by Joanna Stern on February 27, 2008
If you're a Windows or Mac user you've gotten used to going to your desktop's widgets for the latest news, traffic, or the three-day forecast. Now, you can have the same luxury on the go. GetMobio, Plusmo, and WidSets all provide thousands of "mini" applications that you can download to your cell phone for free. Even better, you don't have to have a smart phone to get the mobile widgets you want; they work on most regular cell phones, including LG, Motorola, and Samsung handsets that support Java applications (most Verizon phones don't support Java).
We tested the three services using the popular AT&T
Motorola RAZR V3xx. Getting the widgets on your phone is simple--you can either download the application by visiting the sites from your phone's Web browser, or you can visit the Web site on your computer, input your mobile number, and send the application to your phone through an SMS link. Because each of the applications uses your phone's mobile Internet connection, you'll want to have a data plan. Thousands of widgets are currently available for your cell phone, so we picked five of the most useful for people on the move.
