The good news is, if you plan ahead, you can get prepaid data service fairly cheap in many European countries. It's even a reality in the U.S. as well, thanks to the recent introduction of unlimited data on prepaid by AT&T.

Unfortunately, these great deals aren't there in every country. You have to become an expert in navigating the mobile carriers in the countries you frequent. Not to mention managing all those prepaid SIMs and associated accounts to ensure you don't lose your balances.

There are a new breed of carriers coming out--specifically mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs)--that are trying to address this problem by creating a global SIM. The SIMs themselves effectively roam everywhere, i.e. they do not have a "home" country, necessarily. Their prices are likely a bit cheaper than what your local operator will charge for roaming abroad, but are a bit higher than if you bought a local SIM and topped it off. On the other hand, it's only one prepaid account to have to manage and if you do a lot of traveling, it's a worthwhile alternative.

The other cool thing about these global SIMs is that you can often get local numbers in many different countries--at the same time. For example, I could buy one of these global SIMs and get both a U.S. and U.K. number. This would allow people in either country to call me for the price of a in-country call--no matter where I happen to be in the world.

Unfortunately, I am not aware of any of these global SIM operators that provide data services--yet. However, two of the companies I've talked to are working on adding data service. I don't expect the prices to be as good as a local SIM, particularly if the local SIM offers unlimited data, but it will likely be a far cry cheaper than what your operator would charge for roaming data.

This got me thinking. Is it possible to do all of this with a mobile device? Could it be possible for me to view a remote presentation and be on a conference call? Here are some of the challenges today:

1. Screen Size: I was having difficulty viewing the slides on a 1024x768 screen on my laptop. How would slides look on a smaller screen?
2. Dual Mode Connectivity: Certainly, 3G handsets with a 3G network support being connected with data and voice at the same time. The same can be said for WiFi-enabled handsets as well.
3. Battery Life: Being connected to voice and data simultaneously can be quite a drain on the battery.
4. Enterprise Connectivity: Since this presentation was being shared inside the firewall, the handset would need to be able to connect into the corporate network in order to view the presentation. Nokia has a solution for this problem, fortunately, but I do not have it installed on this handset.
5. Cross-Platform Screen Sharing With S60 Support: Do any of the common methods for sharing screens and presentations include S60 support?

Is it even possible to do this today, even if the experience is sub-optimal? Do you want this kind of functionality? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Over the years, I've heard one of the "dreams" of network computing is that you can sit down and work at one location and easily pick up right where you left off at a different computer without skipping a beat. This can be accomplished with tools like VNC or Windows Remote Desktop.

If you can carry the "brains" of your computing environment in your pocket, why would you mess around with things like VNC or Remote Desktop? Plug your phone into your large screen and keyboard, do your work, unplug your mobile phone, take it somewhere else. Plug it into a different screen and keyboard, and you have your full environment right there. And, of course, you can also interact with it from the mobile handset itself!

For the most part, I already do a fair amount of computing from my S60 device. Lack of a full-sized screen and keyboard are certainly factors that limit my ability to do more. There's a lot of issues to work out with this idea, but it has quite a lot of appeal to me.

What do the rest of you think?

Now instead of simply uploading photos, you now have the ability to participate in the social aspects surrounding those photos. It, in a sense, extends the “social” aspects of Share on Ovi and Flickr directly to your mobile handset in a way that I find compelling.

Whether you realize it or not, there is a kind of "social network" around Flickr and Share on Ovi (previously Twango). People see cool media on these services and comment on them. You could always do that from a mobile before, but now you have a much nicer way to do it with Share Online 3.0. It's more integrated. The feeds can automatically update. You get notification of new pictures and comments on the standby screen.

Now you might say that "easy access to comments" is not a big deal. My question is: how is this any different from Jaiku or Twitter, really? If people are posting pictures throughout the day, getting periodic updates, and sending comments back and forth, isn't this similar to the microbloging services?

I get the sense that much, much more is coming with Share Online and Shae on Ovi. I don't have any inside knowledge here, so this is just my guess. What do you think?

There are still lots of unanswered questions about this device. For the purposes of this discussion, my main question is: where will the device be sold? Will it be sold along side conventional GPSes with an unlocked GSM radio, or will it be sold with the mobile phones? Maybe both?

No matter how it's sold, I view it as validation of Nokia's strategy to build GPS functionality into mobile phones. A strategy taken a step further by the introduction of four different GPS-enabled phones at Mobile World Congress and the introduction of Nokia Maps 2.0.

A connected GPS is more valuable than one that is not. A GPS that is with you is more valuable than one that might only be in the car. By giving the GPS a connection to the mobile network (and WiFi), you now have the ability to augment it with real time information, such as traffic data, road closures, or even newer maps.

That's just the stuff we can think of today. Put a GPS into a device with an open platform like S60, and who knows what we'll end up with in the not-to-distant future.

In a sense, even the most basic mobile phone Nokia sells is a converged device. Since I don't have any of our current low-end phones, I'll reach back into the back of my phone drawer and pull out my Cingular (now AT&T)-branded Nokia 3120, a small candybar phone from about 4 years ago. The phone was fairly cheap or even free with a two year contract. Even this phone includes many features:

• An address book (beyond just names and phone numbers)
• An alarm clock
• A (very basic) Internet browser
• A calendar (complete with reminders)
• A (basic) game machine. This particular phone has bowling, darts, Football (the American type), and a driving game.
• A 4-function calculator
• Stopwatch/Timer
• Voice recorder
• Instant Messaging

Of course, it's primary function is as a phone, and it works well as that. But it has way more functionality than, say, my cordless phone at home, which is truly just a phone, except that it has a way to record speed dials.

Even a "converged" device that has a primary function, and it had better do that well. Therefore, I expect my Nokia N95 to function well as a phone. I think what separates, say, a Nokia N95 from a Nokia 3120 or similar phones is that the secondary function(s) are compelling, easy to use, and approaching the quality of a similar "unconverged" device that performs the same function.

Using the Nokia N95 as an example, the camera and the music player--two of the "secondary" functions of the N95 I use daily--aren't as good in some ways as a standalone digital snapshot camera and a digital media player respectively, but they are good enough for my everyday use and they are always with me.

Because of this convergence, I don't have to mess with multiple devices at places like the YMCA. I notice that other people are carrying about both a cell phone and their portable media player. Meanwhile, I have my Nokia N95 with me, which serves as both. My music player stops when an incoming call comes in. I don't have to pick up another device, my headphones are in, and I can easily take a call without skipping a beat or missing a stride on the elliptical.

While I can talk about how great convergence is for me, or how great it might be for you, at the end of the day, it's a matter of personal choice. Do you want to carry one device or many? What do you carry? Let me know in the comments!

What things does your S60 device replace? Does your S60 device replace more things than it does for Dotsisx? I'd love to see those pictures!

Is this the ideal way to live life; having to manage 10 tasks at once, that too out of work hours? What happened to quality time with the family, the simple pleasures in life like taking kids to school, chatting with them on the drive there.

Thank you sir but this convergence and available 24/7 business has gotten too far.

Remember that being available 24/7 cuts both ways: not only can your boss reach you, but so can your spouse or your kids. Because I can do anything from anywhere, perhaps I can take an hour or two off and go to the gym or spend some quality time with my kids during the traditional work day? Or maybe if I take five minutes to peck out a response to an urgent email, I can save myself from having to deal with an multi-hour phone call later?

Nokia S60 devices enable you to be always connected to the things and people that matter most to you. If, how, and when you use that connection is up to you, the user. Just because your phone rings or an email comes into your mobile phone, it doesn't mean you have to respond to it. Just because you have one of these devices in your pocket doesn't mean you pull it out at the dinner table during mealtime or when you're sharing a special moment with your kid. Or maybe you do pull it out because you want to capture that special moment and share it with the world.

What do you think about this? Please leave your thoughts in the comments.

My wife has a Nikon D50. It takes fantastic pictures. It's not something that gets used day-to-day because it's a big camera. It's impractical to bring it on your daily travels unless you know you're going to use it.

Certainly there are smaller cameras you can slip into your pocket, but let's face it: how many people outside of us geeks like the idea of carrying around more than one electronic gadget in your pocket or purse?

Mobile phones are the one thing that people tend to carry--if they have them. They are usually compact and fit into a pocket or purse very easily. It's almost always within earshot, making it easy to get to. If it can take decent pictures, it's easy to use, and easy to share, will consumers use it? You bet!

If you have a Nokia N95 in one of it's many variations, you already know what it means to have a great, easy-to-use camera on your mobile phone that can share photos with your friends in near real-time, available data connection permitting. Heck, there's services out there that let you stream video in real-time from your device!

I know that my colleagues at Nokia are working on improving the cameras that go into not only flagship devices like the N95, but all of the camera-equipped phones Nokia will sell in the future. That means the camera you have--your mobile phone--will be that much better. It may never be as a good as a standalone camera in some respects, but it will be in the most important respect: it's with you.

A week ago, my wife was traveling into the U-district in Seattle. She ended up on the Express Lanes on I5 and the exit she needed was closed. She ended up taking the next exit and had no idea where she was. She called me, asking if I could pull up a map from my phone and guide her to where she needed to go. Unfortunately, I didn't hear the phone ring when she called. Fortunately, she remembered enough streets to get where she needed.

On the way back home, she had to deal with a major traffic event: an explosion at the Atlas Foundry in Tacoma shut down the I5/SR16 interchange. It is, of course, possible to drive around this on surface streets, but without a map, if you don't know where you're going, it's tough. Fortunately, her friend's husband knew the way around that traffic mess.

In these first two examples, my wife was lucky. She had other people around that could help. Having that information at her fingertips would have saved her time and money, or at least given her some piece of mind. Even if she didn't have the information, she was aware that I did, no matter where I was. That's a powerful thing.

Now for the business example. I was making breakfast for my son this morning and reading email on my Nokia E61i. I noticed an email had come in related to a customer I am responsible for supporting. I needed to contact the Sales Engineer for the customer, but I did not have his number handy. Normally, it'd be the wrong time of day to call him, but I had also read from the email he was in Europe. Perfect timing.

I looked him up in the corporate phone book--from my handset--and added him into my mobile phone book. I sent him a quick SMS saying to call me regarding this issue. A few minutes later, I received a call from him and discussed the issue. Problem solved.

Of course, because I work in a support organization, I have to update our CRM system with that information. Since the CRM system generally requires using Internet Explorer on a desktop computer, and I was in the middle of trying to get my son out the door for school, I didn't have the time to go through all the steps necessary to do that.

I instead called our Technical Assistance Center. While I was on the phone with TAC, I read them the ticket number in question. While on the phone, I switched over to the email application. I read the ticket number directly from my handset. I gave them the other information they needed to update the ticket on my behalf. And my son managed to get out the door for school on time.

This entire exercise was enabled an executed using devices and services by Nokia. I got the information I needed right when I needed to. I was able to take action--right away. And while I was at home trying to get my kids to school in the process, I could have been anywhere with GSM coverage and done the same thing.

Having these "converged" devices with everything in your pocket is a game changer. It's truly information at your fingertips. Not only can you get information others have generated, you can easily capture or create your own. When you're ready to act on that information, you can do it--right now. Right from your mobile device.

How has Nokia products and services enabled you to get access to the information you need right now? Leave your feedback in the comments.

However, the upcoming event in San Francisco couldn't have happened at a better time. I'm way overdue for a visit to the home office in Mountain View--just down the 101 from San Francisco--and it's a great fit into my personal schedule.

I am very excited that I can make this work. I wouldn't miss this party. If you're in the San Francisco Bay Area or can make it there on the 23rd of October, get on the guest list now! I look forward to meeting all you S60 fans in the Bay Area.

I do wonder, though, when we'll see an Evening with S60 event up here in Seattle?

I was going to start off by asking if you had to pick form or function, which would you pick. However, in thinking about how I myself might answer that question, I quickly realized that you cannot have one without the other. For example, I get much of the functionality I need in my MacBook, but can I put my MacBook in my pocket? Also, the form factor of a Nokia N95 precludes precludes a usable QWERTY keyboard. Or a better than 2mp camera in the Nokia E61i.

Each person has pain points. For example, the touch screen interface that makes a certain competitors product so appealing to so many would drive me absolutely insane to use day-to-day. I need the tactile feedback when I push buttons. Heck, I need buttons.

But not just any buttons. The keyboard layout has to make sense, especially if it's QWERTY. I am playing with a competitors product right now--different from the one mentioned above--and I have to say using the slide-out keyboard on it is an exercise in frustration. Many forms of punctuation require a shift key, and I frequently can't hit the proper shift key on this device.

And then there are folks like my wife who just want a phone that is small enough to carry in her purse. She doesn't need/want all that extra functionality that I regularly use. And she wants it small. She liked the size of the Nokia N76, for instance.

What are your favorite devices? How do they fit on the form versus function spectrum? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Clearly, Michael sees the value in our devices and is not blinded by Apple's hype machine. When the Apple iPhone was released, he posted a comparison between the iPhone and the E61i. Today, he posts a list of 9 things an iPhone can't do that his E61i can.

Devices are more than just a pretty interface. In a world where convergence is imminent, functionality is important, too. And you can use that functionality with any GSM carrier, even if your operator doesn't sell the phone.

Meanwhile, I needed a new clock for next to my bed. It seems my son needs a digital clock for his room. I took my old, Fairchild digital clock from the 1970s, and put it in his room. Meanwhile, I needed something.

After trying--and failing--to find something that was free and did what I needed on S60 3rd Edition, I pulled out an pre-S60 3rd Edition device--a Nokia 6260--and loaded Sevenball Big Clock on it. It shows the clock and will keep the backlight on full time. That's exactly what I need.

Incidently, the Nokia 6260 requires a SIM to operate. I have plenty of previously used SIMs that I keep around for these older handsets that won't operate without one. Sure, I can't make calls, but in this case, I don't care. I'm using it as a clock.

Now if only there was something like BigClock for S60 3rd Edition handsets. If you know of anything, leave a note in the comments.

For those of you not from the US, or are not up on your history, Rosie the Riveter (pictured below) was a cultural icon in the US during World War II. The US Government used Rosie in various media of the day to encourage women to go to work to support the war effort.

I couldn't resist sharing this photoshopped picture of Rosie the Riveter sporting a Nokia device.

(Photo by brypro63)

Those familiar with Nokia's history know that Nokia's been around since 1865. We weren't selling phones back in the 1940s, but if we were, I'd bet a woman like Rosie would be carrying Nokia device!