Comments on: Colligan Laughs Off iPhone Competition

The San Jose Mercury News has a short piece on Palm CEO Ed Colligan's response to a question about the possibility of Apple releasing a mobile phone.
Responding to questions from New York Times correspondent John Markoff at a Churchill Club breakfast gathering Thursday morning, Colligan laughed off the idea that any company -- including the wildly popular Apple Computer -- could easily win customers in the finicky smart-phone sector.

"We've learned and struggled for a few years here figuring out how to make a decent phone," he said. "PC guys are not going to just figure this out. They're not going to just walk in.'"

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Well, Hell! If a Me-Too Media article says so, it's so!

SeldomVisitor @ 11/20/2006 4:35:55 PM # Q
There might be some of us out here, however, who would say something along the lines of:

== "Newly-arrived companies might learn from others'
== mistakes and not have to repeat them"

Or even:

== "Big rich companies not only can reverse engineer
== anything, they can afford real market studies that
== even improve on those other devices"

but maybe not...guess Colligan must be right!

RE: Well, Hell!
freakout @ 11/20/2006 4:46:34 PM # Q
The question begs, though: how long have Apple been working on the iPhone?

Tim
I apologise for any and all emoticons that appear in my posts. You may shoot them on sight.
Treo 270 ---> Treo 650
RE: Well, Hell! If a Me-Too Media article says so, it's so!
cbowers @ 11/20/2006 8:09:05 PM # Q
And unlike palm it would seem, Apple has not forgotten the lost art of beta testing.

RE: Well, Hell! If a Me-Too Media article says so, it's so!
just_little_me @ 11/20/2006 10:52:37 PM # Q
It's not just about devices. Palm must have relationships with dozens of carriers around the world by now - that's not something you can build overnight. Anyone who has had any business dealings with a carrier will agree - it takes alot of time to get these guys on side. So even with the best device on the planet you gotta convince the carriers of that, and possibly even change their blinkered thinking if you're offering something left of field...


JLM.

Colligan's bravado rings FALSE
The_Voice_of_Reason @ 11/21/2006 1:13:09 AM # Q
There might be some of us out here, however, who would say something along the lines of:

== "Newly-arrived companies might learn from others'
== mistakes and not have to repeat them"

Or even:

== "Big rich companies not only can reverse engineer
== anything, they can afford real market studies that
== even improve on those other devices"

but maybe not...guess Colligan must be right!

More like: how could ANY company make as many mistakes as Palm has and advance as slowly as Palm has over the past few years?

And: how could Apple (the Masters of Style and Marketing) fail to produce a phone that appeals to more people than Palm's Communist (WE know what you want. Take it or leave it) Scchool of Design? As the Q, etc are showing, cellphone customers have no special loyalty to Palm. Palm's loyal customers were PDA users and they were abandoned by the company a few YEARS ago.

The question begs, though: how long have Apple been working on the iPhone?

Around 3 years. And rumor has it the iPhone design was finalized earlier this year, is ALREADY in production and will be available before mid-2007. Hey Colligan: Bravado and posturing is a poor substitute for shipping solid product at a realistic price. And please remember that just because Palm is incompetent doesn't mean that its competition is as well.

And unlike palm it would seem, Apple has not forgotten the lost art of beta testing.

Ouch!

Which would sell better to the average Joe: An LG Chocolate gussied up with Apple styling and perfect iTunes/iMovie integration or a Treo 600/650/700W/700p/700WX/680/690/695/696/697/698/699/699.5/699.51...?

It's not just about devices. Palm must have relationships with dozens of carriers around the world by now - that's not something you can build overnight. Anyone who has had any business dealings with a carrier will agree - it takes alot of time to get these guys on side. So even with the best device on the planet you gotta convince the carriers of that, and possibly even change their blinkered thinking if you're offering something left of field...


JLM.

Girlfriend, a few problems with that theory:

- Palm's carrier relationships are not as solid as you seem to think they are. And now that they are no longer the only game in town, Palm's failures to deliver compelling product to the (cutthroat) carriers in a timely manner will result in immediate (and painful) repercussions. Empty promises are not tolerated in the cellphone industry. Just look what Sprint did to Sony Ericsson and Samsung.
- Apple has street cred and brand recognition that makes Palm look like Yugo (you DO remember Yugo, right?)
- Jobs is already on record as saying how much he despises the control that carriers have. But if Apple was to simply buy bandwidth from a major carrier and become a Mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) they effectively take a lot of headaches out of the equation. How many teenyboppers do you think there are out there that would think it's coooool to have trusted Apple as their cellphone provider, at the same time buying their iPhones, iAccessories, iTunes, iMovies, iBooks and iPoo™ while they suckle contentedly on "Svengali" Steve Jobs' rancid iTeat? 2 million? 5 million? 10 million? Before you answer that, ask yourself how many iPods will Apple sell this Christmas. And how mant iPods have been sold in the past 3 years.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPod#Sales
Don't bet against the Apple iNet becoming a smash hit almost instantly. Apple knows how to sell crap - to people that didn't even know they wanted that crap - just by making Apple crap seem COOL. Jobs won't be able to make enough of his iPoo to keep up with demand from the huddled masses.


TVoR

RE: Well, Hell!
freakout @ 11/21/2006 1:25:13 AM # Q
Rumour has it that the iPhone will be sold as an unlocked GSM phone through the same retail channels as the iPod, thus bypassing the Evil Carriers altogether.
RE: Well, Hell! If a Me-Too Media article says so, it's so!
AdamaDBrown @ 11/21/2006 2:51:01 AM # Q
Don't bet against the Apple iNet becoming a smash hit almost instantly.

Even better: "iMobile."

Becoming their own MVNO would make a certain amount of sense for Apple, particularly since it would mean that they could power their own over-the-air iTunes service. I'd find it doubtful, though.

RE: Well, Hell! If a Me-Too Media article says so, it's so!
twizza @ 11/21/2006 9:59:40 AM # Q
I came to PIC to read on the comments here, then read what TVOR posted (my thoughts exactly). Not to diss Palm, but Apple doesn't make mistakes in marketing execution. The iPhone/iMobile/iBite (my own slice of Apple if you will) will be successful, and much like what 3 did recently with bundling apps and offering a flat rate dealie to folks. Taking out the carrier from that and adding something that is not quite a nano with the ease of a Treo but is a non-intimidating phone will make for a nice seller without carriers to work with. Apple could very well be teh ebst to pull that off. Despite a good product, Palm hasnt played as nice in the marketing game to make that ideal of mobile everywhere as relevant. Oh well, I won't by Apple's anything - nothing like a masked monopoly :)

mobileministrymagazine.com
antoinerjwright.com
RE: Well, Hell! If a Me-Too Media article says so, it's so!
twrock @ 11/21/2006 10:22:08 AM # Q
(I just can't hold back a rant on this one!)

Ouch. I almost couldn't believe the quote when I saw it. Unbelievable! What an absurd thing to say. "PC guys"? Who does he think he's referring to? Didn't the last couple of years of the "iPod revolution" show him anything?

And: "We've learned and struggled for a few years here figuring out how to make a decent phone,". No, the last few years you've been making minor tweaks to a decent phone. You don't have another few years left! Not if you keep up business as usual. (Maybe, just maybe the "Hawkins secret project" will be a grandslam homerun, but I have very little faith at this point.)

So, where's Gekko with that Bill Gates quote about running scared? Seems mighty appropirate at this point.

I'm still waiting for the mythical color HandEra.

RE: Well, Hell! If a Me-Too Media article says so, it's so!
hkklife @ 11/21/2006 11:23:40 AM # Q
I'm not a fan of Apple's products per se ( I do not like iTunes and I detest the fact that the iPod is not fully UMS-compliant--drag & drop for MP3s) but there's no doubt that they are spot-on marketing wise.

I think Colligan has really shoot himself in the foot with these comments. twrock's comments are spot-on. "PC guys"....if anything, Apple's PC business has been playing 2nd fiddle to the iPod ever since the 'Pod became USB 2.0 and PC-friendly (that was in, what, 2003?)

It's time for Gekko to drag out the Gates running scared quote and then repost the gold suit-wearing Yankowski "We are prepared fo whatever turns the market takes" quote from Piloting Palm for good measure.

P.S.

I think the iPhone will be sold through Cingular just like the RAZR & ROKR with iTunes onboard. MVNOs haven't taken off to well (look at the recent crash & burn of ESPN's service) and carriers are likely shying away from them right about now. AMP'D seems to be doing ok but I still don't see the value to the consumer in most of those "virtual" provider offerings.



Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX-->Treo 700P

RE: Well, Hell! If a Me-Too Media article says so, it's so!
freakout @ 11/21/2006 6:53:44 PM # Q
Apple has no need to start their own carrier service, nor are they particularly interested in selling music direct to your phone. Jobs has been quoted as saying he doesn't think that the screen on a phone is big enough to make the experience enjoyable or useful.

So what does that leave us? Likely the same as an iPod: a slick, stylish retail product. It'll be a good-looking feature phone that will sell very well. It won't kill Treos outright because they're popular enterprise devices and will always have that to fall back on.

Unless Apple totally surprise us and the iPhone is a smartphone, Colligan is right to laugh. Like LiveFaith said - why worry about a first-time player in the phone market like Apple when you have companies like Nokia and Motorola gunning for you?

Tim
I apologise for any and all emoticons that appear in my posts. You may shoot them on sight.
Treo 270 ---> Treo 650

RE: Well, Hell! If a Me-Too Media article says so, it's so!
cbowers @ 11/22/2006 3:47:12 AM # Q
"why worry about a first-time player in the phone market like Apple"

Apple wasn't the first to do an mp3 player either. Just the first to get it right enough to drive wider acceptance.
You're right in that we can't speculate too far until we see and judge what they bring out, but neither can Palm scoff for the same reason.

RE: Well, Hell! If a Me-Too Media article says so, it's so!
AdamaDBrown @ 11/22/2006 4:35:13 PM # Q
Apple has no need to start their own carrier service, nor are they particularly interested in selling music direct to your phone. Jobs has been quoted as saying he doesn't think that the screen on a phone is big enough to make the experience enjoyable or useful.

The screen... isn't big enough for music? There's something that doesn't seem right about that idea...

RE: Well, Hell! If a Me-Too Media article says so, it's so!
freakout @ 11/22/2006 6:16:50 PM # Q
^^ He was talking about the mobile browsing experience, not the actual music playing experience. I had a quick Google around for the article I read, but couldn't find the damn thing. Turned up some other interesting thoughts from Mr. Turtleneck though:

While the Motorola phone will work with iTunes purchased music, some service providers may be considering launching their own music service. In doing this, they would own the network and the music store, but Jobs isn’t sure that this type of service would work for consumers.

“I’m not convinced that it will be successful,” said Jobs. “The network providers will charge a lot to download music to a mobile — maybe US$3.”

Jobs also reasoned that a computer would still be required even if a mobile user downloaded music directly onto their mobile phone.

“You will have to backup the music on your phone up using your PC,” said Jobs. “If you lose a phone then you lose all your music. If you get a new phone you have to transfer it all. It’s not clear that buying music over the air makes economic sense.”


What now Colligan?
scstraus2 @ 1/10/2007 4:16:19 PM # Q
So, what do you have to say about the iPhone now Colligan you smartass? Stupid cocky bastard, we were trying to warn you. Did you listen to us? Nope. Now what? I bet your fabulous 4th line of business isn't looking too exciting any more, is it?

Reply to this comment

Yee-hah! (words are free)

hobbes1257 @ 11/20/2006 5:21:39 PM # Q

I think Colligan has got a lot to fear from Apple. And if that 'decent' phone is all they have to compete with them, then I'd be -very- worried.

Ok, corporate world is a stronghold for Palm, but in design, 'coolness', and trustworthiness, they have lost before even starting to fight...

Reply to this comment

Maybe Ed doesn't surf the web

hgoldner @ 11/20/2006 6:15:07 PM # Q
Head on over to ThinkSecret at http://www.thinksecret.com and you'll find that Apple is very much in the mobile phone business.

And I don't think those 12 million Apple iphone's will be running Palm OS any time soon, do you?

Harold

RE: Maybe Ed doesn't surf the web
JarJar @ 11/20/2006 6:28:45 PM # Q
I don't even think that Palm phones will be running Palm OS either. The Palm guys killed off their own OS and nobody is advancing Palm OS.
RE: Maybe Ed doesn't surf the web
LiveFaith @ 11/20/2006 10:30:24 PM # Q
Does an OS owned by another completely different company really have anything directly to do with Palm Inc? How many years has it been now since Palm & PSRC have been different companies? How many will it take before people who post here actually figire that out?

Pat Horne
RE: Maybe Ed doesn't surf the web
just_little_me @ 11/20/2006 10:57:24 PM # Q
You can lead a horse to water... but sometimes they are too stupid to drink.


JLM.

RE: Maybe Ed doesn't surf the web
cbowers @ 11/21/2006 2:10:58 AM # Q
...and why would he. Already well de-thirsted at the corporate trough getting a daily dose of Treo coolaid.

RE: Maybe Emperor Ed is too smart to admit he has no clothes
The_Voice_of_Reason @ 11/21/2006 2:18:39 AM # Q
Does an OS owned by another completely different company really have anything directly to do with Palm Inc? How many years has it been now since Palm & PSRC have been different companies? How many will it take before people who post here actually figire that out?

Rev, Palm almost succeeded in getting PalmSource back into the fold for peanuts. In corporate games you win some and you lose some. The "split" was simply a corporate shell game that backfired and will ultimately be remembered as what killed Palm.

That's the truth - despite what Astroturfing Palm SHILLS like just_little_me say here. (By the way, just_little_me, why don't you tell everyone who your employer is? Bwahahahahaha! Biotch.)


TVoR

Well said, cbowers. JLM was biotchslapped (even more) senseless.
The_Voice_of_Reason @ 11/21/2006 2:30:29 AM # Q
...and why would he. Already well de-thirsted at the corporate trough getting a daily dose of Treo coolaid.

And that Kool-Aid is a bit more expensive than water, isn't it? And on top of that, I heard Bill Gates urinated in the Kool-Aid water!

TVoR

Reply to this comment

Meh!

DevPOV @ 11/20/2006 6:44:33 PM # Q
If I were in his shoes, I'd keep my mouth shut and be very attentive to my own business. It's negligent to assume you're untouchable in any business.

RE: Meh!
LiveFaith @ 11/20/2006 10:33:43 PM # Q
Yeah. But maybe it's a laugh of exasperation. The hounds of Moto, HTC, Nokia, S/E, Samsung etc have poor little Palm headed up a tree fast. Adding Apple to the list is a bit laughable. Kinda like have a .44 maganum held to your head and then facing the prospect of a 9MM be ing placed to the other side. Not a lotta difference.

Ed says "Get movin' with that secret biz, Jeff!"

Pat Horne

RE: Meh!
The_Voice_of_Reason @ 11/21/2006 2:50:04 AM # Q
Ed says "Get movin' with that secret biz, Jeff!"

[hengeem]

A cynic would say the "secret biz" is just a desperate smoke & mirrors show designed to keep Palm's stock price from tanking before Jeff and Donna are able to sell off the rest of their Palm shares...

*giggle*

[/hengeem]

RE: Meh!
SeldomVisitor @ 11/21/2006 6:24:20 AM # Q
Ahem...I don't think hengeem wrote that...

[and...man!...if he did his synapses ARE getting rusty!]

Reply to this comment

Palm has nothing to worry about!

randyg @ 11/20/2006 7:35:54 PM # Q
So far none of the rumors about an "iPhone" have indicated that it will be a smartphone. The only info we've been seeing is that it will merely be an iPod/Phone. No one has made any mention of PDA functionality or OS. So Palm keep doing what you're doing only give us more RAM and start offering your phones without having to go through a GD provider!

RE: Palm has nothing to worry about!
retrospooty @ 11/20/2006 7:43:42 PM # Q
"The only info we've been seeing is that it will merely be an iPod/Phone"

Yup... This wont hurt Palm, it might take small amounts of dumbphones from Motorola, Sony Erricson, LG, Nokia and the likes, but not from smartphomnes of any type.

RE: Palm has nothing to worry about!
freakout @ 11/21/2006 1:32:43 AM # Q
I agree. I'll even go so far as to say that unless Apple offer something a bit more compelling than an iPod with a phone (or a phone with an iPod) then the iPhone will not be anywhere near as dominating a force in the phone market as the iPod is in the DAP market (which might as well be called the iPod market).
RE: Palm has nothing to worry about!
cbowers @ 11/21/2006 2:14:13 AM # Q
"So far none of the rumors about an "iPhone" have indicated that it will be a smartphone. "

Nah, there's to precident at all for that...

Every ipod syncs PIM data with sync technology either via the MacOSX sync framework or via iTunes.

Apples iSync/.mac combo already keeps my PIM data for 2 Macs, 2 cellphones, 2 ipods, and a TX wirelessly synced via Bluetooth and WiFi.

Current (extensive) list of Apple sync supported platforms:
http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/isync/devices.html

Motorola phones(3)
Nokia Series 60 Smartphones(6)
Nokia Series 40 phones(6)
Palm One phones and PDAs(1)
Panasonic Series 60 phones(6)
Sendo phones(6)
Siemens phones(6)
Sony Ericsson P800, P900 and P910(6)
Sony Ericsson phones(6)

So not even a hint of a dedication to PIM data there...

But purely PIM does not a smartphone make.
The nearest product they've put out to date is the ipod.
With that, they're also selling third party downloadable games, they have a *massive* third party accessory market (many now with hardware drivers in the firmware). That accessory market has a massive online and retail chain network established, and enjoys partnerships with large hip brands for accessories. Think Apple isn't casting an eye to expanded accessory revenues in another new product line?

The last time Palm had that going for them was in the HandEra/Clie years.

Heck, unlike my Palm, I can even dual-boot my ipod into Linux.

Palm may be laughing in public, but if they have any sense, they'll be building altars and razing the california country side for livestock to offer on them, praying that Apple doesn't step into the ring with direct competition, or at the very least that the smoke and incense will blind potential Apple buyers, until they can get *something* out of R&D other than "look ma, no antenna".

" including the wildly popular Apple Computer -- could easily win customers in the finicky smart-phone sector."

They don't even have a product announced and they've already got customers for it. All it needs in the Apple name on it and it's sold in numbers Palm would kill for. Many of here will remember a day long ago when that was the case for Palm products. A good many of us here I'm sure have the same museum starting with Palm "pilots" with expanded memory cards, starting a whole string of devices along the way, modems, power sleds, IR blasters, add on LED's and vibrate modules, "weather guide" module, barcode modules, the whole deal.

Apple users have come to be acustomed to products that in general just work, are easy to use, and great support for accessories (accessories including things like most car brands now with ipod support or even the airline seatback displays for ipod video playback on 6 different carriers). Those are all things many smartphone users will be looking for. There's still too many Treo users in my earshot saying, "sure but can I just get this thing to hold a decent phone call, and sync my contacts properly".

Then google 2 sets of words at image.google.com "palm store" and "apple store".

Coles notes of the things Palm needs to fear of an Apple entrance on their turf.
Universal brand recognition
Universal accessory support
Substantial accessory partner interest

And, Palm needs to understand that Apple isn't Windows Mobile. Their pockets are as deep, but their R&D is better, and Apple demonstrably shows that they "get" the personal product space, can deliver what a consumer wants, and unlike MS and Palm, have a healthy multifaceted distribution channel in place.

I'm fanatically PalmOS committed to a fault, constantly cursing everyday that brings new Windows Mobile hardware I'd run except for the absence of PalmOS on it, and even I'd likely bolt to an Apple release. The only question is how long I'd still tote my Palm as well...

RE: Palm has nothing to worry about!
freakout @ 11/22/2006 2:53:36 AM # Q
"They don't even have a product announced and they've already got customers for it. All it needs in the Apple name on it and it's sold in numbers Palm would kill for."

Brands mean a lot to people and the iPod brand is a very strong one. But assuming that something is going to sell big simply because of the brand is a very arrogant, dangerous attitude for any company to take. Look at the torrent of negative press and gamer feedback Sony has gotten recently (for quite awhile now, actually) over the PS3, despite the fact that the Playstation brand is synonymous with gaming across the world nowadays.

oh, and a further unrelated point: I love Palm's whole philosophy of "mobile computing". I imagine Apple aren't looking to build a mobile computer, they're looking to build a really good phone/music player. I really don't think Apple are going to be competing for the smartphone space*. At least, not with iPhone's first iteration...


*which is actually kind of a shame, because they'd likely grow the market hugely.

Tim
I apologise for any and all emoticons that appear in my posts. You may shoot them on sight.
Treo 270 ---> Treo 650

RE: Palm has nothing to worry about!
cbowers @ 11/22/2006 3:52:23 AM # Q
But assuming that something is going to sell big simply because of the brand is a very arrogant, dangerous attitude for any company to take.

They haven't. Haven't said a word in fact. It was my comment, based on hosts of various influential podcasts. I'm just repeating the pent up desire being expressed for apples approach to that product.

Look at the torrent of negative press and gamer feedback Sony has gotten recently (for quite awhile now, actually) over the PS3, despite the fact that the Playstation brand is synonymous with gaming across the world nowadays.

Not much of a comparison though. Nevermind the PS3, what if *anything* has Sony gotten right in recent memory. What in recent memory has Apple gotten wrong (apart perhaps from buying a couple million laptop batteries from Sony). Sure there's the emac, and the G4 cube, a good ways back. Every company has it's misteps. But on the balance, which ones demontrate a consistent top tier batting average, learn from mistakes, continually refine products, as well as breaking out into totally new directions, while covering the bottom line.

Palm just doesn't compare there and hasn't for almost a decade.

I imagine Apple aren't looking to build a mobile computer, they're looking to build a really good phone/music player. I really don't think Apple are going to be competing for the smartphone space*. At least, not with iPhone's first iteration...

Fortunately the 2nd iteration is already in progress. Dunno though. If you took a current ipod, put a cellular radio, and a user input system on it, you'd pretty much already have a smart phone (PIM, syncing, 3rd party software and hardware, user up-dateable firmware).

People are still hanging on to and using Apples PDA's (newton), lest we forget the PIM side isn't unfamiliar territory for them.

But sure, we'll have to see what's for seeing, when it's seeable. J'us saying scoffin' given this set of variables is a fools game. 'Specially when we're comparing one company just off a 52 week low on their stock (and at that only on renewed buyout rumors), and the other is at a 52 week high. One's got game, and the other is starting to leave a bit of a gamey taste in the mouth.

RE: Palm has nothing to worry about!
freakout @ 11/22/2006 4:41:35 AM # Q
They haven't. Haven't said a word in fact. It was my comment

I know, I know. I just see a lot of Mac Cultists (to quote a certain Voice) on the 'net proclaiming the superiority and dominance of the iPhone before it's even released and it irritates me (not that you're one of those ;) ). But I'm also willing to bet once they take the wraps off, Apple will do their usual "We're so cool and hip and better than you and we wear turtlenecks" marketing thing and promote it as the Second Coming.

But sure, we'll have to see what's for seeing, when it's seeable. J'us saying scoffin' given this set of variables is a fools game. 'Specially when we're comparing one company just off a 52 week low on their stock (and at that only on renewed buyout rumors), and the other is at a 52 week high. One's got game, and the other is starting to leave a bit of a gamey taste in the mouth.

Fair enough. It's a sure bet the iPhone will be successful, it's just a question of how successful. Colligan has been with the Treo since Handspring, though, and probably knows better than most how difficult it can be to make a good phone. Apple and the Mac Cultists probably shouldn't expect too much from the first iPhone either.

Here's to the exciting world of gadgets!

Signed,
a Treo Cultist

RE: Palm has nothing to worry about!
Wollombi @ 11/22/2006 1:19:37 PM # Q
>>"But assuming that something is going to sell big simply because of the brand is a very arrogant, dangerous attitude for any company to take."<<

And yet, this is *JUST* what Colligan did in making such comments. Palm's hubris seems to know no bounds, all while they continue to destroy themselves by committing to an arena full of fierce competition while ignoring the sector they used to dominate.

_________________
Sean

There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.

RE: Palm has nothing to worry about!
cbowers @ 11/23/2006 3:15:50 AM # Q
Colligan has been with the Treo since Handspring, though, and probably knows better than most how difficult it can be to make a good phone.

Particularly so when one has their fingers in their ears while their customer is speaking (be that to complain about bugs that should never have made it into a release candidate, and then aren't fixed when they're pointed out, or about features desired or old ones missed.

In the early days, Palm made PDA's for all of us. Of late Palm makes products that cater more to *their* needs, and the needs of carriers. And they don't change, even in the face of loss of sales, loss of stock value, loss of partners and licensees, loss of relevance, loss of respect.

Palm, dance with the one what brung ya.
Or you'll be sitting alone on the sideline with an empty dance card.

RE: Palm has nothing to worry about!
joad @ 11/26/2006 2:56:33 PM # Q
iPhone Competition Laughs Off Colligan

Reply to this comment

Now I see the Problem

theog @ 11/21/2006 12:17:14 AM # Q
As I've always said... Palm's problem is management... you don't dismiss Apple computer as simply a computer company. Especially when your phones are only ok. Well, what choices do consumers have?

Hell, if they were all of that I WOULD HAVE ONE!!!!!!!!!!

That guy is a joke... no, his statement is a joke. No, both are a joke. What a joke...

If Apple could pull off a launch with a phone that does not reset or have “little” issues, then they will have a winner. Period.

Treo looks the same from when the other company made it… Palm did not even invent it….

I’m disgusted with palm.


Vote for John Kerry... best man for the job.

Reply to this comment

Ouch.

VampireLestat @ 11/21/2006 12:39:07 AM # Q
Ouch.

Mr Colligan is going to eat his words big time if Apple has an iPhone.

Do NOT underestimate Steve Jobs.

RE: Ouch.
fierywater @ 11/21/2006 12:44:49 PM # Q
Couldn't have put it any more clearly myself.

Reply to this comment

State of Denial

TrafficGeek @ 11/21/2006 7:11:47 AM # Q
...well if I didn't have sufficient reason to bail of this sinking boat before. It's pretty obvious that Big Ed hasn't managed to extract his skull from his gluteus maximus.

Would someone at Iambic and/or Pimlico PLEASE, PLEASE port their killer apps to Symbian (NOT UIQ please!) and give us a frak'n lifeline to GET OFF this raft?

US Robotics Pilot 5000 -> 3Com Palm III -> Sony Cile N710C -> Sony Clie T615C -> Palm LifeDrive

Reply to this comment

MORON!

Khris @ 11/21/2006 8:41:23 AM # Q
What a twat!

What's the last thing you can do when you know you're sinking and have no escape.......SCRAMBLE!! Good job Ed! Nice to see you still have enough life left to go down kicking and screaming the entire way.

Reply to this comment

Apple buying Treos

just_little_me @ 11/21/2006 4:27:58 PM # Q
I just heard a juicy little rumour from an Apple insider that a significant number of Treo 680's are on order by Apple - for deployment to Apple staff. Why would they do that if they had their own smartphone in the wings? Maybe there's some vertical app they've developed or some other reason... but it's interesting none-the-less...

The plot thickens...

JLM.

RE: Apple buying Treos
SeldomVisitor @ 11/21/2006 4:47:41 PM # Q
Reverse engineering.

RE: Apple buying Treos
twrock @ 11/21/2006 7:19:30 PM # Q
I don't think there is enough information available yet to know what "kind" of phone Apple will put out. I think it's a very good bet that it will work exceptionally well with iTunes. ;-)

I think the point of many above isn't so much that this rumored Apple phone is the stake in the heart of Palm's Treo business. I think we are most concerned with the attitude displayed by Colligan and the mindset that it points to. This is not the way we would want the CEO of Palm to be thinking about potential competition. (Remember that most of us here at PIC really are loyal Palm enthusiasts; we want Palm to succeed, but we have grown tired of what appears to us to be failures and mismanagement.)

Look at MS for comparison. What is their response to competition (even competition only marginally related to their core business)? Can't you just hear Bill saying to the guys over in the IE department, "Hey, don't worry; it took us years to get IE working this well; those guys working on Firefox won't get very much of our marketshare anyway."

I'm still waiting for the mythical color HandEra.

RE: Apple buying Treos
freakout @ 11/21/2006 7:46:36 PM # Q
It's simple: Apple probably wants a user-friendly, versatile phone/email/communication device for their employees and the Treo fits the bill perfectly.

Ten bucks says the iPhone won't do email or have a QWERTY board. Touchscreen, maybe, although I doubt it.

Tim
I apologise for any and all emoticons that appear in my posts. You may shoot them on sight.
Treo 270 ---> Treo 650

RE: Apple buying Treos
Gekko @ 8/11/2008 11:12:11 AM # Q

sure!

RE: Apple buying Treos
mikecane @ 8/12/2008 5:54:00 AM # Q
Never look back. It's horrible.

RE: Apple buying Treos
PacManFoo @ 8/12/2008 2:42:27 PM # Q
PC guys won't be able to come into the Smartphone market and do well. Apple stands no chance versus the head start that the Treo has. Oh wait this isn't 2006 anymore, ...nevermind.

The last known classic PDA user.
I've recently upgraded from a Palm TX to a Newton MP2000!
http://newtonpda.googlepages.com
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Gizmodo says Monday

SeldomVisitor @ 12/15/2006 8:42:33 AM # Q
-- http://tinyurl.com/yezzmf

This should be interesting...

RE: Gizmodo says Monday - lol!
SeldomVisitor @ 12/18/2006 7:36:31 AM # Q
Turns out Cisco owns "iPhone"...

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iPhone vs Treo Smartphone

palmt600 @ 1/9/2007 3:32:18 PM # Q
Apple's iPhone vs Palm's Treo? Wow, this is gonna be good. I already enjoy my Treo 700p for it's powerful features (MP3 player, video player, internet, google maps, email, digital camera, video camera, ftp, bluetooth, contacts, programs, utilities, games, infrared, modem, etc.) If the iPhone can magically offer the same features and more, all at a lower price than the Treo, I may consider. In the meantime, I'll enjoy the competition they're bringing onto the table. It might make my next Treo Smartphone upgrade a little more afordable :-)

http://www.i-eshop.com/treo

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What now, Colligan?

scstraus2 @ 1/10/2007 4:13:33 PM # Q
So, what do you have to say about the iPhone now Colligan you smartass? Stupid cocky bastard, we were trying to warn you. Did you listen to us? Nope. Now what? I bet your fabulous 4th line of business isn't looking too exciting any more, is it?

RE: What now, Colligan?
SeldomVisitor @ 1/16/2007 6:16:21 AM # Q
Ya got that right!

Giggle.

RE: What now, Colligan?
freakout @ 1/16/2007 7:09:57 AM # Q
So, what do you have to say about the iPhone now Colligan you smartass?

Not that I'd expect Colligan to be as eloquent as yours truly, but how 'bout:

"No one will actually be able to use one for another six months, but on the surface iPhone is an insanely expensive feature phone with questionable messaging abilities and a battery life to be measured in seconds."

Like he said: they're not just going to walk in and dominate the smartphone space - actually, given that iPhone's going to be a closed platform, can we really call it a smartphone? - no matter how many standing ovations Jobs gets from his zombie slaves.

And imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Ringer switch, threaded messaging, touchscreen... Palm are obviously getting something right if over-hyped Apple are following their lead. :P

Tim
I apologise for any and all emoticons that appear in my posts. You may shoot them on sight.
Treo 270 ---> Treo 650 ---> Crimson Treo 680

Reply to this comment

That Colligan still laughts?!

uuhh @ 1/16/2007 1:57:44 AM # Q
BRING COBALT BACK !!!
BRING COBALT BACK !!!
BRING COBALT BACK !!!

Reply to this comment

LOL

HomesickAlien @ 7/9/2009 9:27:01 PM # Q
I came across this thread doing a google search and thought it was good for a laugh! I bet Palm is rethinking their strategy since Colligan originally said this. I guess hindsight is 20/20 but Palm sure has egg on their face now!
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