Instant E-mail Paging by Robert Viers

I always feel bad when I forget to check my personal e-mail account for a couple days and end up finding an old message sitting in the in-box. Then I feel horrible when the message is labeled 'URGENT.' That's the problem with e-mail. Unless you have your computer online 24 hours a day, you can't tell when there's e-mail waiting for you.

BellSouth was quick to recognize this e-flaw and now offers an offline solution. They call it the 'RIM Inter@ctive Pager.' In a nutshell, it's a fully-functional pager that's capable of sending and receiving e-mail. A mini-keyboard allows you to quickly compose and send e-mail, and you're automatically and immediately notified by the RIM when you receive new mail. The pager is completely wireless and mobile, capable of working in remote locations throughout the United States. (Click here to view BellSouth's coverage areas).

Some specifics: The RIM pager weighs only 3.95 ounces, and measures 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches, with a depth of .93 inches. It includes 2 megabytes of Flash memory and 304 kilobytes of SRAM. Its full-graphic, 165 X 132 pixel LCD screen, with custom annunciators and backlighting, is capable of displaying 8 lines of text with 25 characters per line. The RIM has two ways of notifying you when new mail arrives; it can either emit an audible beep or vibrate. Other RIM features include e-mail time-stamping, AutoText, Auto-signature, Auto format, Message Preview Services, Auto Forward, and Auto Power Management Services. The RIM is powered with one AA alkaline cell, which can be conveniently found at most stores.

So how fast do e-mails get to you? The average transfer time is about 10 seconds; slightly longer than normal e-mail transfer times, but not bad when you consider the portability of the RIM. You can be camping, shopping, working, watching TV, or doing just about anything and receive an e-mail from a person across the country. . . within seconds!

The RIM has made recent headlines because of its value to the hearing impaired. Long-distance, two-way communication can be accomplished between two individuals with RIM pagers, or between one person with a RIM and one person with a computer and an Internet connection. With only a 10-second delay, continuous e-conversations can be easily achieved.

BellSouth's pricing system seems a bit complicated. Several options are available, and customers are given the option to purchase or rent their RIM pager. If you were to purchase the RIM, it would come with a $369 price tag, along with a one-time $25 activation fee. Monthly service plans start at $24.95 for the occasional user and run up to $99.95 for the frequent user.

The scary part is that you're charged according to the number of characters you send and receive within your e-mails. The 'occasional user' is allowed 25,000-50,000 characters. It sounds like a lot at first, but consider that this article contains 4,108 characters. Some e-mails that have been forwarded to me (and everybody else on Earth) have contained well over 10,000 characters. The occasional user would only be able to receive 2-5 of these e-mails. The 'average user' is allowed 75,000-150,000 characters, and the 'frequent user' is allowed 200,000 to an unlimited number of characters.

Renting a RIM pager requires a $25.00 activation fee. Monthly service/rental fees start at $44.95 for the occasional user and run up to $74.95 for the average user. No monthly rental plans are available for frequent users. Loss protection, gateway events (e-mail to fax or e-mail to phone), and interactive software are available to all RIM users for additional fees.

With the creation of the RIM pager, BellSouth has truly taken a giant leap forward in the world of communications technology. More people are using e-mail in daily communications than ever before. Whether you're an over-scheduled, e-mail-reliant business professional or a stay-at-home parent, you'll find the RIM's portability to add major flexibility to your daily schedule. With a cell-phone, a laptop, and your trusty RIM, you can take your office just about anywhere!

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