[pct-l] Sidekick vs Pocket Mail

[jeffmoorehead1 at cox.net (Jeff Moorehead)]

Just a curious note-- T-Mobile has something called the Sidekick-- which is 
basically a smart phone with a little keyoard and it has major email 
capability with either a cell phone signal or a wireless hookup to the net. 
I know people have been using these pocket mail devices that they can then 
acoustically transmit written compositions through phone lines. Is the 
situation on the trail such that the Sidekick (or similar devices) may be 
able to replace the pocket mail device. The issue is cellphone signals and 
Wi-Fi in trail towns. In San Diego, they have Wi-Fi in restaurants, coffee 
houses, libraries, even bars. How about further up the road?
I'm pretty sure this would be a much more expensive alternative, but how 
much more is the question. Anybody have any thoughts about this?




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Michael Lissner" <mlissner@aidshike.org>
To: "PCT List" <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 12:14 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Keeping your Cell Phone Number Without Paying for 
It(Cingular/ATT)


>I just got off the phone with Cingular/ATT Wireless. I've been thinking 
>about a way to keep my cell phone number for after I get back from the trip 
>without paying a bucketload of cash to keep the phone active during the 
>trip, and I've figured it out. This only works if you are no longer on 
>contract, but I have a manager's word that it will work:
> When you get your last bill before the trip, pay it, but cancel your 
> service, being sure to put your number on hold. They will hold it for 59 
> days after the end of that payment. No more, no less. At the end of the 
> 58th day, call them, and tell them you want to start the service again. 
> Start it, and then cancel it again. This will put your number on hold for 
> another 59 days. Do this one more time in another couple of months, and 
> bingo, you've kept your number without paying for it.
>
> The alternative is to send them a check for $200 before the trip, and let 
> that pay for five months of the cheapest plan (the $29.99 plan that 
> actually costs $40). These are the musings. The question is, how much 
> effort will you go through to keep that number. Is it worth $200? Is it 
> worth making phone calls two times during the trip? These are the 
> questions I don't know the answer to.
>
> -mike
>
> -- 
>
> www.aidshike.org
> -510.547.4299-
>
>
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