Users remove temptation to use cellular when unnecessary
Telecom managers, small business owners and parents fretting over unpredictable cellular data usage costs are discovering a way to stay connected to the Internet while avoiding or at least decreasing cellular charges. Several are using the Apple iPod Touch — more or less an iPhone minus the cellular connection.
There are three scenarios I’ve run into recently:
1) A telecom manager I know at a global company has deployed the iPod Touch for users who generally remain indoors but move around the building quite a bit. The Wi-Fi connection on the device keeps locally mobile users connected to corporate data resources. Users are encouraged to pick up wired IP phones in conference rooms and common areas for voice calls when mobile so that usage remains on the corporate dial plan. The telecom manager figures that users “get a really cool device” in return for not being tempted to ring up unnecessary cell charges, particularly when calling internationally.
2) A small-business owner and colleague of mine, Steve Taylor at Webtorials, is using his iPod Touch with MiFi from Sprint. The service consists of a credit card-sized cellular/Wi-Fi router that you carry around with you. In places where there is no direct Wi-Fi-to-Internet connection, the owner can create a small, impromptu Wi-Fi network of his own with his router, which will aggregate connections from up to five WLAN devices across a single cellular connection. This allows Wi-Fi connectivity where it is available and, when it’s necessary to traverse the cellular network, precludes Steve from having to buy cellular data plans for multiple devices.
3) A family of gamers I know has bought its teenage boys iPod Touches that connect to the Internet from home and in public places such as restaurants using Wi-Fi. “This way, we don’t pay for cellular,” Mom told me, shuddering as if cellular charges were the plague.
Note that if the boys or others need voice calling for emergencies, there are several VoIP clients you could download to use over Wi-Fi, such as Skype and TruPhone, provided the model that you purchase supports microphone input. Mikes are available at sites such as www.touchmic.com.
In fact, I see that wireless guru and Core Competence Vice President Lisa Pfifer has penned an article all about how to use an iPod Touch for voice calls. She points out that the VoIP client software for the iPod Touch is quite a drain to the battery and, as such, it’s not a replacement for a frequently used voice device.
