Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Thursday, 06 March 2008 17:13
Opinion and Analysis
Page 3 of 4
One example is Opera Mobile 8.65, which I’ve installed onto a Windows Mobile 5 device and another Windows Mobile 6 device I’m testing through an ‘over the air’ download.
This software can be downloaded for a 30-day trial, after which you need to pay for the application, although the Java-based Opera Mini is free to use on any Java-compatible phone you choose.
So that Opera Mobile 8.65 can’t be installed on several phones, be they your own or those of your friends, you need to supply your Windows Mobile device’s ID, after which a license key is generated based on that presumably unique code.
If you need to install new firmware onto your phone, you can simply re-download Opera Mobile 8.65, whether over the air, or otherwise, re-enter your key, and your copy of Opera is immediately re-licensed.
Another example is the Nokia Maps GPS satnav application on my Nokia N95. I paid the approximately AUD $130 for a 3 year subscription to Nokia Maps.
If I remember correctly, Nokia Maps takes note of some unique indentifying details on your SIM card, so if you have to install new firmware on your N95 (and there have been at least three firmware updates, each improving the phone quite a lot), you can load up the Nokia Maps application, select ‘buy’ to ‘re-purchase’ the application, whereupon Nokia Maps immediately realises you have already purchased a license and satnav GPS turn-by-turn navigation is immediately re-activated.
I have to say, Nokia should make it more obvious for users that when they are about to click ‘buy’ and are already license holders, they won’t be re-charged. But that’s a small point which Nokia will surely fix. The point is that I didn’t need any backups on my desktop PC at all.
The “No Java” article makes the point that mobile data is expensive, while you are already paying for your ADSL or cable broadband Internet connection.
But is it really, especially in 2008? Please read onto page 4.
