Comments on: NPD Reports Smartphone Growth Spurt

Obviously there is some fluctuation because not all devices are available for all carriers and whatnot.

However, given, for example the 700p and 700w, which are available for the same networks, have similar features and cost roughly the same, I'd be interested to know which one has higher sales numbers. Of course, you'd have to do it for summer of 2006 on, because the 700w was out before the 700p.

"4) Treo sales stagger under the multi-pronged assault of several new pseudo-smartphones from Motorola, Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, LG, etc. Nokia's E models and (especially) Motorola's new Q will seize massive marketshare from the Treos. Palm initially tries to bolster sales by cutting prices, but the competition smells blood and goes in for the kill by slashing prices + initiating a savage price war by April 2007."

The NPD report is rather meaningless without cold, hard, accurate NUMBERS regarding handset sales by model (e.g. did the Motorola Q sell more in total than the COMBINED totals for next 4 devices in the top five list? Or did it generate just one or two more end user sales than the #2 device (the now-discontinued Treo 650)? In the end, only carriers and manufacturers know the ugly truth.

The sad part for Palm is the competition isn't sitting still, while Palm essentially hasn't moved in the past 3 years. Can Palm compete with devices like these that are either already released or are expected to arrive within weeks?:

Motorola Q Pro (http://www.slashphone.com/83/5781.html)

Samsung SGH-i600

Nokia E62

Sorry, Palm - simply doubling the amount of RAM in your Treo offerings every 2 years and E V E N T U A L L Y lopping off the external antenna is NOT the way to compete with the big handset providers. Motorola, Nokia et. al. are about to eat you alive. Good Luck. Vaya con dios, amigo...

TVoR