How do I start using AvantGo Wireless?
Once the new software is installed on your Palm handheld, you next need to enable wireless functionality for your AvantGo account. You can do this by logging onto the AvantGo Web site and going to your "My Account" page. There you'll find an "Go wireless with AvantGo" link. Clicking on this will take you to a page that will allow you to enable AvantGo Wireless service for your account.

The first time you synchronize with AvantGo after you've enabled AvantGo Wireless, you'll see a new My Wireless link at the bottom of the AvantGo home page on your Palmhandheld. If you click on that link, you'll be taken to an AvantGo Wireless home page. This page is your gateway to real-time access to any of the AvantGo channels.

How do I access wireless channels from my Palm handheld?
Before going any further in using AvantGo Wireless, you'll need to make sure that your Palm handheld has access to the Internet. This means that you'll need to have a PalmModem connected and attached to a phone line, have a cell phone connection hooked up to your handheld, or have a wireless modem connected and operational. If you click on any of the links on your new AvantGo Wireless home page, your Palm handheld will immediately try to establish an Internet connection to AvantGo. For example, if you're using a PalmModem, tapping on any of the AvantGo Wireless home page links will cause your PalmModem to dial out and connect to your ISP (Internet Service Provider) and then access the AvantGo channel server. It will then immediately retrieve pages for display on your Palm handheld.

Can I access one of my custom channels using AvantGo Wireless?
Unfortunately, you can't access custom channels using AvantGo Wireless. As I mentioned above, AvantGo Wireless only works with the standard AvantGo channels.

What information can I access using AvantGo Wireless?
There are over 1,000 AvantGo channels, so you'll have no shortage of valuable information. I find the Wireless functionality to be very valuable to me when I'm traveling on business. It's great to be able to hook my Palm IIIc up to a PalmModem or to my cell phone and get real-time news updates, stock market data, and up-to-the-minute weather reports for my current location. I also use it to get information on restaurants in the area. Finally, I even used it once to get driving directions from an airport to an office where I was to have a meeting.

Conclusion
AvantGo Wireless is a great addition to the AvantGo service. It allows you to immediately view the tremendous variety of information contained in AvantGo's channels. This functionality can provide a very rich source of information services for the business traveler or any busy enterprise user.

Product availability and resources For more information on AvantGo Wireless, visit http://www.avantgo.com. For the article, "Be enterprising, use AvantGo for offline browsing," by Michael Connick in the June 2001 issue of PalmPower's Enterprise Edition, visit http://www.palmpowerenterprise.com/issues/issue200106/internet0601001.html. For the article, " An unsung hero: using the PalmModem" by Michael Connick in the February 2001 issue of PalmPower's Enterprise Edition, visit http://www.palmpowerenterprise.com/issues/issue200102/modem001.html. For more information about Palm computers, visit http://www.palm.com. Bulk reprints Bulk reprints of this article (in quantities of 100 or more) are available for a fee from Reprint Services, a ZATZ business partner. Contact them at reprints@zatz.com or by calling 1-800-217-7874.

James Fisher is founder and CEO of Bluefish Wireless and has led the design, architecture and strategic positioning of the Bluefish concept since its inception. A skilled entrepreneur, James brings more than 15 years of experience in product design and development to the helm of Bluefish. Prior to his current position, he worked at Australia's largest electronics company, AWA Ltd., and founded and operated two successful companies.