Handheld Makers Start Advertising Heavily

According to the director of marketing at Microsoft's mobile devices group, 60% of their handheld sales come in the Christmas season. This really brings into focus the need for all PDA makers to advertise heavily going into the all-important holiday season.

Handspring's first ever national advertising campaign is set to begin in the next week or two with the phrase, "Visor is." They will do both outdoor advertising and full-pages ads in newspapers and magazines. In November, Palm will begin a campaign focused on the IIIc and color in general.

Sony is ramping up a print advertising campaign to bring the new Clie handhelds to the attention of a wider audience and Microsoft is continuing its "Can Your Palm Do That?" print campaign in October to point out what PocketPCs can do that Palms can't.