TSGL: Conversion of computer into cell phone

[Steve Locke]

INSIDE TECHNOLOGY BY JON VAN

Conversion of computer into cell phone advances

Chicago Tribune,  3-5-07

Although not always obvi­ous, converting your comput­er into a cell phone has its ad­vantages.

Think about composing and sending short messages, espe­cially messages that include photos or videos. You can do that on a cell phone, but the larger keyboard and a comput­er screen make it much easier.

Even a phone call might work better using the comput­er instead of a cell phone if you're in a room where cell phone reception isn't good.

Making cell phone networks compatible with other wired and wireless broadband net­works, and enabling custom­ers to use Internet telephone service as well as regular mo­bile voice, seems a logical step to the geeky types at Bridge­Port Networks, a Chicago­ based software operation that promotes such convergence.

Although software plat­forms to integrate different networks have been installed by several mobile carriers, ac­tual services have been slow to emerge. There are some hand­sets that operate both on mo­bile networks and on Internet protocol, but they are some­thing of a rarity.

That's why Bridgeport exec­utives are enthusiastic about their new product, which is a computer memory stick com­bined with a cell phone SIM card. Plug the stick into your computer and it becomes a functional second cell phone.

Cost of the memory stick is so low that Mike Mulica, ' Bridgeport's chief executive, expects that cell phone carri­ers will subsidize them, maybe to the point of giving them free to customers.

"We think we've given carri­ers a response to Skype [the popular voice over Internet protocol service]," he said.

In studies using University of Illinois students in Urbana, the new service proved pop­ular, said Sanjay Jhawar, a company senior vice presi­dent.

"Typically, students have cell phones that are part of family plans paid for by their parents," he said. "They have limited voice minutes each month, and when they get near the limit, they shift too text messaging."

Students welcomed the ease of messaging from computers,

he said. 'Bridgeport believes that mobile carriers will offer memory-stick services at low monthly flat rates because a boost to network traffic likely would result.

Memory sticks let custom­ers use data services while maintaining the network au­thentication that mobile carri­ers value, said Mulica.

"We see MobileStick as over­coming the barriers that have prevented convergence until now," Mulica said.

jvan at tribune.com