myDigitechnician: Telephone Options / NNi

Yahoo and Linksys' announcement of a dual landline/VoIP phone they're releasing, along with numerous phone discussions at NEW NET, may be the impetus needed to move me into internet-enabled telephone calling.

Because of limited phone usage and a strong dislike for the low quality of cell phones conversations compared to land line calls, my usage of internet phone calls has thus far been negligible. But technology is approaching the point where the benefits may be worth the lower quality and slight hassle. A concerted effort will be made over the next two weeks to understand all the options to land lines and traditional cell phones which are relevant to my situation. A combination of web research, talking to Andy M and others at NEW NET, and discussions with people who extensively use something other than land lines and traditional cell phones should give a good overview.

What would really be nice is a phone/pda, 3.5" screen, with GPS and wifi, a switch to change phone mode from cell to wifi, and a selection of pre-loaded VoIP packages that work transparently with the phone and can be easily switched from Yahoo to Skype to Google to Jajah to xxx. That would allow using the normal cell phone service to make calls when not at a wifi hotspot, with easy switch over to free or very-low cost VoIP when around free wifi. No mp3 player is needed, because that will only drain the battery faster than the wifi alone will. No camera needed, either -- just raises the phone cost. Not sure if a slide-out keyboard is worthwhile -- could go either way with that one. The GPS will be designed to work seamlessly with any of the major mapping programs whilst online via wifi, and will have a good map program (MS Streets and Trips?) in memory for times when there is no wifi available. Oh yeah, the phone should be available for $99 or less from the cell service provider.

Somebody call me when my phone is ready to be picked up.

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Below is the initial list of issues for the TUESDAY, 14 November 2006, NEW NET (Northeast Wisconsin Network for Economy and Technology) 6:50 pm weekly gathering upstairs at Tom's Drive In, 501 N Westhill Blvd, Appleton, Wisconsin, USA. We're meeting at Tom's because people have expressed a desire to periodically meet at places other than Mister Churro. Tom's has free wireless, good food and a nice upstairs area where the manager said NEW NET can meet. The final list will be posted on this blog by 1500 hours (3 pm) Central U.S.A. time on 14 November 2006. See you at Tom's!

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