Handspring Offers Very First Treo Up for Auction

Posted By: Ed on Monday, December 10, 2001 10:51:50 AM

Handspring, Inc. has just announced that the first Handspring Treo to be offered for sale is up for bid on eBay. This is part of a larger charity drive by eBay and the Consumer Electronics Association, which will feature donated consumer electronics items, including three more Handspring Treo communicators. Proceeds will go to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, the nation's largest youth mentoring program. The Handspring Treo is currently not sold anywhere else. At last check, the Treo was going for over $900, quite a bit above the $400 it will cost in when available in January.

The model up for bid on eBay is a Treo 180 with a built-in QWERTY keyboard and will come with a certificate of authenticity.

This raises the interesting question, are people willing to pay a premium for this Treo because they can't wait until January to get one, or do they believe it will be a collector's item?

"We're proud to offer the very first of what we believe is the most innovative handheld product since the original Palm Pilot as part of eBay's charity effort to raise visibility and money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America," said Karen Sipprell, vice president of corporate marketing for Handspring.

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It's $600 without a contract, Ed.

peter167 @ 12/10/2001 11:02:58 AM #

It's $600 without a contract, Ed.

I'm sorry....$700

Coyote67 @ 12/10/2001 11:08:38 AM #

Wow. Thats just wow......I guess the desire for a Treo is pretty big :) This isn't the first time HS did this. I recall them auctioning off the first visor on ebay with proceeds going to charity. Nice to know they actually care about that kinda stuff. Handspring donates visors to WTC workers and what does Palm do? Release m50xs with red and blue cases. Thanx a lot palm.

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When you have a Clie shoved up your mouth, you can only talk in vowels.

RE: I'm sorry....$681.51

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/10/2001 11:13:32 AM #

81.51 dollars above list price is nothing, comparing to playstation 2

remember playstation was about a thousand dollars auctioning on ebay while the supply is a few hundred

now Treo is just 681.51 dollars and the supply is 1.

If it's really that hot it should be at least close to 800 by now.

RE: I'm sorry....$700

nyates @ 12/10/2001 11:15:18 AM #

Wait just a moment, Palm donated VIIx's and wireless access to the W.T.C. efforts. Check your facts before posting crap!

RE: I'm sorry....$700

Coyote67 @ 12/10/2001 11:18:22 AM #

Woops, didn't know that, sorry. Sheesh, don't get so excited.

Anyone remember about someone making $500 or so just from selling the Playstation 2 box during the christmas season? Now that is insane.

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When you have a Clie shoved up your mouth, you can only talk in vowels.

Donations

Ed @ 12/10/2001 11:21:53 AM #

A great many companies made donations to help out during the September 11 attacks. In addition to the ones already mentioned, Palm donated $5 million worth of products to the eBay Auction for America. You can read more about this here:
http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_Story.asp?ID=2347

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News Editor

RE: I'm sorry....$700

nyates @ 12/10/2001 11:22:47 AM #

Bad morning!
A co-worker of mine paid $500 for a $10 Tickle-me-Elmo doll. Her kid was afraid of it when she turned it on. Ended up going to Goodwill

RE: I'm sorry....$700

Coyote67 @ 12/10/2001 2:22:20 PM #

Bahaha, now that is funny.

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When you have a Clie shoved up your mouth, you can only talk in vowels.

RE: I'm sorry....$700

Ed @ 12/10/2001 4:08:43 PM #

It's now going for $910.

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News Editor

RE: I'm sorry....$700

skoty @ 12/11/2001 11:32:29 AM #

Well, now it's at $1625.00. If that doesn't demonstrate the type of demand for these little communicators, just wait. There's 8 days left in the auction.

What do they get?!

mikecane @ 12/10/2001 11:26:25 AM #

Just the Treo?! Is the wireless net in place to use it?!

RE: What do they get?!

Ed @ 12/10/2001 11:44:33 AM #

I believe that anywhere you can get GSM service, you can use a Treo. Of course, GSM hasn't caught on in the U.S. like it has in the rest of the world so you'd better be sure it is offered in your area before you put down any bids.

Rumor has it Handspring is working on a CDMA version of the Treo, too.

You might be interested in this article on the growth of GSM/GPRS in the U.S.:
www.palminfocenter.com/view_Story.asp?ID=2524

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News Editor

RE: What do they get?!

GregGaub @ 12/10/2001 11:45:15 AM #

It runs on the GSM phone network. Anyone with a GSM account already can use their SIM card with this device. If they don't have a GSM wireless account, they can get one through any of several providers around the country (VoiceStream and Cingular in my area). If I ever get my hands on one of these, I'll be happy. Too bad I already have an account, and would have to pay the extra $200, or get another account... then again, another wirelss phone couldn't hurt. :)

RE: What do they get?!

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/10/2001 1:01:52 PM #

FYI Canadians:

Rogers AT&T is setting up a GSM/GPRS network to parallel existing CDMA networks. Major centers only now, rural areas to follow (Jan - Feb 2002).

I was cool to the idea of the Treo because it uses GSM, but now I can't wait!

(Well, maybe I can wait 'til they're generally avaiable...)

RE: What do they get?!

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/10/2001 1:19:29 PM #

^^^^^^

Do you know if Rogers will be supporting the Treo devices? They seem to only support the phones "they" choose... which is why I switched over to Bell Mobility... But if they are going to support the Treo, I would definately switch back, as Bell hasn't made any mentions of GSM/GPRS support.

Any Canadians using the Visor Phone? Does anyone know of any providers that will support it?

RE: What do they get?!

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/11/2001 12:02:46 AM #

I am in Canada and I am using the VisorPhone with FIDO. They really support it but you can get the SIM card fromt hem for any GSM phone that you have. They care about you paying your monthly fees than you getting one of their phones.

According to TREO FAQ, the phone should be available with FIDO and ROgers...I am pretty sure Rogers is going to offer it with contract. FIDO does not have contract arrangements.

Wait a minute.

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/10/2001 12:12:16 PM #

If you bid on this thing at $740.00 (currently), you either have a LOT of money to burn or you are just plain stupid...or both. You realize that all of Handsprings execs and large corporate contacts are already using this thing so if you bought it, you would probably number 50 - 100 to own one.

The folks at Handspring have now proven that they are publicity whores.

RE: Wait a minute.

palmcoder @ 12/10/2001 12:22:52 PM #

I.M. Anonymous a.k.a "The Grinch" said,
"The folks at Handspring have now proven that they are publicity whores."

..or perhaps they've proven that they are willing to use the excitement surrounding their latest product to help out a deserving charity?

RE: Wait a minute.

madhatter @ 12/10/2001 12:33:45 PM #

Ignore Mr. Anonymous.. the only people publicity hounds in this affair are the 15 year olds who write such crap instead of studying in class as they should be.

A Palm in hand is worth two in your pocket.

RE: Wait a minute.

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/10/2001 1:12:28 PM #

FYI - from the "Grinch"

I am 31 years of age and intelligent enough to understand what is going on here. Why doesn't Handspring, QUIETLY, just give the money to the cause? Big Brothers and Big Sisters needs a hell of a lot more money than that received of an auctioned Handspring product. From the press release:

"The Treo 180 series is the first in a new line of communicator products from Handspring that combines a mobile phone, wireless data applications like email, short messaging and Internet browsing, and a Palm OS organizer into one compact device."

What does that have to do with helping the needy?

We should probably agree to disagree on this item. I just do not like corporations doing this kind of advertising.

RE: Wait a minute.

Coyote67 @ 12/10/2001 2:24:07 PM #

Uhh, maybe you don't seem to understand the idea of an auction. They provide something people want, for free, and people bid on it. The proceeds then go to a charity. Giving money quietly is not an auction.

They give information about the device because this is an auction, and people like to know what they are buying in an auction. Plus it is a press release, you don't just say you are auctioning something off and not actually describe what it is.0

Handspring is a company, who has stock holders, stock holder's who's investments need to be protected. While its all nice and all if a company gives money away, its not nice if they go out of business because of that. By doing the donations this way, handspring lets money be raised for a good cause and at the same time not hurt them. Money isn't free you know.

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When you have a Clie shoved up your mouth, you can only talk in vowels.

RE: Wait a minute.

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/10/2001 4:12:51 PM #

I understand the idea, I really do. Again, I STILL do not like it. It is using a good cause to promote a product. You think any of these people who need Big Brothers and Sisters care about Handspring or even know what a Treo is or better yet, would be able to afford one? You really think Handspring cares about them? Ask Handspring how much they have given to the B&G Club recently, besides the billboard on e-bay.

RE: Wait a minute.

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/10/2001 4:28:54 PM #

Shouldn't that be shoved IN your mouth. I mean, if your "mouth" is only accessable going "up", it raises a ton of other questions about you actually do with battery operated electronics.

;-)

RE: Wait a minute.

jeremyf @ 12/10/2001 8:30:28 PM #

Yawn. It's a promotion. "Get your hands on the first Treo ever!"

Do you want them to just keep the hundreds/thousands they make off of it? Might as well give it to charity.

RE: Wait a minute.

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/11/2001 12:05:47 AM #

Its a promotion? SO what? I think its a good thing. I would be upset if the money was being pocketed by Handspring itself.

RE: Wait a minute.

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/11/2001 12:52:32 PM #

Why doesnt Handspring reach into their pockets and cut a check for $10,000.00 to Big Brothers and Big Sisters instead of auctioning/promoting their NEW product?

They could even write it off as a tax deduction.

I can her the conversation now....

Hawkins: "I have an idea how we can promote the Treo. We can auction the first one off for charity. Those poor saps need our money, but I would rather get some free advertising and let someone else dish out the funds. Im sure that the 3 treos will go for about $5,000.00 and it would only cost us about $300.00 to build them. Our stockholders would be pleased that we were able to aquire free advertising while helping a good cause!"

I agree - Handspring is just using this for free publicity

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/12/2001 12:40:02 AM #

It's a bit obscene that they have probably managed to generate tens of thousands of dollars worth of free advertising by giving away a device that probably cost them less than $100 to manufacture. They're just using the chatity-du-jour to help create a "buzz" over the Treo. If they really cared about the charity, they would just GIVE them the money without trying to get cheap press.

As someone said above, if you don't see anything fundamentally wrong with what Handspring is doing, then we'll just have to agree to disareee about this.

What are you guys doing??

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/10/2001 3:55:44 PM #

I listed the first Clie N760C, N610C and T415 on eBay.

And you didn't report my case like this Treo?

hmm.. unfair... ops...

What we're doing

Ed @ 12/10/2001 4:01:56 PM #

The story is *not* about the first Treo for sale on eBay. The story *is* about the very first Treo for sale anywhere being auctioned off for charity. Were your auctions weeks before they were available anywhere else? And did you donate all the money to charity? Do something similar in the future and let me know about it and I'll be happy to publicize it.

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News Editor

RE: What are you guys doing??

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/10/2001 4:31:36 PM #

That's funny - figured a Sony jockey would speak up sooner or later. I guess they'll all be silenced if Palm doesn't upgrade their OS quick enough and Sony dumps the Clie product line, leaving you guys and your four different connectors in the dust.
Or was that dust under the screen?

hey come on...

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/11/2001 4:02:38 AM #

Get some sense of humor, I know that is different. (I read the whole article, of course!!)

Just try to take it in a humor way, OK? Don't be so serious and nervous.

And, this is not anything to do with "Sony fan", it's from a "eBayer" who does business.

Merry Xmas~

Stupid!

ahecht @ 12/10/2001 4:37:56 PM #

Never buy the first one off the assembly line. It always takes a while to get the bugs worked out of the manufacturing process. Just look at the soldering problems with the first batch of m505s!

wow

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/11/2001 3:04:04 PM #

Have you seen how high the bidding is now....

$1900+ US Dollars.

Crazy stuff.

Ok this is insane

Coyote67 @ 12/11/2001 10:53:22 PM #

Ok, this is officially insane. Its at $2,350. I know giving to charity is nice, but man that is sure a lot of money :).

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When you have a Clie shoved up your mouth, you can only talk in vowels.

RE: Ok this is insane

I.M. Anonymous @ 12/11/2001 11:02:47 PM #

Hope all the bids are real. I remember hearing a while back that Madona had put one of her houses up for auction on the Internet. Bidding went to a billion dollars. She sold it later at a real auction for less than $300,000

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