out, then dry the inside of the phone with a hair dryer. You'll probably need to purchase a new battery, but put it back in to test the phone -- it just might work. If it doesn't, take the phone to a service center as soon as possible.
- Don't drain the battery. Do not leave your phone on its charger for more than 12 hours at home or one hour on a car charger. Also, plugging your phone into the car's charger while turning the ignition could short the battery.
- Protect from theft. Guard your wireless phone like any other valuable. Do not leave it in your car or unattended in a public place. Most wireless phones can be used for international calling, which makes them attractive to thieves.
- Security features. Many wireless phones have built-in security features, so review your owner's manual and user guide. Often you can password-protect private information, such as your phone's address book, and restrict outgoing calls.

How to Choose a Bluetooth Headset

The headset industry had to learn new techniques to design Bluetooth headsets. Some first generation headsets were disasters from both a design and functionality point of view. New headsets are generally much improved.

Bluetooth headsets vary enormously in price. Some can be found for $30 or less, while others cost $300 and more. Careful shopping, using the information in this article, can save you from an expensive mistake.

Common Problems with Bluetooth Headsets
Ideally, a Bluetooth headset should be something you could wear all the time while expecting to receive or make calls, or something you can quickly and conveniently affix on/around your ear when phone calls come in.
Due to being battery powered by their own separate battery (typically offering 2-10 hours talk time or 25-250 hours standby), ideally a Bluetooth headset would be something you'd only turn on when you need to use it. You wouldn't leave it on between calls. For this reason, the headset should be easy to turn on and off, and should power up and connect to the cell phone as quickly as possible.
Volume controls and other features and functions should be easy to use and understand.
Few Bluetooth headsets adequately meet these design criteria. Perhaps the biggest common problem is how to securely - but comfortably and conveniently - attach the headset to your ear.

Using Bluetooth headsets with non-Bluetooth phones
It is possible to get a Bluetooth adapter that plugs into your regular non-Bluetooth phone. The adapter links with your headset as if it were a Bluetooth phone, and then links with your phone as if it were a regular headset.
Some Bluetooth headsets include these adapters. A better and simpler choice, if at all possible, is to simply replace your present phone with a new Bluetooth equipped phone.

Factors to Consider in Comparing Headsets :
Cost
An obvious issue.
We've seen little to confirm that more expensive headsets are consistently better than cheaper ones!
Ergonomics
Is it easy to quickly and conveniently put the headset on your ear, and to take it off again
Is it easy to use the control buttons on the headset
Is it comfortable to wear for a long phone call
Can you use it with a pair of glasses
Can it be worn on either ear
How would you carry it when not wearing it
How heavy is it
Might it fall off

Ease of Use
Are commands/controls easy to remember (eg transferring calls between headset and phone, last number redial, voice tag dialing, etc)
Can you adjust the volume level
How quickly does the unit turn on
Does it have a well written easy to understand manual
Is there a support number you can call for extra help if needed
Does it have its pairing password printed on it, so if you have to re-pair the device, you don't have to hunt for its manual to find its password?

Features
What is the headset's claimed battery life for talk time and standby time
How do you know when the battery is nearly dead
Does it have a lithium type battery (best) or some other type
Is the battery replaceable
How is the battery charged and how long does it take to charge
How do you know when the battery is fully charged
Is the charging transformer multi-voltage for international travel and what is its weight/size
Can the headset also be charged via a USB cable or car adapter or some other way not requiring yet another transformer to add to your collection
How many devices can the unit be paired with
Does it have both headset and hands-free protocols
Is it compatible with Bluetooth 1.1 or later standards
What is its warranty period
Does it have a free return period as well
Does it have any noise cancelling or digital signal processing in its microphone and sound circuits
What is the sound quality it offers for sending and receiving audio
What range does it typically have

Capabilities - can it support these commands hands-free
Voice tags
Last number redial
Transfer call to phone or from phone
3 way calling
Link to how many phones
Call answer/end
Call reject
Mute

Other
Does it look attractive
Is it too big or too small

Summary
Bluetooth headsets can offer a great deal of convenience and flexibility, albeit with at a sometimes hefty cost.
A good Bluetooth headset is easy to understand, setup, and use. It makes your life simpler and easier. A bad Bluetooth headset is the opposite and is something to be avoided.
Use the information above, and that contained in our Bluetooth headset reviews, to better understand how to evaluate and choose a Bluetooth headset.

Ten Tips for Cell Phones and Limiting Radtiation Exposeure

There is a new warning about the health dangers of cell phone use. The director of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and UPMC Cancer Centers has issued the new advisory.

Practical Advice to Limit Exposure to Electromagnetic Radiation Emitted from Cell Phones:

1. Do not allow children to use a cell phone, except for emergencies. The developing organs of a fetus or child are the most likely to be sensitive to any possible effects of exposure to electromagnetic fields.

2. While communicating using your cell phone, try to keep the cell phone away from the body as much as possible. The amplitude of the electromagnetic field is one fourth the strength at a distance of two inches and fifty times lower at three feet. Whenever possible, use the speaker-phone mode or a wireless Bluetooth headset, which has less than 1/100th of the electromagnetic emission of a normal cell phone. Use of a hands-free ear piece attachment may also reduce exposures.

3. Avoid using your cell phone in places, like a bus, where you can passively expose others to your phone's electromagnetic fields.

4. Avoid carrying your cell phone on your body at all times. Do not keep it near your body at night such as under the pillow or on a bedside table, particularly if pregnant. You can also put it on "flight" or "off-line" mode, which stops electromagnetic emissions.

5. If you must carry your cell phone on you, make sure that the keypad is positioned toward your body and the back is positioned toward the outside so that the transmitted electromagnetic fields move away from your rather than through you.

6. Only use your cell phone to establish contact or for conversations lasting a few minutes, as the biological effects are directly related to the duration of exposure. For longer conversations, use a land line with a corded phone, not a cordless phone, which uses electromagnetic emitting technology similar to that of cell phones.

7. Switch sides regularly while communicating on your cell phone to spread out your exposure. Before putting your cell phone to the ear, wait until your correspondent has picked up. This limits the power of the electromagnetic field emitted near your ear and the duration of your exposure.

8. Avoid using your cell phone when the signal is weak or when moving at high speed, such as in a car or train, as this automatically increases power to a maximum as the phone repeatedly attempts to connect to a new relay antenna.

9. When possible, communicate via text messaging rather than making a call, limiting the duration of exposure and the proximity to the body.

10. Choose a device with the lowest SAR possible (SAR = Specific Absorption Rate, which is a measure of the strength of the magnetic field absorbed by the body). SAR ratings of contemporary phones by different manufacturers are available by searching for "SAR ratings cell phones" on the internet.

Facts and Tips for GPS Phone

Tips 1: Avoid signal blocking from your handGPS antenna is located under your phone’s keypad or bottom part of your device. To make sure it will work on properly, open the keypad and cover the area use your hand.

Tips 2: Outdoor OnlyThis GPS device works properly only at outdoor, under the bright blue sky. Satellite signal will be easily covered by roof or worst covered by buildings sourounding. So use GPS outside your house, office, or any buildings to get the best signal from satellite.

Tips 3: Climate condition reduce the signalSatellite signal affected by the air, rain, clouds or smoke. Avoid those cause to get clear signal, and use it only when you have good weather for best performance

Tips 4: Patient is the key.Connecting signal on to satellite might take a time, so please be patient. At least it will take 40 seconds to get your device connected. It happens also with external GPS device.

Tips 5: UV shields coverd signalStill a cell phone with GPS feature can be used inside a car. Please note the device signal will work properly connected to satellite only if the condition outside (weather .etc) is in good condition

Eight Tips to Keep Cell Phone in Good Condition

Couple years ago, cell phone only can be owned by high class people or someone with high mobility. However, in these years mobile phone has become a gadget where every one can easily have. Most of people on the world, Parents, teenagers, even children are able to get cell phones with various range of price.
But do you know how to maintenance your cell phone in order to keep it in good condition or last longer? Here are some tips for your reference:
1. Charging the mobile phone battery - Always charge the battery based on the proper instruction given on the manual book. Don’t charge it when the battery bar shows it’s still half of the bar or full . If you do that, it will make the battery empty earlier (need to charge again).Just charge it when the battery almost empty.
2. Lock the mobile phone - Always lock the phone when it’s not used. If the phone is unlocked,unknown calls can easily happen. for your suggestion, try to activate auto lock on the cell phone menu or set to ON.
3. Secure the cell phone - Always remember to secure the mobile phone using PIN on the SIM card. You need to secure your phone using a code lock and never inform someone else about the code.
4. Use the recommended battery - Always use the original battery or recommended battery from the dealer when you need replacement, it’s safer to use the original one. Don’t ever try to buy a new battery which is not recommended (not original) with the reason of the price is cheaper.
5. Clean the cell phone - Clean it regularly to keep it clean and shiny. You just need to wipe it every day or whenever it is dirty.
6. Cover the mobile phone - A good quality of cell phone case that fits properly or based on the type of the phone is the best way to protect it from dust. Always use cell phone case with air flow inside.
7. Screen protector phone - Use a screen protector to avoid scratch mark or line on your cell phone’s screen.
8. Placing the mobile phone - It is very important to place or keep the phone on a dry place. Don’t put it on wet surface or in humid place, avoiding from rain or any liquid. Place the phone in room temperature.