PocketMail Composer:
E-mail Solution For The Road
by Jaimie Hall
PocketMail is one of
the methods RVers can use for e-mail contact with friends, family,
and employers. Some RVing friends are using PocketMail as their
exclusive e-mail provider and find it works well.
What is PocketMail?
PocketMail is a
device that runs on two AA batteries and can send and receive e-mail from
most any phone in the U.S. and Canada, including pay phones. After writing
your e-mails, you dial a toll-free number, place the device up against the
receiver, then press the Send button. It sends your e-mails, retrieves any
new ones, and indicates when the session is over. With PocketMail service,
you can check your e-mail unlimited times for one monthly fee.
PocketMail offers
convenience. There are no cords to deal with. You can send e-mail anywhere
you can find a pay phone and don’t have to wait until you locate a jack or
stop at a Kinkos or public library. The small size (8½ x 3¼ x ¾ inches)
allows you to easily carry the device in a pocket or purse. You can read
or write e-mails whenever or wherever you have a few minutes.
Bill and I first used
a PocketMail Composer device recently while on a two-week trip to Alaska
and Canada. We traveled in a rental RV without our own computer. Our
schedule did not permit stopping at libraries or cyber cafes to check
e-mail so I was thrilled to be able to maintain e-mail contact as we
traveled.
The Composer
The PocketMail
Composer device is an upgraded version of the original, allowing a 6,000
character maximum per message, a 2,000 character increase. An
address lookup function allows you to easily add an address to your
e-mail.
The keyboard is
small. It took a few sessions to learn to hold the device steady and
compensate for its small size. However if you have a computer, you can use
PC Link to synchronize your desktop or laptop computer with the Composer.
That way you can write e-mails using a standard keyboard, then download
them to the Composer for transmission. You can similarly upload any
received messages. This makes for faster, easier typing and works quite
well.
You can consolidate
all your e-mail accounts with PocketMail, receiving e-mails from AOL, POP3
and IMAP accounts. It can show the other account as your Reply To address.
One RVing friend generally has a landline when parked in one place while working, then forwards
her AOL account to PocketMail while traveling.
The device can also
be used as a personal organizer. It has a scheduler with alarm, memo,
to-do, and address book. With the provided Companion Link software, these
can be synchronized with Microsoft Outlook and other personal information
systems on your computer.
A surprising feature
is the ability to send faxes. This is a nice option for workampers since
some employers prefer a fax. The fax I sent arrived quickly. A small
charge applies.
PocketMail does not
replace a computer. It is strictly an e-mail device. Due to size
limitations, you cannot receive attachments like photos. E-mails with
attachments or that exceed the character limit can be viewed at the
PocketMail website for 30 days. If you periodically stop at public
library Internet computers to look things up on the Web you can then check
your PocketMail account.
Read the manual
While most of the
Composer functions are intuitive if you have computer experience, I
recommend taking the time to read the manual. There were several shortcuts
that were timesaving and easier had I known about them.
The first few days of
our trip, I received e-mail from only a few family and friends. Then I
forwarded my main e-mail account to PocketMail. Since I use the Internet
for business and regularly receive 50-75 e-mails each day, transmission
times were long, usually lasting 15 minutes each session. Had I known
about the Preview Message function, I could have saved download time. When
activated, this feature downloads only the title and first 80 words of
each message, allowing you to delete it if desired before downloading the
whole message. You can also set filters to weed out SPAM and unwanted
e-mail.
Switching to
PocketMail
If you are currently
using a computer and begin using PocketMail, either as your e-mail
provider or to consolidate your e-mail while traveling, three steps will
shorten your download times.
While I don’t recommend
PocketMail for operating a business on the road if the volume of e-mails
will be large, it is an excellent option for most RVers.
I was impressed with
how easily the Composer was to use. It took no time at all to get
proficient. I loved the convenience of being able to check my e-mail daily
at no extra charge, even in Canada. I plan to use it at least for personal
correspondence when we are traveling and won’t have a land line.
The device is reasonably priced at $99 with one-year’s service plan at
$149. Other plans are described at the
Once you own your device, a year’s
subscription is $149 or a quarter’s is $49.95.
For additional
information visit the PocketMail website.
Update: While fewer RVers use Pocketmail now, it can still be a solution
for getting email for some. I found it especially helpful while traveling
through Canada.
This review appeared
in Workamper News Nov/Dec 2002.
