|~||~||~|Of course in theory, I should have done what I would recommend any reader to do, which is: stopped myself, returned home, jumped online to swat up on what cellular technologies and features I might actually use, and then – and only then – returned to the store. But of course I didn’t…
I’m English you see (for my sins), so instead, in true Yank-lite fashion my consumer frenzy overtook all sensible thought and I bought the phone – thenwent home to find out what this new toy did. Clever.
The answer, it turns out, is all kinds of nonsense I didn’t know I wanted (but, it turns out, I’m now really glad I have). The handheld I shelled out monstrous sums for is, for instance, PTT (push-to-talk) enabled. And Etisalat has just been kind enough to launch its commercial PTT service here in the UAE, which means that should I manage to engineer some friends who alsohave PTT phones, then we can start chatting walkie-talkie style.
Do I need that functionality in my life? Really? Nope, to be sure I don’t, but it sounds intriguing so I’m already chomping at the bit.
Realising I’m so inclined to spend money on kit I can barely benefit from has, in fact, been this week’s moment of clarity, and for what it’s worth I reckon it’s also this tech wonderlust that explains why Windows’s WinLabs editor puts up with my grumpsome editor moods and why our readers pick up the mag every month.
Telling the above-mentioned tale to our editorial team actually led to some similarly frenetic stories of impulse buying and tech lust, which made me think: I’d love to hear your experiences too. Your story might even make it into the magazine (don’t worry – we’ll change names to protect the true geeks). As ever, we’re on [email protected].
In the meantime, to learn for yourself what GPS, GPRS and the like actually mean, don’t miss next month’s Windows‘Go Mobile’ booklet, which is free only with the April issue of Windows Middle East.
Promo over then, I’m off to see if it’s possible to ‘walkie-talkie’ yourself. More soon…||**||
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