Mobility--that's the buzzword these days. Being able to whip out your PDA and connect instantly to the Internet is not only cool, it's also really useful if you require information on the go.

Imagine trading stocks during a ride in a cab, closing deals via email when your plane's at the gate, and even checking the latest movie schedule while you're on the underground train. No, you don't need to carry a laptop to do those things. You can do them today with your PDA.

To help you get connected everywhere, this guide will show you what you need to be truly mobile.

Choose a PDA

The first thing you need to get connected is, of course, a palm-size PDA. With so many models on the market these days, a handheld user is truly spoilt for choice.

The first thing you have to consider is what operating system you want: Palm or Pocket PC? Both Palm and Pocket PC-powered devices allow you to get on the Internet with the right software and add-ons. While users in the US can get online instantly with a Palm VII which comes with a built-in modem, users in Asia have to connect their Palm to an external modem, with or without Palm's Mobile Internet Kit.

For Pocket PC users, it's much easier. Although Pocket PCs don't come with an internal modem, you can easily buy a CompactFlash (CF) or PC Card modem, and just slot this into your Pocket PC's expansion slot.

Also, Pocket PCs come installed with the Pocket Internet Explorer and Pocket Outlook, while for Palm devices you do need to install your own Web broswer.

From the above, it may seem that the Pocket PC is a better choice for connectivity. However, Palm-based devices have the advantage of being easier to configure and use.

Getting online does mean your PDA's battery drains faster. In general, the battery life of Palm devices tends to last longer than those powered by Pocket PC. That may be something you want to take note of when choosing a PDA.

For those who want a wireless device that acts as a PDA, connects you to the Internet, and also act as a cellphone, you may want to consider getting one of those cellphone-PDA hybrids such as the recently announced Handspring Treo or the Pocket PC-powered Trium Mondo. With these, you don't have to worry about purchasing additional items to get online.

Get connected with a modem

The second item you need is a modem.

If you have a Pocket PC device, get a CompactFlash or PC Card modem, depending on what expansion slots are available on your handheld. If your handheld sports a CF slot, Pretec and Xircom have CF modem cards that let you connect to a phone line, or CF GSM cards that allow you to connect to the Internet via the GSM cellular network. For those who want to use a PC Card because their handheld has a PC Card sleeve, like the Compaq iPaq, UbiNetics has a GSM PC Card that you can use.

To get connected, Palm users can purchase a PalmModem to dial up to the Internet. If you want to go wireless, you do need to connect your Palm to a cellphone, such as the Nokia 6210 or the Siemens S45, via infrared. The alternative is to get one of those GSM PDA add-ons such as the CarpeDiem V GSM from Hong Kong-based RealVision.

For Handspring users, Springboard modules like the ThinModem lets you dial up to the Net while the Visorphone allows you to go wireless.

Get an Internet connection

Now that you have the hardware, you need an Internet connection.

If you're connecting to the Internet using a modem, you need a dial-up connection through an Internet Service Provider. Once you configure your PDA with the right settings, using it is just like dialing up to the Internet via a PC.

Connecting to cyberspace using a modem with your PDA requires you to hunt for a telephone line when you want to connect to the Net. To free yourself from cables, you need a wireless phone connection. To get one, you need a data line from your preferred mobile phone operator. Do remember to get from them the instructions and settings for your PDA to properly set up the wireless data connection. To enjoy a high-speed connection, you should get a line that supports GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), a network that uses packet rather than circuit switch connections on cellular networks. Do note that the device you use to dial into the Internet needs to be able to use the GPRS network.

Get the Internet software

To experience the Internet on your PDA, you need software.

If you have a Pocket PC, you've already got what you need to go online. Pocket Internet Explorer and Pocket Outlook, which come pre-installed on your device, let you surf the Net and check email, respectively.

Palm users, however, don't have it so easy. Although Internet apps are not pre-installed, you can get third-party software to surf the Net and check email. Mail clients such as Eudora Mail that comes with the Eudora Internet Suite and iambic's iambic Mail let you collect your email from your mail server when you're on the go.