But the trade-offs are cost, complexity and finding the appropriate wireless coverage area. Of the three trade-offs, understanding the radio coverage areas and networks in place around the country is the most vexing. Others don't cover the far-flung suburbs yet. Most of the major service providers have maps describing coverage on their Web sites, but actual performance can vary tremendously depending on geography, obstacles such as concrete walls and metal floors, and your own particular elevation at the time of use. Wireless E-mail can cost at least double that of the wired version, to be sure.
Some plans charge by the minute, others by the number of characters transmitted.
Still others offer unlimited pricing plans. Because of its complexity, you should test it in your office carefully before hitting the road. If you currently get your corporate E-mail through Lotus Development Corp. Notes or Microsoft Corp. Exchange servers, they won't work. Palm VII from 3Com Corp., but the ones I reviewed are the only three available for a wide variety of computers, personal digital assistants and laptops that work across most of the country. I have tried both the Samsung Duette and Mitsubishi Mobile Access phones, and prefer the former for its ease of use and four-line screen readability.