Data Cables for Axim Available 3/17

[Thulium]

When I first began shopping for the "ultimate toy" (aka PDA) a few years ago, I knew I wanted internet connectivity, so I did some research to find what options were available. I found a website (www.thesupplynet.com) that makes cables that connect directly from your cell phone to your PDA (like the Audiovox Maestro includes). So I made sure to shop for a phone PDA combo that would work, I ended up purchasing the Handspring Prism (color is good!) and the Samsung Uproar! phone from Sprint (has a built 64mb MP3 player). Well, before I could scrape the dough to get the cable, I managed to drop my Prism <sob>, and have been without a PDA since.

I dreamt of owning a pocket PC like the iPAQ, but realistically couldn't afford one... Until Dell did the world a favor and created the Axim for only a little more than it would cost to get my Prism fixed. I've ordered the X5 Advanced and I am very anxiously awaiting it's arrival. I went back to thesupplynet.com and was initially disappointed to find they didn't have any cables for the Axim. With the availability of WiFi and Bluetooth, that wasn't going to stop me from getting the Axim so I simply requested that thesupplynet create a cable...

Which brings me to now... Last night, while feverishly checking for any sign of my Axim to get to my grubby hands I checked again at thesupplynet....and what did I find??? They are now in production of cell cables for the Axim!!!!

You can see their selection at the following link: (P.S. They also have GPS cables for Axim's as well!)

B) Axim Data Cables B)

These cables cost about $50, but if they do what they purport, it's the best deal going! They have cables for almost any wireless phone that's web-enabled. I already have a plan with Sprint to use Mobile Web and I have unlimited Night & Weekend minutes so I'll be wired silly very soon! :D

The one downside I can see is that using this sort of setup wouldn't be nearly as fast as the broadband speeds you can get with WiFi, but with unlimited minutes for no extra charge--who's complaining?! You also have a cable running between your "PPC" and "PCS" but it's short and if anyone asks...I think they'll shut up when they realize you're downloading movies, music, and email while on the go!

The upside, of course, is that you need NO ADDITIONAL HARDWARE: Most web-enabled phones will function as a modem and many wireless carriers include internet access.

<img src='http://www.thesupplynet.com/images/products/ACF3B.jpg[/img]

Here is Supply Net's FAQ on Pocket PC cables

[ac3]

I e-mailed thesupplynet last week regarding a cable for the Axim to a Samsung N-370, this one is in production as well, according to them.

I am curious, though - I am on a 1x network, and my Samsung is 1x enabled. To get 1x throughput to the Axim, would this cable work, or would I require a cf data card? I know Socketcom has a cell to pda DPC (cf digital phone card), but haven't introduced one yet for my model phone. So, which is better, if any?

Very anxious to leave the laptop behind, and have some on-the road connectivity with my Axim....that will be so sweet!

[Fritz]

Excellent post! Let us know how your setup goes!

The cable is definately a good price. I remember when I had a Xircom Realport 10/100/56K/Cell-ready for my notebook and wanted to connect it with my StarTac, I had to shell out $100 just for the stupid Xircom proprietary cable. The connection was crappy cuz it uses the analogue band @ 9600. I have since sold the realport, and now I'm stuck with a stupid cable that's not even long enough to hang myself with ;)

Cheers.

[Thulium]

Supply Net doesn't give data rates for the cables, but they do point out that a &quot;modem&quot; is not required because the data remains digital throughout. So unless there is a bottleneck at the Axim's jack (which I would presume is at least 1.5mb for USB), or at your phones' connector, I can't see any reason why it wouldn't take advantage of the 1X features of your phone. I'm thinking that if the browser on your phone works at 1X, so will the Axim.

In a nutshell, these cables are the modern equivalent of Null Modem Cables. Obviously, not Firewire but I suspect it will work nicely.

If you order one, let us know what kind of real-world bandwidth you get! I've put my order in, but my phone was actually discontinued before 1X was launched. ...Not that I minded, I knew what I was getting, and I got a phone with an MP3 player to compensate for the lack of such on the Handspring Prism. Now I'll have 2 playaz. ;)

[diesel]

T,

Hmmmmm great piece of info. I checked their site but they don't have any cables for Nokia phones :(

[ac3]

Thanks for the info, Thulium. Shall let you know once I get to try the cable. My provider, in their efforts to turn a profit, have devised a clever plan for their 1x service: for occasional users, not subscribed to a formal data plan, they have capped 1x speeds to 28.8kbs. Only when I sign up for a true data plan will they uncap it.

Nice, huh? Currently I am an occasional user...so have not seen the full capability of 1x, and 28.8 has been ok for the occasional browsing via the phone. But when this cable ships, and in together with my Ax, this is where I'd really be inclined to see 1x at work. Shall keep you posted....

For those that may have the Sanyo 4900 phones, I got an email confirmation back from supplynet that they are also working on a cable for that model phone. Can't wait to see if it works.

Gomadic's ComCube seems to offer the same--at $40. Unfortunately, there isn't yet one for the Axim, but there may be one soon . . .

ComCube Site

It appears thesupplynet.com has delayed their estimates for the Axim to Cell Phone data cables. The new dates are April 28th. Don't kill the messenger, I'm waiting just like everybody else

[Swordsman74]

An alternative to buying an additional (and expensive) cable...

Good ol' IRDA (infared)!

I use AT&T Wireless and last summer I purchased the Nokia 6360, which has an infared port. I have been able to sync the Nokia phonebook with my Axim Contacts (using 3rd party software), as well as edit/upload ringtones and images. The 6360 has an integrated modem to go wtih the infared, but I have not tried to connect using this method as I don't have a dial-up ISP....

I'm not sure which newer phones have infared, but if you're in the market for a new phone, it might be worth looking for this feature...

[chucka]

Originally posted by gsfisher13
For those that may have the Sanyo 4900 phones, I got an email confirmation back from supplynet that they are also working on a cable for that model phone. Can't wait to see if it works.

sweet, if it works for the 4900 it should work for my 5300. hopefully with having sprint vision i can hook up to the internet with no charges. i'll pray tonight for it. :D

[Nomad]

What 3rd party software? does anyone have a nokia 6190E?

[Swordsman74]

The software is called mPhone Professional from Mobem Technologies. Here's a link to it at Handango/Tucows. It's $25 - I personally think it should be cheaper, but it's half the price of a cable so I guess it's not a bad deal...