I can envision a service technician using a device to try to troubleshoot. He's on-site, and he can't figure out how to make this stage of equipment work, so he pushes one button and creates a real-time video conference call with a technician who is back at corporate or in the technical center. He's got a camera on his device, so he turns his device or swivels the camera back towards the unit he's working on, and they talk through and solve problems together.

DG: Oh, now that's sexy.

JH: I don't think you have to go five years to start to see those types of applications become reality in the marketplace. Think about a realtor. He's driving down the street, and the customer says, "What about that house?" He could pull out his Palm OS device, access the Multiple Listing Service, and literally take a 360-degree visual tour of that home before they ever even set foot in it.

DG: Finally, this is an opportunity to talk to millions of Palm handheld users and decision-makers, plus hundreds of thousands of Sprint PCS users and decision-makers. Is there any special message you'd like to leave these folks as we end our interview?

JH: Yeah. I think the most important message from Sprint PCS is that we can bring a complete, end-to-end solution that we call the clear wireless workplace. This solution integrates the capabilities of applications, solution partners, leading edge, and world dominant handheld computing partners, like Palm, along with the expertise and the power of the Sprint PCS Nationwide Digital Network. And, I think those, lined up together, is what really can help make the deployment of wireless services a reality, today.

Christine Harland Williams is President of Harland Communications and tracks handheld solutions used in the enterprise. She can be reached at ppme@harlandwebs.com.