bSquare Helps You Keep in Touch While on the Move

Having cool messaging applications on your Pocket PC is certainly nice, but if your Jornada, Casio or iPAQ is stuck in a cradle on your desk, it's all rather academic. It's only when you cut the cord and become really free to take your Pocket PC with you everywhere that this kind of software becomes anything more than an amusement.

It was for this reason that I'd remained relatively uninterested in bSquare's latest communication programs. This changed when I acquired wireless LAN PC cards. These cards and my iPAQ's PC Card Expansion Pack turned the iPAQ into a high-speed wireless LAN capable wonder that worked both at home (with Lucent hardware) and in the office (with Cisco hardware). Once I had this wireless Internet capability, it was time to re-visit bSquare's Website and see what they had to offer.

bSquare Messenger

Microsoft developed versions of Instant Messenger for both desktop PCs running Windows and the Apple Mac, but they have been remiss in covering the Pocket PC. Fortunately, bSquare redressed that imbalance with bSquare Messenger, an MS Instant Messenger-compatible program for the Pocket PC. bSquare Messenger lets you send and receive instant messages through a modem, wireless modem or cellular phone. I tested it on a Pocket PC, but it's also available for Palm-size or Handheld PCs.

The entire field of instant messaging has been increasing in popularity among Internet users the world over ­ the ability to know when a friend is online and then exchange some quick messages ­ is quickly becoming a "killer application." Instant messaging is also becoming a gateway into other Internet applications, and with the latest version of Microsoft's Instant Messenger for the desktop PC comes the ability to launch NetMeeting video conferences and even dial friends using voice-over-IP telephone calls.

bSquare Messenger isn't quite as sophisticated as that, but it's still an excellent program. The style is similar to the desktop version of MS Instant Messenger. Once you have signed in you will see a list of online and offline contacts (see Screens 1 and 2). In addition, bSquare Messenger uses the same Microsoft MSN network protocols and so you can chat to all your friends and they'll never know you aren't at your desk.

Screens 1 & 2: The look and feel of bSquare Messenger is similar to Microsoft's Instant Messenger. Once you've signed on (left) you'll see a list of online and offline contacts you can select from (right). These are the very same as the contacts on MS Instant Messenger on your desktop PC.

You can, of course, add new or remove old contacts at any time. Tapping on a name will open a conversation, and you can then tap out your text messages as you would on the desktop (see Screen 3). It's possible to use alternatively SIP input methods (the SIP is the Soft Input Panel, or various style of pop-up keyboard, which the Pocket and Palm-size PC offer), but in my experience you need to be very confident with Transcriber before trying it in a situation like this, just in case you send something embarrassingly inaccurate to an important business contact.

Screen 3: Tap on a name to open a conversation. Then, tap our your message.

There are some small limitations: you can only have one conversation open at a time, and there is no support for the little smiley icons and other images which can brighten up desktop chat.