Welcome to a new installment in the Mobile Freedom Project series. I just got the charger for my recently ebay-acquired LG VX 6100, a 6-year-old Verizon flip phone. Sure enough, the phone holds a charge, and I just switched over service from my Palm Pre and downgraded my service to $20/month. Just as a reminder, [...]
Entries Tagged as 'mobile'
Sent from my Verizon Flip Phone
August 31st, 2010 No Comments
Tags: mobile freedom project · mobile service
iPod Data Phone
July 25th, 2010 No Comments
If you want an iPhone without the procrustean contracts and pricey service plans, here’s a solution: an iPod with Skype and Google Voice SMS, running on EVDO wifi. The Mobile Freedom Project continues with this latest iteration. After hearing about Skype with multitasking, I purchased an 3rd Generation iPod Touch (the only iPod that currently [...]
Tags: mobile freedom project · mobile service
iPalm
July 20th, 2010 No Comments
Over the past several months, I’ve been exploring with different strategies to customize my mobile service plan, going a good 5 months without a major service provider or contract. In May I opted to get a Palm Pre Plus with a 2 year contract with Verizon. The service beats AT&T, and the mobile hotspot feature lets [...]
Tags: mobile freedom project
Impulsive and on-the-go
March 2nd, 2010 1 Comment
I had a meeting at BEAHIVE in Beacon, NY last week to present my ideas for a “digital bridge into Beacon” and got some great feedback. Based on the conversation and subsequent consideration, I’ve decided to focus most heavily on the mobile web component. BEAHIVE member Chris Joslyn highlighted the importance of knowing the user’s [...]
Tags: beacon
Mobile Freedom Project – iPhone returns!
March 1st, 2010 No Comments
Exploring a couple of new options for my carrierless life. Datajack + SIPDroid on the G1 is treating me well (minus a nagging echo for the other caller). I have been missing the iPhone some, so went scrounging and found acrobits softphone. I was excited to see that it allows calls over 3G (whereas Skype [...]
Tags: fu_att · iphone · mobile freedom project · mobile service · sip
Mobile Freedom Project – SUCCESS!
January 16th, 2010 4 Comments
In earlier posts (here and here) I’ve talked about my frustration with contracts and crummy service from AT&T, and my quest to find an alternative. Skype + Peek was fine as an interim solution, but being tied to hotspot access only for voice was a problem. Furthermore, the Skype App won’t ring the iPhone, so [...]
Tags: mobile freedom project · mobile service
Good Riddance, ATT
December 15th, 2009 2 Comments
I just made the move to drop ATT, after a ridiculous conversation with a support representative. The upshot was that they refused to cancel my data plan on the iPhone (told me that the hardware wouldn’t update without the data connection, which is utter nonsense). I ported my number to Number Garage, forwarded it to [...]
Tags: mobile freedom project · mobile service
AT&T meets its match
November 28th, 2009 2 Comments
Right now I’m feeling especially good about technology innovation. After experiencing the AT&T’s tyranny and crappy service, I’m ditching my contract and setting up an array of services and devices to do what I need, with no contracts and at half the price. I signed up for a Boingo wireless for my iPhone, getting lifetime [...]
Tags: mobile freedom project · mobile service
Native vs Web mobile apps
September 10th, 2009 No Comments
Lately I’ve been questioning the advantages of native mobile app development over web apps. I’m impressed with the possibilities for web apps, especially now that Javascript includes an API for geolocation (code sample). iPhone 3.0 supports the feature out of the box, and Android phones can access it via Google Gears. The major advantages I [...]
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BeeMe: “Best Product Concept” at Microsoft Design Expo ’09
July 16th, 2009 No Comments
BeeMe was awarded Best Product Concept at Microsoft Design Expo ’09, with excellent feedback and interest from the judges, participants, and audience. Thanks to everyone at Microsoft Research for making it happen, to Nancy Hechinger and the Design Expo class, an the other schools: Dundee IMD from Scotland, CMU, Art Center, CAFA from Beijing, UI [...]