Comments on: Palm's Smartphones Will Be Data-Centric

Smartphones combine a mobile phone and a handheld into one unit. However, developers can choose to emphasize one of these over the other. Some companies make a mobile phone with a handheld built in, while others make a handheld with mobile phone capabilities. At a speech today, a Palm Inc. executive said his company will emphasize wireless data capabilities over voice in its future devices.
Return to Story - Permalink

Article Comments

 (18 comments)

The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. PalmInfocenter is not responsible for them in any way.
Please Login or register here to add your comments.

Comments Closed Comments Closed
This article is no longer accepting new comments.

Down

I agree

Scott R @ 6/24/2002 10:30:39 AM #
There's definitely a market for both (I own a Samsung i300), but I agree with his assessment that trying to make the phone small enough tends to make the screen too small. I'm glad they're going with this approach (if they had to choose). If the i705 was color and the monthly unlimited plan was closer to $25/month, I'd happily carry around my old StarTac flip-phone and give up on the couple of benefits that an integrated smartphone currently allows me.

Scott

RE: I [couldn't] agree [more]
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/24/2002 10:42:59 AM #
I couldn't agree with you more, Scott.
RE: I agree
james_sorenson @ 6/24/2002 10:56:42 AM #
Well, it looks like Palm is thinking again! Outstanding! I currently have a VisorPhone, but I use it to do wireless connections more than talk to somebody (email, SMS, map, news, etc). Of course, dialing up all the time is a pain (except for SMS and email notification). I haven't upgraded to the Treo because of the smaller screen, no external memory (I'm too addicted to my MemPlug), and that they still don't have the GPRS up and running.

Looks like I may be going back to Palm this fall! I pray that it has an SD slot, color screen, and OS 5. Hey, I want it all!


-------
James Sorenson

RE: I agree
Scott R @ 6/24/2002 11:41:40 AM #
Maybe I spoke too soon. The upcoming Kyocera phone looks very tempting.

Scott

RE: I agree
mtg101 @ 6/24/2002 11:48:57 AM #
Is the new Kyocera going to be GSM based? If so - can someone point me to some info about it? ThxIA.

---
russ@russb.fsnet.co.uk
RE: I agree
mtg101 @ 6/24/2002 11:51:01 AM #
Ah - I see - there's a new story up on PIC... I'll go read it istead of hanging around on this thread...

---
russ@russb.fsnet.co.uk
RE: I agree
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/24/2002 5:35:36 PM #
You can have the benefits of a color 705i by getting the 515 installing a bluetooth card and buying a Sony Erikson or Nokia bluetooth capable phone. ATT has a service for about $35.oo/ month that will give you virtually unlimited evening & weekend mins and 300 anytime mins for voice or data. It also connects at 144k vs the 19k ( I think) that the 705i connects at.

No earbud-only phone use, please!

Boze @ 6/24/2002 11:18:38 AM #
When Palm says the device will be data-centric, I hope they don't intend to go the same route as RIM (and a few of the new Pocket PC smartphones too, I think). With RIM's GSM/GPRS device you can only use the PDA as a phone with the included earpiece. If I ever buy a smartphone (and it's certainly a possibility), I want to be able to hold it up to my ear to talk! Who needs the extra hassle of an ear piece to keep up with? A speaker-phone should be included instead, for those who wish to talk and compute at the same time.

====
Boze
====
RE: No earbud-only phone use, please!
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/24/2002 11:33:14 AM #
It's good for the headset to be an option, but I wouldn't want to be locked into it either. Something like the RIM device with a Bluetooth headset (and Bluetooth integrated into the device, obviously) would be ok in my book. If I have the headset on me, I could deal with putting it on and hitting a button to answer the call (especially if the button is on the headset!), just not the added hassle of plugging the headset in. I could see where some people wouldn't want to have to carry it, though. OTOH, you've got to

On speakerphones--the Treo has speakerphone capability now. Maybe Palm's phone will follow suit. The one downside of a speakerphone is using it in public--both that it's harder to hear with more background noise and that I, at least, would find it hard to have a conversation without disturbing people. I can keep my voice down if need be if I'm talking into a phone, but I have to have the volume loud enough to hear the other person.

On a color screen, let's hope Palm's hearing enough of "Why isn't the i705 color?" to make this unit color.

RE: No earbud-only phone use, please!
mtg101 @ 6/24/2002 11:38:52 AM #
It must be said that holding a PDA device to your head makes you look rather stupid.

However - when your PDA rings you don't want to have to dive into your bag to try and find the earpiece to answer the call.

So I'd agree that you want a mic and earpiece on the device. And they could be used for taking short voice-memos too - something ppl have wanted from a PalmOS device for some time.

Or... how about as well as a stylus in the back of the device, have a BT earpiece that you could detach and shove in your ear for voice calls?


---
russ@russb.fsnet.co.uk

RE: No earbud-only phone use, please!
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/24/2002 11:47:20 AM #
Since you need the headset functionality, a BT chip, and a battery, a BT headset might be a bit big to go on the back of a Palm device. (Remember, they have either a boom mike or one on a cord--take away the cord and the mike is just dangling.

Headset on beltclip, maybe? If the headset had buttons, the one wrinkle would be making sure you could answer the call quickly but still lock the buttons when putting it back on your belt. It's still a great idea, though.

RE: No earbud-only phone use, please!
Boze @ 6/24/2002 12:20:31 PM #

First--Good points about voice memo capability and speakerphones in public.

Second--Personally, I don't believe that holding a small PDA up to my ear is as stupid-looking as using an ear piece (especially one stored on my hip). How many calls do we get these days that last less than 30 seconds (e.g. "Don't forget to pick up X at the store", "Where are you going to be at X time?", wrong numbers!)? Is a call that short worth putting on an earpiece? And for longer calls--wearing something on my ear (ear buds, headphones, etc.) for more than 20 minutes usually makes my ear sore! I certainly don't need that on a device I use frequently.

====
Boze
====

RE: No earbud-only phone use, please!
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/24/2002 12:36:51 PM #
Absolutely no dangling microphones. There are speaker/microphone combinations that fit completely inside your ear (mic picks up sound transmitted through your bone--I understand it can provide excellent sound quality with no background noise). Stick a bluetooth chip on it. This would be the only way I would use a headset with a mobile phone anyway. It might be too big to fit completely in your ear (inexpensively), but at least they could get rid of the microphone boom.

Same speaker/microphone could serve to connect to your mobile phone, pda, desk phone, computer, mp3 player, stereo, tv.... It would be worth spending a little money for a good one.

RE: No earbud-only phone use, please!
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/24/2002 2:53:54 PM #
> If the i705 was color and the monthly unlimited plan
> was closer to $25/month, I'd happily carry around my
> old StarTac flip-phone and give up on the couple of
> benefits that an integrated smartphone currently
> allows me.

And if the i705 had a built-in keyboard, not that clumsy, expensive, bulky, add-on thing.

Translation

I.M. Anonymous @ 6/24/2002 11:39:29 AM #
Translation: It'll be big as ****. But don't complain about it, because it's for data, not voice.
RE: Translation
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/24/2002 11:43:15 AM #
Based on what? If the Treo can do voice and data, there's nothing to say Palm's new device will be gargantuan. It sounds more like a different design than a difference in size.
RE: Translation
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/24/2002 2:50:30 PM #
lol !
RE: Translation
I.M. Anonymous @ 6/25/2002 5:18:32 PM #
Check out the upcoming Kyocera 7135 smartphone if you think it can't be done!

(Satisfied Samsung I300 User)

Gary

Top

Account

Register Register | Login Log in
user:
pass: