PdaNet app Archives

I recently purchased my first Android application for my Motorola CLIQ. I have only owned my new smart phone since this past Christmas and I am discovering more ways to use it every day.  I have been filling up my phone with all kinds of free applications like SportsTap, Pandora and Foursquare. I was motivated to buy scanR to help me overcome of one of my all time vices. When I go to networking events–and yes, people still go to face-to-face networking events–I collect a lot of business cards. A LOT. I then bring those business cards back to my home office and proceed to put them in a card box that is marked “data entry”. Well, I have about 20 of these card boxes in my space, filled with business cards from the past. Some I have put into my database, but others are just waiting… and waiting… and waiting some more. Am I alone on this one?

Well, since finding scanR for my Android-powered phone, I don’t have this problem any longer. Developed by a privately-held company headquartered in Palo Alto, CA, scanR lets you use your camera phone to scan, print and fax, turning your paper documents and whiteboards into useful digital information. I am now currently going through hundreds of business cards, first scanning them and then throwing them away.

Not long ago I went to a local networking event and challenged myself to not collect a business card from anyone.  All I did was was take momentary possession of the cards to scan and take a picture of them using scanR. Then I handed them back their owners. Afterward, I went back to my office and downloaded the business card information gathered and the pictures, and then imported it all into my CRM database. Wow!

With this app at my disposal, I’m striving toward no longer carrying around even my own business card.  With scanR all I now have to do is scan my own business card and if someone wants it, I can share it via email or fax. That business card would come to the intended recipient via email as a text editable PDF file, at the ready for you to cut and past into your own database.

So perhaps you now see why I made this application my first purchase.  $4.99 per month or $28.90 per year for an unlimited amount of scans is worth my not getting buried alive under the well-meaning yet treacherous mountain of business cards that I still need to gradually tackle and tame.

The only things I don’t like about scanR are that you cannot share the scans with social networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook or Twitter. It’s claimed that you can share it with Plaxo, but even though I have it set up on my scanR account, I haven’t seen that it’s completely working yet. There is also no direct integration with any CRM or Database Management System. Pity.

My good friend and Personal Productivity Expert, Peggy Duncan, will be very proud of me. She stresses having less clutter and more systems in place to stay more productive and to stop wasting time. Well, now I am getting rid of the clutter and have a system in place for my business cards that will make me more productive, give me back more time in my day and even save some trees.

What was one of the first smart phone applications that you purchased, and why?

Does that application save you time and/or money?

How many applications have you purchased over the last weeks, months or year?

Do you have a 3G/4G USB aircard? I have been debating for a minute on how I can justify getting a wireless aircard to allow me to have Internet service in places where I cannot get free Wifi. My cell phone carrier has a web connect plan that I was considering very seriously. This T-mobile plan costs about $49.00 per month and that’s after having to purchase the USB aircard stick for my laptop.

Tethering

I heard this term about 3 or so years ago from a friend of mine who used to get Free Internet access through his cell phone that allowed him to surf the net on his laptop.  Back then you had to be very careful in trying to create a tethering hack for your cellphone. First off, you could void the contract of your carrier by doing it and second, you could run up a huge phone bill by adding onto the minutes of your data plan.

Android and T-mobile

In doing some research I found out that there were many cell phone carriers that allowed tethering using the Android operating system but my carrier, T-mobile, was not one of them.  I finally found a software company that had just released an Android app that was said to work with my carrier.

PdaNet

June Fabrics Technology, Inc. had already created PdaNet–tethering software applications for Windows Mobile phones, Palm OS phones and iPhones. I was elated that they also had one for Android. But would it work with T-mobile? After a small download of the software on my laptop and then my cell phone, I was up and running.

The Test

My first chance to use this PdaNet tethering software came during a lunch meeting with a potential client.  The meeting location did not have Wifi and part of my presentation needed Internet access to show off some of the WordPress blogsites I had created.  I was at risk of not being able to close the deal due to the lack of a connection to the net.

Tetheriffic

Notonly did I have access to the Internet for the close of my presentation but I was amazed at how fast the 3G speed was in the downloading of all the graphics from some of the blogsites I had displayed on my laptop. My client was pleased with what he saw and said that he was impressed with how I used my cellphone to help ink the deal.

Tale of the tethering tape

PdaNet has two versions of its software application for Android phones. There is a Free version and a Paid version. The only difference with the Paid version is that you get to see secure websites. So if you have to pay a bill via a banking website or purchase something from an ecommerce website, you might have some problems if you go the Free route.  I have not had a need to upgrade to the paid version at this time, but I do believe that the $23.95 one-time price would be well worth it. It has already saved me money in not having to get an extra monthly web connect plan from my cell phone carrier.

Have you ever tethered your cell phone to get Internet access for your laptop? As Solopreneurs we need to be able to save every penny we take in, so tethering could really make a difference in one’s bottom line.  Let me know your thoughts on it.

All the best,

JB

I have had my new Verizon phone for a couple of weeks now, and I like it.  You don’t need to be a Geek to want one.  If you are one of the many folks who want a phone just to make calls, the Droid is way overkill.  For a phone, it is expensive at $200 with a 2 year contract.  It’s cheap for a computer, though.

Droid showing Sliding keyboard. Optional desk dock.

The Droid is essentially a computer that can also make phone calls.  It is connected to the Internet through the Verizon cellular data network or a local WiFi network.  You can browse the Internet, send and receive emails, stream or download videos/music and so much more.  Texting or entering data is easy using one of the three keyboards.  Some people I know could use the Droid and never need a conventional laptop or desktop computer.

The Verizon data plan for the Droid is unlimited.  There is no 5GB limit as with cellular data cards or tethering my old phone using VZaccess Manager.  How about using the Droid’s Internet connection to connect my computer like I used to do?  Well, I can.  I just need PdaNet software for the Droid from June Fabrics.

Tethering is the term we use to describe the hardware and software needed to connect a computer  to the Internet using the cellular data connection from a smart phone.  It is usually a USB connection, but could be wireless using Bluetooth DUN (dial-up network) or WiFi.  A wired connection to the computer is simplest and most reliable.

There are two parts of the system.  A program that runs on your computer and stays in the system tray and an app on the Droid.  Installation is easy.  Follow the easy instructions.  Download the installation program from the website and run it on your computer.    Plug the Droid into an available USB port.  Let the program talk to the phone for a moment to establish communication, and you are ready.

First, start the PdaNet app on the Droid phone and Enable USB Tether.  Then, on your computer, click the PdaNet icon in the system tray and connect.

This is a broadband connection and speed is determined by the cellular network.  In a good Verizon area, the speeds are excellent.  You can easily stream video and not worry about going over your monthly data limit.

The Droid is not the only smart phone that allows tethering.  PdaNet has been available for PalmOS phones, BlackBerrys and Windows Mobile phones for a while.

If you want to use PdaNet for the iPhone, you need to “jailbreak” it, voiding the warranty.

The price of a single license is $23.95. It is a one time purchase for the Android version. One license covers one phone (you can reuse the license if you switch to a new Android phone). There is no limit on the computer side and your license gives you unlimited free upgrades.

So far, there is no support for connecting to our Cradlepoint router, but I expect that fairly soon.

We’ll show you how to network the connection in a future post.