AT&T's Lose the Laptop Challenge

by Lori Cunningham

{It’s not to late to WIN a BlackBerry Speakerphone!  We fixed the technical difficulties from last week, so sign up today to WIN!}

AT&T contacted me to see if I’d be interested in a challenge.  I love a challenge, especially when it involves technology to solve it.  AT&T proposed to send me a new HTC Tilt2 phone with a slide out keyboard and AT&T coverage, if I agreed to “give up” my laptop for the duration of the challenge – which is 4 months.

Hmmmm.  Sounds interesting.  Now, for the most part, I use my desktop computer.  But I do have a netbook (which is a small laptop with less features).  I use my netbook for travel and for surfing the web from our family room.  But there are times throughout my day when away from home that access to the Internet would be helpful, even crucial.  That being said, I confess to you that I currently don’t have a data plan attached to my BlackBerry Pearl phone.  I have been itching to get a data plan so I could connect to the Internet, but I wasn’t ready to 1.) pay the extra money and 2.) try to resist the temptation to constantly check my phone for e-mail, Facebook updates, Twitter tweets, look up a website on a whim, etc.

So, to participate in this challenge I will need to give up my netbook and at the same time, I would like to spend less time in front of my desktop.  After all, there are other great rooms in my house I can enjoy.   🙂  Spending less time in front of my computer is a big challenge indeed.

AT&T’s challenge is called “Lose the Laptop,” and they have invited 10 bloggers to participate.  You will be able to view all 10 of our posts on the LosetheLaptop.com website.  We all will be submitting 1-2 posts a week about our experiences with the Tilt2 smartphone.  Each month we will focus on different topics to help readers better understand how the Tilt2 can be used to make your life easier.

Where You Fit In

AT&T’ is also proving an opportunity for you, our readers, to join in on the fun.  Visit the LoseTheLaptop.com website daily to enter the contest.  You can get there easily by clicking on the orange “Lose the Laptop”  “Vote for Me and Win” ad on our website.  The first month they are offering a free Tilt2 phone and a $250 voucher for American Airlines.  You can enter once daily to increase your chances.  While you’re there, please vote for me,  Lori Cunningham, because the blogger with the most votes each month will also earn the same giveaway voucher.

It should be a fun four months.  You’re going to hear more from me about the Tilt2 as I learn about the phone and fun ways to take advantage Internet access from my phone.  If you have handy tricks involving your smartphone and Internet access, leave us a comment so we can all explore it.  Thanks!