PocketMail Composer is a simple e-mail device. It's not for everyone. If you have a laptop computer or an e-mail-enabled PDA the PocketMail will seem like a step backward. It is, however, an uncomplicated way to have access to e-mail if you don't have a more sophisticated mechanism.
The small (8½ x 3¼ x ¾ inches) clamshell device is sturdy but lightweight. Open the cover and it looks like a mini-laptop computer, with a keyboard on the bottom and a screen on the top. Although the screen is only 1 3/4 inches by 4 inches, the icons are large and the text is readable. A quick review of the included instructions will get you up and running swiftly and easily.
The PocketMail Composer is powered by 2 AA batteries. It needs no other power and has no cords or wires, so it is very mobile. Besides being an e-mail device, the Composer is also a Personal Digital Assistant with an integrated address book, calendar, scheduler, memo pad, and calculator. This means you can write e-mail, schedule appointments, and enter memos while on the go. The device and the service is well-designed, easy-to-learn, and easy-to-use.
To send an e-mail, you simply compose your e-mail then dial a toll-free number from just about any telephone, including cell phones. Flip up the small rubber-lined microphone on the bottom of the Composer, place the device up against the telephone receiver and press the Send button. My first attempt failed because I held the microphone against the wrong end of the receiver, but once I corrected that faux pas, I was able to transmit my e-mail quite easily. When the phone connection is made, incoming e-mail is transmitted to the PocketMail Composer. Lights on the front of the device signal when transmission is completed and you can then hang up the phone and read your e-mail.
I was impressed with the amenities included with this device. There is a PC link that allows you to hook up the Composer to your PC with a serial cable where you can synchronize it with Outlook. If you are going to be traveling you can visit the PocketMail Web site and set up your Composer account to also receive the e-mail from your regular e-mail account. With a small additional charge, you can even send a fax, which is a feat that most e-mail devices cannot perform. Messages can be compressed to save room. In fact, this device has so much functionality, that I highly advise that you carefully read the manual to learn all the things that the unit can do.
I found the PocketMail service to be well-planned and well-executed. Toll-free numbers are available for the US, Canada, and several foreign countries. While you cannot receive large e-mail attachments on the PocketMail, attachments can be viewed at the PocketMail Web site for thirty days. The PocketMail folks even printed the toll-free numbers right on the back of the unit, which I found very useful.
Again, the PocketMail Composer is not for everyone, but it does serve a need for unwired travelers who don't want to be constantly searching for Internet cafes or libraries where they can send and receive e-mail.
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