Bob:

PocketMail's assertion that only a special unit (Composer) will work
with a digital phone is based on the probability that the random
interference of the phone's digital sampling will fatally affect the
unsynchronized digital modem signal from ordinary PocketMail. You
apparently have hit it partly lucky with your particular VoIP. If it
won't work 100%, they have no choice but to say it won't work.

Although I rarely use my cell phone for PocketMail, the BackFlip would
be no better than my TM-20 for me. Once the big boys turn off Analog
with FCC permission next year, my CDMA won't work with any PocketMail
device. But I do have a cheap second phone with iDEN that could work
with a Composer.

I had a cellular salesman say that the FCC is MAKING EVERYONE turn off
Analog next March. That was a double fib. The FCC is making them keep
it ON until then to protect customers that bought Analog-only phones
when they were still sold by those carriers. There are rural companies
that have no intention of turning it off, still sell Analog phones, and
their customers like it that way. Lumbermen especially have a yen for
bag phones. Unfortunately, I don't have a list of those areas, but the
Wall Street Journal wrote about it.

The turnover in cellular salesmen is great enough that many now look
blank if you mention Analog! When they get old enough to shave, they
sell used cars instead.

For those familiar with Quartzsite, AZ when it is overrun with us RVers
in January, that was where I first used my PocketMail early in 1999.
There were maybe 6 payphones at 3 locations near the US-95 intersection
on the South side of I-10, and they all had lines of people in the early
evening. I counted maybe 1 out of 7 had PocketMail in their hands, but
the rest were there because cellular was gridlocked and a payphone was
the only way to call home.

But by 2-3 years ago, cellular had been fixed, and the payphones had
largely been removed. There were NONE where I mentioned, and one or two
left at the Shell station on the North side, with no waiting. But that
was better than none. On non-RV trips, the phone in my motel room is
always adequate to send and receive PocketMail.

Les