I always used to think if there could be some mechanism that would enable direct scanning of bar codes into the PDA or Smartphone. This would definitely save a lot of time and effort of mobile professionals.

I was enthralled to know that Socket Communications offers Secure Digital Input and Output (SDIO) scan cards that be plugged into the SDIO slot of any mobile computer and used for bar code scanning.

The Socket SDIO scan card is not only an efficient means for bar code data collection but is also quite easy to set up. You need to just plug in the card and launch the software…and here you go with scanning bar codes directly into your PDA or Smartphone. Isn’t it easy?

One thing that caught my attention is that there is no need of extra batteries or special power adapter to supply power to the scanner. This scanner from Socket draws power from the host mobile computer. No, no…do not worry about the card draining away power from your PDA’s battery. The Socket SDIO scan card uses a very little power for reading bar codes.

Hey guys! I really feel relieved and relaxed that there is a way to get respite from the tiring and mundane manual entry of bar code information into my PDA. This scan card from Socket has brought a breath of fresh air for me!!

However, every technology has some hitch associated with it. Being a mobile professional myself, I know it very well that transferring bar code information into a PDA or a Smartphone require a lot of time and effort.

Can’t we have something that can make life easy for those who handle data collection applications?

I was really delighted to know about the SDIO scan cards increasingly being used to scan bar codes. The main advantage of these scan cards is that one can transfer the scanned bar code information directly into a Smartphone or a PDA having an SDIO slot. This speeds up the data collection process.

Socket SDIO scan cards fit into the SDIO slot of any mobile computer.

Hey, another great thing about these SDIO scan cards is that you need not spend for buying extra batteries to supply power to them. An SDIO scan card draws power from the host mobile computer.

Availability of scan cards is indeed a big relief to mobile professionals who actually ‘sweat out’ while processing the bar code data for sales analysis…isn’t it?

Well, I have a fascination for reputed brands. So, as soon as I heard about HP iPAQ 6815, a Smartphone under the brand name of HP, I could not resist myself from getting a feel of this ‘smart’ phone.

I was quite enchanted by the sleek design, the silver finish and the transparent flap that gave HP iPAQ 6815 an elegant and stylish look.

Most of us appreciate beauty with brains, isn’t it?

Well, regarding the ‘smart’ aspect of iPAQ 6815, it supports GSM technology that enables you to talk across the world with your near and dear ones. The GPRS/EDGE technology provides high-speed connectivity for fast Internet access. The Bluetooth capabilities allow you to communicate wirelessly with other Bluetooth-compatible PCs, GPS systems, mobile phones, etc.

Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system enables viewing of Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents as well as PDF files on your mobile, wherever you are.

So, if you are a tech-savvy person looking for a gadget that is more than a mere ‘chatting’ device, the HP iPAQ 6815 Smartphone will definitely bring a smile on your face.

Being a marketing guy, most of the time I am on move. Carrying a laptop or a notebook was burdensome for me. So, for a couple of months I was contemplating to buy a smartphone…a phone that will be ‘smart’ in real sense. I have a fetish for technology and if it is a choice for a mobile, the fetish may well cross over to craziness.

I came across an advertisement of HTC S620 (Excalibur). I went to the nearest dealer to get a feel of the smartphone in reality.

HTC S620 is quite a slim and compact handset having a crisp and bright QVGA screen. It has a standard PC QWERTY keyboard. HTC S620 (Excalibur) supports the main messaging formats, such as e-mail, SMS and MMS that help to send and receive sizeable files.

HTC S620 offers enhanced connectivity options, such as GPRS/ EDGE, WAP, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and PC synchronisation. Hey! That means I can get fast access to the Internet and get myself updated with latest business and marketing news and events. In addition, people can contact me all day and everyday. And this is really crucial in my profession.

HTC S620 (Excalibur) is indeed a mini office in the mobile. Now, I am a proud owner of this smartphone and can say with conviction…I have the world in my pocket!!

Features of a gizmo are important but looks do matter. The silver finish of the phone body gives it a touch of elegance. I found the angular case design novel giving HTC TyTN a sleek look.

I faced the problem of getting finger marks on the phone body in case of my previous mobile which was not so with HTC TyTN. That is indeed great for a person like me who keeps on moving her fingers on the mobile for most part of the day!

The square well-spaced-out buttons on HTC TyTN are quite user friendly. It is easy to move the fingers on the keyboard that makes typing text a pleasurable experience.

Another feature of HTC TyTN that caught my attention was the positioning of the e-mail and Internet Explorer buttons. These buttons are placed above the screen, totally separate from the other keys. This makes accessing e-mails and Internet not only fast but also easy.

The HTC TyTN smartphone is quite stable, i.e less prone to crashing. Stability was an important consideration for me as I need to deal with crucial data in my profession.

So, if I need to sum up in a nutshell, HTC TyTN or HTC Hermes is indeed a perfect combination of ‘beauty’ and ‘brains’…full value for my money, isn’t it?