How Palm's Treo Got Boost From BlackBerry Lawsuit 135
Carl Bialik from WSJ writes "Palm ramped up its marketing campaign for its Treo smartphone while rival Research in Motion was embroiled in a patent fight, the Wall Street Journal reports. 'The result: at least 1,500 new inquiries about the Treo in the past few months from corporate customers, resulting in 600 free trials, Palm says. In total, Palm says it has more than doubled its number of sales leads since October. "The doors have been opening," says Ed Colligan, Palm's chief executive. At a November staff meeting, Mr. Colligan says he told his staff to "step things up. We have to go back and knock on doors and respond as fast as we can." ... Internally, Palm executives say they believe that the Treo will outsell BlackBerrys by the end of this year.'"
Push email on the Treo? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Push email on the Treo? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Push email on the Treo? (Score:2)
Re:Push email on the Treo? (Score:1)
Re:Push email on the Treo? (Score:2)
My understanding is yes (and no) (Score:2)
Re:My understanding is yes (and no) (Score:1)
Given that all the BlackBerry buzz I hear about from business-types revolves around instant email, I'm not sure how Treo can compete without an on-device provider-supported solution.
Re:My understanding is yes (and no) (Score:1)
A number of corporate IT departments (including mine) like to use Goodlink on the 650 - which, as well as push email, also implements wireless synchronization with calendar and contacts etc. Add Documents to Go and you can open native MS Office and pdf attachments.
Re:Push email on the Treo? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Push email on the Treo? (Score:1)
While this is true (re: standards-based), keeping a cellular data connection open constantly appears to be...less than ideal.
GoodLink, otoh, looks much more interesting.
Re:Push email on the Treo? (Score:1, Informative)
I guess... although the Chatter developer claims you transfer approximately the same amount of data no matter whether you use timed syncs or IDLE push. I believe that -- either you have the connection initiation data every time you wake up and sync, or you have smaller "hi, still idling" messages at similar intervals. Obviously he does not have a server-initiated-push mode in his application to compare against. But my guess
Re:Push email on the Treo? (Score:2)
If I can get a Blackberry for $100 with a new plan, or a Treo for $300 that's plan independant, and I only use it for e-mail, which do you think I'm going to get?
Re:Push email on the Treo? (Score:2)
Also, since T-Mobile is a GSM company, you can use pretty much any GSM phone you want, just make sure
Re:Push email on the Treo? (Score:3, Informative)
the biggest problem is that the treo suffers from bad design. The battery when low will cause buzzing in the phone audio and the damned things lock up and die on a regular basis.
I have yet to have a blackberry lock up to the point of useless like the 4 treo's i have had all have done.
if you like to have a reliable phone. do NOT get a treo.
Re:Push email on the Treo? (Score:3, Informative)
My biggest problem with it is that the speakers aren't loud enough but I use volumecare to get around that. I also like MP3 ringtones and I use Ringo for that. Between the two, I'm sure that's where I get the random crash a week, but it's never been while using th
Re:Treo 600 a nightmare/Treo 650 perfect for my ne (Score:4, Informative)
Palm's in general have been great. but they always failed horribly when they tried to marry them to a cellphone. I had the origional Qualcomm Palm unit and it sucked horribly in life and stability. Then I have tried off and on the treo's and all of them had a major flaw that makes them useless. The flip treos would break their hinges within days of getting it, the 600 and 650 have lockup issues and a shielding design flaw that palm refusesto fix (It's even in the 700's! I know of 2 people that have the 700w and they get the buzzing when the battery is lower than 1/3rd.
until they decide to quit making them cheap and put time into making a robust pda/phone that will last more than 12 months they are not practical.
Re:Treo 600 a nightmare/Treo 650 perfect for my ne (Score:2)
Re:Push email on the Treo? (Score:1)
More Reasons... (Score:2)
The interface is much smarter than the palm. The wheel is key. It's one-handed, very acurate operation. The stylus (which previous posting on Slashdot said may be removed) is inacurate and the touch screen requires two hands. Awful when driving.
The applications are just p
Ease of use or previousbad marketing? (Score:2)
Having said that, perhaps the 700w (and subsequent Windows versions) will help with the learning curve for execs.
Re:Ease of use or previousbad marketing? (Score:5, Funny)
The synergy between the Windows OS and the Treo platform certainly creates an exciting new paradigm shift in the handheld market. Executives will see this as a new way to integrate wireless devices into their business processes in a way that will empower their knowledge workers while providing a solid return on investment for the company's strategic initiatives.
Re:Ease of use or previousbad marketing? (Score:2)
Are you an astroturfing marketdroid?
Re:Ease of use or previousbad marketing? (Score:1)
If ease of use is the issue, I don't see how the Windows versions will help anything. Compared to the 650 interface, Windows Mobile is a mess. Truly, the biggest problem with the 650 is stability. Windows Mobile addresses that, but ease of use? I don't think so.
Re:Ease of use or previousbad marketing? (Score:1)
And why would you want to type on that tiny little keyboard? And run Windows on your mobile phone? I cant really think of a less desirable thing to carry with me.
Treo for the bling factor, Blackberry if you need to actually get some work done.
I wonder (Score:3, Interesting)
http://reviews.cnet.com/Palm_Treo_700w/4505-6452_
I would guess not THAT much (Score:1)
Re:I would guess not THAT much (Score:2)
that sucks (Score:5, Informative)
the blackberry is popular because it does mobile email REALLY well. It also excels in one hand operation because of the clickable scroll wheel. It's also intuitive and easy to use - as well as significantly lighter than its bulk would indicate.
the blackberry isn't an browsing device - it's for voice and text - and it's ideally suited for the workplace.
I haven't used the windows mobile treos, but the palm treos are heavy with small keyboards. The units don't multitask well - and they CRASH. I've never hada blackberry crash - treos freeze up all the time.
maybe the windows mobile treos are better - but treos need to go a long way, from form factor onwards, to truly best the blackberry atwhat it does.
Re:that sucks (Score:5, Informative)
FUD!! Treo's crash due to 3rd party applications (at least with up to date firmware and default applications). If you get a crash on a Treo you can dial #*377 (code is dependent on Treo type) and it will tell you what application crashed it - remove the 3rd party app that's crashing your system and your fine again! The main reason why the palm Treo's are so good is that there are loads of 3rd party apps, however a lot have been written by hobbyists or for previous versions of Palm OS - why do people keep blaming Palm for other peoples errors?
If I put a cron job on my Linux box doing an init 0 every 5 minutes does this mean Linux is unstable??
Re:that sucks (Score:2)
Re:that sucks (Score:4, Insightful)
I like PalmOS and I like my Treo 180 a lot, but I am starting to get sick of PalmOS' ancient technology. No memory protection? What century is this again?
Re:that sucks (Score:2)
Blackberry - I turned it on and it worked. One hand operation - scroll to a number in contacts, click to call. click to disconnect. scroll to email with dial, click to read. if i need to reply I do, otherwise, I'm on my way. I find it hard pressed for anyone to make it simpler.
Re:that sucks (Score:3, Informative)
The Treo is the most versatile device I've ever used, wrapped in a great, simple, and above all usable interface. A great phone, great synchronization with my computer (I use Missing Sync on Mac OS X for sync with Address Book, iCal, iTunes, iPhoto, file
Re:that sucks (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:that sucks (Score:2)
Re:that sucks (Score:2)
And is there really an Opera for Palm? When I had my Treo, the word from Opera was that PalmOS was so lame and ass-backwards that they weren't going to even attempt a port. I hadn't heard anything about it since then (and that really wasn't that long ago).
Re:that sucks (Score:2)
Since it's a Java app it works on any device that can run the appropriate Java VM, and there is one for the Treo 650. I do not use it on my 650, but it is there.
Re:that sucks (Score:2)
What's most important is different for different people. Personally, I have no use for a PDA that doesn't run the calculator program that I paid $15 for in 1999 (RPN).
Re:that sucks (Score:2)
But hell, it's your life. If you can live with an unstable and extremely insecure environment, knock yourself out. Myself, I need to be able to rely on my PDA/phone, and PalmOS just isn't up to the task (just like I wouldn't run XP on, say, the computer running a life support system
Re:that sucks (Score:2)
Re:that sucks (Score:2)
And in any case, it's not like an RPN calculator is at all complicated - assuming you're a half-decent programmer, you could write one that behaves how you'd like in a weekend.
Re:that sucks (Score:2)
Re:that sucks (Score:2)
Re:that sucks (Score:2)
Re:that sucks (Score:2)
I don't want to install apps. This is a WORK phone. I want voice and text. It should NEVER crash. It should have a good battery life - be cheap and easy to replace, be lightweight and easy to use.
Again, voice and text. Treo does not match the BB at voice and text
Re:that sucks (Score:2)
That doesn't sound like a blackberry then. It sounds like a phone.
Re:that sucks (Score:2)
Re:that sucks (Score:1)
Re:that sucks (Score:2)
If an application crashes, the system should tell me what application crashed and why the system had to kill it.
If you put a cron job on your Linux box doing an init 0 every 5 minutes you should get a request to login in as root every 5 minutes.
Re: (Score:2)
Re:that sucks (Score:5, Funny)
For most Slashdotters, this is, of course, the most important feature any Web-enabled mobile device.
Re:that sucks (Score:2)
As a techno-geek, I was originally excited by the Treo's extensive feature-set, as compared to the Blackberry. But the Treo's short battery life made it die often, no matter that I had chargers at home, office, and car. The PalmOS caused the Treo to crash often. And the Treo is
Re:that sucks (Score:1)
I absolutely love my Treo. I use it as my exclusive personal line--I don't have a home phone line. It just works. I can browse the web, use all the Palm apps I'm used to using, use Bluetooth, use it to let my laptop get to the Internet if I do not have Internet connectivity.
It has reset
Re:that sucks (Score:2)
Better yet, you could've gotten the more reasonably-priced unlimited data plan from Sprint ($15/month) and used that. I
Re:that sucks (Score:1)
Why the Treo rocks! (Score:2)
Re:Why the Treo rocks! (Score:2)
Re:that sucks (Score:2)
I agree -- FUD (Score:2)
I can tell you I love my Treo, and I also had both for a while, but I always had to have my
Re:that sucks (Score:2)
I hope it works (Score:4, Interesting)
That said, I wish it were happening because of free and fair competition rather than that some predatory patent holder with a team of clever lawyers screwed a great company through bogus patent suits. I hope Rim bounces back, too.
You are already screwed (Score:3, Interesting)
I own a Treo 600 and I really like it, but I too do not want a Windows CE based device, so the 600 will probably be my last Treo.
Re:You are already screwed (Score:3, Informative)
Re:You are already screwed (Score:2)
Re:You are already screwed (Score:2)
I'm pretty surprised about this given that I remember something about Palm Source being sold last. I don't remember the details, but it sure sounded like the Palm OS was dead.
If they come out with the 700p, I'll probably buy one.
Re:You are already screwed (Score:2)
You can read about it here: Access Linux Platform [palmsource.com].
Re:You are already screwed (Score:2)
There's no information ANYWHERE that this is true. Just looking at the sales of the Treo 650, which dominates the smartphone market, it's clear that a PalmOS-based smartphone is where it's at. There have been statements made by people at Palm (with all the mergers, splits and buyouts, who know who said them and if they hold) that the Treo 650 MIGHT be the last GARNET-based Treo, whereas there will be COBALT-based Treos coming up.
Re:I hope it works (Score:2)
What bad would happen if you bought a Treo and Palm went under? They don't provide the back end (IE - your phone wont go dead) and they dont produce any add-on items that aren't made (often better) by 3rd pa
Maybe. (Score:4, Insightful)
I got a Samsung A900. It supports Sprints new Power Vision high speed network. I can surf to any site including slashdot, I can get my email, set appointments on my calendar. It is also super small and has a great screen. The battery only lasts for one day but I can live with that.
The current Treos that support high speed all run Windows. I have heard very mixed reviews on them and Verizon charges a lot more for the data plan for the Treo than other phones.
I will look a the the Treo when they have there new Linux based PalmOS and the Data plan costs the same as my current one. Oh and PUT SOME RAM on the bloody things!
Re:Maybe. (Score:1)
Re:Maybe. (Score:2)
I am not writing them off yet. I have high hopes. But you have to agree Palm should stick more Ram in the thing.
Re:Maybe. (Score:1)
Re:Maybe. (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Maybe. (Score:1)
Re:Maybe. (Score:2)
Re:Maybe. (Score:2)
Bloody US cell networks... Vodafone didn't sell the Treo 600 in a nice, Vodafone branded box when I was looking to buy it, so I simply bought it from a local computer store and inserted my Vodafone SIM card into it. :)
TREO 650 (Score:5, Informative)
Re:TREO 650 (Score:2)
email "push", using open standards, but with a chattermail license
Push with Cingular on Treo (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Push with Cingular on Treo (Score:1)
Check it out here http://www.cingular.com/midtolarge/xpress_mail_pe
Tim
Lots of inquiries, not so many buyers. (Score:4, Informative)
The worrying is over now and we're sticking with BB/BES.
Re:Lots of inquiries, not so many buyers. (Score:2)
Let them eat cake (Score:1)
I also can't fathom anyone that looked at the patent/lawsuit issues as likely to stop RIM. The Fed is too big of a client, the product is too popular.
I was an early Handspring Visor adopter, I found much utility in Palm OS, but once I carried a Blackberry for a few months, all that was hist
There is a simple explanation (Score:2, Funny)
Oversimplified conclusions (Score:5, Interesting)
Internally, Palm executives say they believe that the Treo will outsell BlackBerrys by the end of this year.
Here's what's happened so far:
1. Company's reliability goes into question
2. Consumers look for alternatives
This is what Palm is hoping is #3:
3. Competitors overtake market
However, this is what is really happening:
3. Company's reliability no longer in question
4. Consumers stop looking for alternatives
Yeah. Maybe they would have outsold Blackberrys had the lawsuit kept on chugging or RIM lost. Unfortunately for Palm, that did not happen. Whatever edge they had during the lawsuit is now gone. How can you predict continued growth when the market changed in the past month with the conclusion of the lawsuit?
Re:Oversimplified conclusions (Score:2)
Well, Palm diversified their smartphone market. Before January, they were just selling Palm OS PDAs that were phones. Now, they're also selling Windows Mobile 5 PDAs that are phones as well. So you can buy from Palm regardless of which OS you wanted to run. With the ACCESS Linux platform, I imagine you'll have an additional option in the next year or so. Also, you can't install any appli
Treo + Verizon = save your cash (Score:1)
Having pissed away a pretty penny on my own Treo a few months ago (Verizon), I can say that this device is silly for anyone who has a laptop and doesn't travel 90% of the time.
Yes, the Treo can do lots of neat thing, but I'm tired of looking like a clumsy retard everytime I need to answer a call.
The users... (Score:2)
-M
Drop both on concrete. (Score:2)
Re:And why not? (Score:1)
Syncing with BES makes my life about 10 times easier. I have never had a any of these problems you are referring to.
I think you are compairing Blackberries from years ago with the Treos of today.
Have fun running Windows on your mobile phone.
Re:And why not? (Score:1)
That said, I wasn't even referring to the Windows Mobile Treos... I don't like the new one, I prefer the 650 to it, however your comment makes it very apparent your disdain for Microsoft in general. I can't say I'm suprised, I am on t
Re:And why not? (Score:2)
Re:An idea for the GENIUSES at Palm: (Score:1)
If you *did* like PalmOS, as I did, this is not an encouraging sign about Palm's support for the platform (you still can't make an appointment starting at 11 pm and ending at 12:30 am, or view national holidays, on the Calendar).
HUH? both are fine for me. Just import the holidays as appointments, how hard is that?
James
Re:An idea for the GENIUSES at Palm: (Score:1)
Re:An idea for the GENIUSES at Palm: (Score:1)
I'm not sitting there every year punching in two dozen holidays. Granted, some can be made to repeat, but many fall on odd times. There is no option in Palm for "Repeat first weekday after date X in month X" or "Repeat every Third Thursday in November." This is a basic feature of every paper calendar on the market. The people at Palm are total tools.
or just download them?
http://www.freewarepalm.com/clock/clock_calendar.s html [freewarepalm.com]
and there is a third in option.
James
Re:An idea for the GENIUSES at Palm: (Score:1)
Re:An idea for the GENIUSES at Palm: (Score:1)
http://www.martinsmaha.net/software/index_Page34 7.html
But in any case Palm Desktop will not import the DBA file, pops up an error dialog about it being an unsupported format. Maybe because I'm on a Mac? This is precisely why Palm should build it in.
Re:An idea for the GENIUSES at Palm: (Score:1)
http://www.assburger.org/defcon-13/
By the way, I love how Palm won't even host user-made freeware for their own platform. Only paid software. Genius.
As I said, Palm sucks ass. I rest my case.
Re:An idea for the GENIUSES at Palm: (Score:2)
But that aside, you most certainly *can* repeat an appointment on the 3rd Thursday of every November, though what it is that you're doing exactly one week before Thanksgiving every year is a mystery to me...
Re:Palm vs. Blackberry (Score:2)
Oh, no. No, no, no.
I'm with T-Mobile, and I've been very happy and haven't wanted to switch just to get a Treo. Palm's retarded pricing scheme -- raising the price of unlocked Treo's just to keep Cingular happy -- kept me from buying a Treo, so I purchased a SymbianOS Ericsson i900.
Worst. Mistake. Ever.
Symbian is, by far, the worst PDA OS that I've ever encountered. Admittedly, I've never tried WinCE (or its derivatives), but I have a har