PalmOne Mobile Internet Kit

by Palm

Product Details

Product Manual [617kb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B000056BDN
• Item model number: P50404U
• Average Customer Review: 1.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #182,433 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 16, 2001

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Palm Mobile Internet Kit on CD-ROM allows you to use your Palm handheld to wirelessly access the Internet via a mobile phone or modem. This software uses the built-in data capability of your mobile phone or modem to establish a connection to the Internet for your Palm so you can log on to your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to send and receive e-mail, send and receive short text messages, and access the Web.

To use the Mobile Internet Kit, first upgrade your handheld (if necessary) to Palm OS 3.5 with the included software. Connect your handheld to a data-enabled mobile phone or modem using a cable (sold separately) or the infrared port. You can then log on to your ISP using the mobile phone or modem to get e-mail from Yahoo!, Earthlink, Hotmail, or any other POP3/IMAP4 account. (POP3 and IMAP4 are protocols for receiving e-mail, and POP3 is currently more common and used by many ISPs.) Because both AOL and MSN use proprietary e-mail protocols, neither service is supported by the Palm Mobile Internet Kit.

Tap on the Web-clipping icon or WAP browser to access news, sports, and stock quotes on the Web. Web clipping is a fast, efficient way to "clip" specific information without a lot of graphical downloading from more than 450 popular sites on the Web, including Amazon.com, Travelocity, and ESPN. You can view the complete list of sites offering Palm Web clippings at wireless.palm.net/apps/.

If you have a GSM phone, you can compose short text messages on your Palm handheld and exchange them with other GSM phone users worldwide.

If you are a Mac user, see the Mobile Internet Kit installation instructions at www.palm.com/support/mik/mik_macinstall.html.

This software comes with an instruction booklet.

From the Manufacturer

Already have an ISP? Access the Internet using your existing dial-up account -- no need to pay for a wireless ISP. Get up-to-the-minute news headlines, sports scores, and stock quotes. And download new applications while on the go.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very limited features, April 6, 2001

By 

genoahous (Monrovia, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: PalmOne Mobile Internet Kit (Office Product)

I Purchased this item hoping that it would allow me to get both home and work E-mail (using Psion 56k Travel modem). The modem works great, but ...

The feature set list is misleading. It states that one can access POP3 "accounts". Bun in reality one can only access one account with the MultiMailPro 2.26 provided in MIK. Also, upgrades are not allowed on this version of MultiMailPro. One must make a new purchase to get the useful version 3.x.

The upgrade to OS 3.5 is nice, but also does not have very many enhancements.

I didn't try the web-clipping or mobile phone applications. But if they're like the mail app, then you should plan on being disappointed.

So in my opinion, the MIK IS a waste of money.

P.S. I temporarily solved my E-mail problems with a freeware package called ProxiMail, which gets your E-mail from up to five accounts. It puts the E-mail into the mail application in ROM. But the bulit-in mail application also has many limits. The developer's of ProxiMail have gone out of business, but if you look hard it can still be found on the web.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not Ready for Prime Time, August 26, 2001

By 

Keith Berner (Takoma Park, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: PalmOne Mobile Internet Kit (Office Product)

Wireless functionality for Palm is still a hit-and-miss game (at least with the MIK and Palm Vx). You may or may not have much success in getting the connectivity you seek, depending on the vagaries of your ISP, your wireless phone, and the actual site you're trying to connect to. My recommendation is to wait another year or two before pursuing this. By the way, Palm itself provides almost no support for this product.