How does it look?
Here's an example to give you an idea of how an attachment might look once it's been converted to fit on your Palm device. First, Figure A shows what a sample document might look like in its original Word format.

FIGURE A

Here's a document in its original Word format. Click picture for a larger image.

After you convert the file, you'll find its formatting has been preserved, for the most part, as shown in Figure B.

FIGURE B

The same document has been converted to be read on a Palm device.

Limitations
With all the benefits of SkipStream Services, there are a few limitations. The service currently requires Clipper or Browse-It and INetLib. Clipper comes with the Palm Mobile Internet Kit. Browse-It comes with wireless service from YadaYada. Clipper also comes with Palm VII and OmniSky wireless service, as well as the newer Palm m100 and Palm m500 series devices. Not all Palm OS viewers are supported, but more are coming. Not all PC files are supported, though currently most word processor formats are being supported. New formats are being added weekly. The service is also limited by the speed of the wireless service provider. In the US, that's currently 9.6K or 19.2K depending on the provider and plan.

Tips for getting the most out of SkipStream
Before I wrap up this brief introduction to SkipStream, I thought it might be valuable to share a few tips we've discovered that might help you get more out of the service.

An easy way to get PC-based information to a wireless Palm device
The easiest way to direct PC-based information to a wireless subscriber using a Palm OS device is by way of a simple email attachment. When an email message with an attachment is forwarded through your SkipWire address, the attachment is removed. You're notified in the forwarded email text that a file has been removed and placed in your online account. You're then free to wirelessly access your account, convert the attachment file on the fly to a Palm OS friendly format, and wirelessly download it to your identified Palm OS device.

Creating and sending attachments from a Palm device
Using a program like WordSmith (at http://www.bluenomad.com/ws/prod_wordsmith_details.html) along with SkipStream Services, you can create a document on your Palm device, upload it, and email the document as a Microsoft Word document to anyone with an email address.

Reduce wallet clutter
Don't clutter your wallet with photographs. Instead, you can email your favorite pictures to your MySkipWire account. Then you can convert and download them to an application like PocketPhoto (at http://www.dreamhs.com/PocketPhoto.htm) for viewing on your Palm device. This will also save memory space on your Palm computer, as you can pull down the images only when you need them.

Deen Ferrell is Vice President of Business Development at SkipWire. Over the past year, he has been responsible for developing strong industry partnerships with corporations like Franklin Covey, Eastman Kodak, OhFish Communications, McGraw Publishing, and AI Soft Inc. (Seiko/Epson's Japan subsidiary). He is a Brigham Young University graduate and completed additional studies at USC's prestigious Annenberg School for Communications. He currently resides in Tooele, Utah with his wife and three children. He can be reached via email at deen.ferrell@skipwire.com.