The Benefits of Portable Wireless Internet Access

Forget your PC; you don't always need a computer to go online.

Handheld devices with wireless Internet access have become popular for ordinary business travelers and tech-savvy entrepreneurs alike. Cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), smartphones, and other compact gadgets make it easy to surf the Web and check e-mail while you're away from your office.

Internet-ready handheld devices have many advantages over standard PCs.

Lighter Than a Laptop

Your laptop is portable, but it can't go everywhere with you. Even ultralight models, which now weigh less than two pounds, still won't fit in your pocket. Also, you can't discreetly boot up your laptop when you're in a conference session, at a business dinner, or in your car. Handheld devices are perfect for these situations because they can provide quick, convenient, discreet Internet access.

E-mail Everywhere

With wireless Web access you can stay connected to your office whether you're stuck on the bus or away on a weeklong business trip. Some portable devices even have always-on Internet access, which saves you the time and trouble of establishing a dialup connection. Being able to unobtrusively check your e-mail will also let you take urgent messages without disrupting meetings and other important events with phone calls.

Cords No More

A wireless Internet connection means no phone lines, extra cords, or external modems to lug around or to get tangled up in.The same can't be said for a laptop outside of a hotspot. And if you're tapping into wireless broadband through a cellular carrier, it still requires a PCMCIA card.

Better Battery Life

A typical laptop computer battery lasts only four to five hours, if you're lucky. Some PDAs can run for weeks on a single charge, which means you don't have to drag along a battery charger or extra batteries on your business trips. Even standard mobile phone batteries last longer than laptop computers, providing up to 150 hours of standby time or several hours of talk time.

An Up-to-Date Data

Wireless Web access lets you download timely information such as business news, stock prices, sports scores, and driving directions. Having immediate access to this sort of information can be advantageous, especially if you're monitoring sensitive financial or business data.

Less Is More

Why not consolidate all of your electronic devices so you don't have to carry around a gaggle of gadgets? Some handheld devices, such as smartphones, perform a variety of functions. One device that makes phone calls, keeps your appointments, lets you write documents, and even provides Internet access will save you money and baggage.

To learn more about the range of features on handheld devices, read Pros and Cons of Handheld Computing Devices. The truly mobile office may want to consider Integrating Wireless Laptops and Handheld Devices in Enterprise Applications.