Zipit Z2 Wireless Messenger sends IMs without PC or phone - infoSync World
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`Home / News / Digital home
`Zipit Z2 Wireless Messenger sends IMs without PC or phone
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`By Philip Berne, 7 November 2007
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`The small QWERTY clamshell lets young users send
`messages away from the desktop, anywhere there is a
`Wi-Fi network.
`
`The best thing about the Zipit Z2 wireless messenger may be the fights
`it prevents. If you have teenagers at home who monopolize the
`computer just to instant message their friends, the Zipit may keep
`them off the PC and send them back to the couch, where they belong.
`Alternatively, Zipit suggests that parents could avoid costly cell phone
`bills, due to the unlimited data plans required for IM power users.
`
`We're not sure we buy into all of that, but we definitely know some
`younger messaging fiends who wouldn't mind slipping a dedicated IM
`device into their pockets. The Z2 has a wide, comfortable keyboard,
`larger than you'd find on even the largest messaging cell phones, like
`the Sidekick LX. It can access AIM, MSN and Yahoo instant messaging
`services simultaneously, and gives you a unified buddy list if you use
`more than one protocol. This device is so devoted to messaging, it has
`a dedicated smiley button, which we have never seen before, but now
`we want on our Treo :-)
`
`In addition to instant messaging, the device also sports a miniSD card
`slot, and of course you can't make anything these days that doesn't
`also play music and show photos. The Zipit Z2 does a surprisingly good
`job with the music, for a messaging device, displaying album artwork in
`a nice looking player window. Photos looked good, as well, thanks to
`the device's nearly-three-inch QVGA screen.
`
`The Zipit Z2 has removable faceplates for some different color options,
`though we think Zipit would be wise to expand these. Maybe include
`some cool graphics and start cobranding with the rock bands the kids
`are listening to, like the G-Unit, or some such.
`
`Surprisingly, the device uses wireless 802.11g, which may be overkill.
`Or, perhaps Zipit should go all the way and offer a Web browser, too,
`since they already have a large screen, a large keyboard and fast
`networking. In our hands-on time with the device at the Digital Life
`Holiday, we found it very easy to use. The device may have been a bit
`chunky, but this isn't a cell phone, so we don't imagine teens trying to
`slip this into the pants pocket of a business suit. The keyboard was soft
`and comfortable, and we could easily imagine kids lying around the
`house typing on it, instead of on their smaller cell phones, or sneaking
`a peek in the back of a Wi-Fi-enabled classroom.
`
`The Zipit Z2 wireless messenger should be available later this month. It
`will set you back $150, which is a bit steep, considering even Zipit's
`CEO, Frank Greer, admitted to us that the device won't be replacing a
`cell phone. Still, the components involved, especially the fast Wi-Fi and
`the QVGA screen, mean this isn't a cheap toy, but rather a real
`messager aimed at a younger crowd.
`
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`http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/8541.html
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`11/7/2007
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`ZIPIT EX. 2053, pg.1