The i705 has an aluminum case like some of the other Palm Pilot models but is larger than that of the Palm m500 and m505. It weighs a little less than 6 ounces and easily slips into a shirt pocket or purse. For those looking for a color wireless unit the wait will continue, the unit is monochrome. The i705 does have a SD (Secure Digital) card expansion slot for adding more memory like the other new units Palm released in the recent past. Though it is a newer model it still uses Palm's universal connector, allowing the use of the cradles, keyboards, and other accessories designed for other recent Palm devices. If Graffiti, the hand recognition system for the Palm OS, is a challenge then a new compatible thumb keyboard that attaches to the bottom of the unit will help get data into the Palm.

According to Palm, the i705's rechargeable lithium-polymer battery should power the device for a week between charges with the modem turned on. The company said it sold 13,000 of the i705 in its first week, exceeding expectations for its first week of introduction.

The i705 is not the only Palm unit with wireless connectivity built in. There is still the older Palm VII which is much less than the $449 retail price Palm wants for the i705. Although the older Palm does not have the always-on technology, these are the only two models with built in wireless technology.

The Palm Pilot units with built in wireless connectivity have to be activated. The i705 has a built-in wireless modem that works with the Cingular network. The service is $40 per month for unlimited use or $35 per month for a year's contract. Palm also offers 100K of data for $20 each month, but that's likely to be too little for almost all users. The advantage of the Cingular network is its wide coverage area in the United States, but data moves at only 9.6Kbps. If traveling outside the US there's no service in Europe or Asia, the i705 cannot be used as a cell phone, and this model cannot be upgraded to any of the next-generation wireless networks, which promise higher data speeds. To get more details about the service plans go to www.palm.net.

Once activated, a wireless Palm unit can then use the Palm.net service. The service is basically a clipping service so the Palm unit can get information from the Internet in small chunks of text that is easy for the palm pilot to handle. These wireless Palm’s do not have true Web browsers. 

The Palm Web site makes this statement 

Palm states on their Website that there are more than 500 wireless-ready Websites for their Palm.net service. Here are some examples:

• News and Sports: ABCNEWS.com / CNN.com / ESPN.com
• Travel: OAGFlights.com / Travelocity.com / MapQuest.com
• Financial: Fidelity.com / CBSMarketWatch.com
• Shopping: eBay.com / Amazon.com

Again the Palm.net service is not true Web browsing, at least not like traditional browsing that is done on a desktop. Palm does state that the wireless enabled units can browse any site but the text is clipped from the URL that’s requested and then the clipped text is pulled down to the unit to be read by the user.

To have true Web browsing or something closer to it, then the clipping service a Web browser written for the Palm Pilot is necessary. Palm does not make one. These can be found at most popular Palm software sites. A few examples are www.handandgo.com or Palm’s site .

What if you don’t have a Palm with built in wireless access?
Most Palm Pilots that do not have built in wireless capability have the ability to add this feature. There are a few options to consider, a wireless modem add-on product that connects to the Palm Pilot or the use of a cellular phone.

The Wireless modem
Wireless modems that clip onto many of the Palm Pilot units will enable the unit to connect wirelessly with the Internet. One example of this device is a product from Novatel wireless, the Minstrel line of wireless modems. Keep in mind this device adds size and weight to your device. These modems are available for most models of the Palm Pilot.

These modems must be activated and carry a monthly usage fee. Examples of rates from the Novatel Website on the ATT wireless network are as follows. 
 

Plan Name	Plan Information
	KB/Month Included	Activation Fee	KB Charge Home Area	KB Charge Roaming	Minimum Term	Termination Fee	Monthly Fee
	AT & T Wireless
Base Plan*	0	$45	6¢	6¢	None	$100	$8.00
Mobile Computing 1*	500	$45	5¢	5¢	12 mo	$100	$19.00
Local Unlimited*	unlimited	$45	N/C	5¢	12 mo	$100	$54.99
Handheld Local Unlimited*	unlimited	$45	N/C	5¢	12 mo	$100	$29.99
* Only Available in AT&T Markets

This chart is from Novatel’s Web site and only represents an example of rate plans. Please check with Novatel for the latest rates or the service provider of choice.

These wireless modem solutions are designed to do more than the Web clipping that Palm uses on its PALM.net service. The modems usually ship with an HTML browser to allow truer Web browsing than the Palm.net system. The modems also connect at a much higher speed than the i705 or Palm VII. The Palm.net service is also available with one of the wireless modem add-ons. 

Use your cell phone
Most of the new cell phones are Internet enable. The first thing to do is find out if the phone to be used is Internet enabled by calling the cell phone provider, check the Internet or cell phone manual. In most cases there is an added monthly charge, on top of the cell phone monthly rate, for the Web browsing option. To give an example with a Sprint PCS phone, the Web browsing service must be added to the phone before you can use it with a Palm. This service runs under $10 a month. Remember when accessing the Web using a cell phone, normally the minutes go toward the total available monthly minutes in the cell phone plan.

To use a cell phone a cable is needed, the exception is the cell phones that have infrared capability; the cables that connect from the palm to the cell phone are available from many different companies. One example of these companies is Supplynet, their prices range around $50.

The second part of the puzzle is the MIK (Mobile Internet Kit) that Palm sells or gives away with the newer models. Check the Palm unit that needs the wireless connection, the MIK may come free with the unit. The Kit cost about $20. The Palm 3.5 operating system is also needed to use the MIK, the 3.5 versions is included in the kit. With the cable and the MIK the Palm unit is ready to connect. An ISP is necessary to dial out to the Internet.

Conclusion
If you want to go wireless with your Palm there are many choices to evaluate. The Palm’s wireless capabilities have come a long way, but still will not replace a desktop and have many idiosyncrasies. There are many more details that could be covered, however due to limited space, they could not all be covered in this article. Research the services extensively to find the best for your needs.