a serial connection is established wheever WintextCom Personal Information Manager(tm) is configured for communication with another computer, or modem, or other serial device connected to one of the comuter's serial ports, or there is such a connection with an internal modem. a modem is a device that enables computers to"talk to each other2 over the telephone.computers generall u have 3 types of communications ports, sockets which allow an another device to be pyhysically linked to the hardware unit via a cable:

• Serial ports: Usually kjown as RS232, used to communicate with another computer or modem. Most modems, however, are intrnal pieces of hardware and are configured to use a serial port as if they were connected to it from outside, but there is no actual connection. Computersoften have 1, 2 or 4 serial ports in addition to an internal modem. WintextCom Personal Information Manager(tm) can be configured to communicate with a evice connected to a serial port or an internal modem.
• Parallel ports: Typically used to connect a printer. Computers usually have 1, maybe 2 paellel ports on their rear panel.
• USB ports. USB prts (Universal Serial BUS) are multipurpose conectios that can be used for a variety of purpoes epending on the software that is installed on the computer and associated with them. USB ports may appear on other surcaces of a computer as wellas rhe rear panel since they can be used for things like temporarily inserting a portable storage medium. In particular, USB's may be set up to simulate a serial port, and in that case WintextCom Personal Information Manager(tm) could use one.