Handspring Launches Wireless Email Service

Posted By: Ed Monday, May 13, 2002 9:51:08 AM

Handspring has announced that Treo Mail, its wireless email service designed exclusively for the Treo line, is out of beta and now available. The service provides access to desktop email and can forward email from a PC to the Treo and vice versa. It had been available as a free beta since mid-March but yearly subscriptions are now being sold.

Treo Mail Screenshot Treo Mail is available in two versions. Treo Mail Corporate Edition is for an individual business user to access a Microsoft Outlook/Exchange or POP3 email account behind a corporate firewall. Treo Mail Internet Edition is for consumers using a personal POP3 email account offered by a service provider such as Earthlink, Yahoo!, or AT&T Worldnet.

The Internet Edition costs $50 for a one-year subscription while the Corporate Edition is $100 per year.

The Treo Mail service is made up of handheld software, PC desktop software (for Corporate Edition users), and a Service Operations Center that stores and forwards messages when the communicator is off or out of coverage.

With the Corporate Edition, the desktop software is necessary for the service to work. Therefore, the computer must be turned on and connected to the network or email will not be delivered to the Treo.

The Corporate Edition has been designed to integrate with Microsoft Outlook/Exchange. Users can forward messages with attachments from the Treo. Read/unread status and deletions from on the handheld are reflected on the desktop computer.

Treo Mail will work only on the Treo. The rocker switch and scroll buttons can be used to toggle through and select messages to read using one hand and without opening the flip lid. Messages are formatted to fit Treo's screen. Users can directly address messages from the PhoneBook, similar to the SMS application already available on the Treo.

It has been designed to help cut down on the amount of bandwidth used. Filters may be set to to control which messages are forwarded to the Treo. Forwarded emails can be truncated to save memory and messages are compressed by up to one third.

It offers 128-bit SSL strong encryption so that email is delivered to and from the Treo securely. Email is secure in transit between Treo and the Treo Mail Service Operations Center, where it is cached in encrypted form, and then delivered to a Corporate Edition customer's PC. Secure access is built in; it does not require a VPN or direct dial into a corporate LAN.

The back-end is provided by Visto.

"Our original vision for Treo was to combine the functionality of a cell phone, a personal organizer, and a wireless email device in one compact package. The release of Treo Mail delivers the critical email component of that vision," said Joe Sipher, vice president of product marketing at Handspring.

The Treo line is currently made up of two smartphones. The Treo 180 has a built-in keyboard like the Blackberry pager and no Graffiti area. The other model, the Treo 180g, relies on the traditional Graffiti for text input..

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Still not ''always-on''

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/13/2002 10:10:52 AM #
This sounds good, but it's still a far cry from having "always-on" e-mail functionality, because e-mail is only checked at predetermined times or upon demand and in any event always uses up airtime minutes. When will the Treo have constantly pushed e-mail for a flat monthly fee -- or will it ever?

RE: Still not ''always-on''
Ed @ 5/13/2002 10:25:24 AM #
It can't have always on email until it is connected to an always on wireless service. The current versions of the Treo will have always-on email once Handspring releases its long-promised update to GPRS. The company hasn't announced even a tentative date for this.

The CDMA2000 version of the Treo will be released by the end of June, and the Sprint wireless network that will give it always on access is expected to be available sometime this summer. It will be able to use regular CDMA networks in the mean time.

---
News Editor

RE: Still not ''always-on''
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/13/2002 10:40:43 AM #
I received the following comments via e-mail from PR at Handspring in response to my questions about avilability:

"Treo 270 and cdma version of treo available mid-year. Cdma version 3G compatible on sprint's network at time of availability. 270 is GPRS-enabled, but it will be a software upgrade at end of summer."

This answers some questions but still leaves many others, such as:

(1) Will the CDMA version coming out "mid-year" be the 180 or the 270?

(2) Will the CDMA version -- which this e-mail says will be "3G compatible on sprint's network at time of availability" -- make use of 3G features (such as always-on) at time of availability, or does "compatible" mean "upgradeable later"?

(3) When is the "end of summer"?!

RE: Still not ''always-on''
big_raji @ 5/13/2002 10:40:58 AM #
Wow, I could've sworn they released a GPRS patch awhile ago. Guess I was wrong. I just checked out www.rogers.com, and it described the Treo as a "Phone/Organizer/SMS Text Messaging Device".

No mention of internet, e-mail, etc. No wonder it's not selling well. A $0 Nokia phone has basic organizer functions, SMS, AND WAP Browsing/e-mail.

Handspring really NEEDS a GPRS patch. Until then, this device is seen by the general public as a CDN$999 device with NO internet capabilities.

---
What's Wrong With This Picture?
http://raj.phangureh.com/picture.html

RE: Still not ''always-on''
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/13/2002 6:05:52 PM #
I guess that you are really stupid to understand the differences between a CDMA and a GPRS...

It's not about software It's all about Network!

You can't patch something from CDMA into GPRS! If you want a GPRS network in your area, the phone company has to build a GPRS network in your area. The patch is only for the software part while the physically GPRS network has to be built (or upgraded) by the phone company.

Stupid!

RE: Still not ''always-on''
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/13/2002 6:28:42 PM #
Yo Troll,

What Raj meant is that Rogers should upgrade
the SOFTWARE of the GSM Treo's to GPRS.
Rogers uses GSM, NOT CDMA!! As a matter of
fact, Raj didn't even TALK about CDMA at all,
so I don't understand why you brought up
patching CDMA to GPRS. Maybe you should work
on your english interpretation skills?

Roger's already HAS a GPRS network. The limiting
factor here is the handset, which is what he
said.

RE: Still not ''always-on''
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/13/2002 8:44:51 PM #
Rogers decided to forgo normal data services. I can use the RTeo fully (internet adn all) on the FIDO Network.
RE: Still not ''always-on''
big_raji @ 5/14/2002 4:01:49 AM #
Yikes, thanks for the defense I.M.Anonymous :) It's crazy how fierce and "violent" some anonymous posters get. I'm still trying to figure out how CDMA got into the conversation.

Anyways, how did you (Last I.M.Anonymous) get your Treo working on the Fido network? Did you buy your Treo from somewhere in or outside of Canada?

I'm curious if you bought an unlocked Treo in Canada. I've got a friend waiting for a color version, but would like it unlocked, and needs it purchased buy his company from somewhere in Canada. (his company will not order the item unless it's shipped from within Canada, or from a Canadian retail store)

I'm also assuming you're using GSM Data instead of GPRS for accessing the internet... correct? Does Fido provide the ISP access?

---
What's Wrong With This Picture?
http://raj.phangureh.com/picture.html

Why not use SMS alerts?

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/13/2002 10:40:28 AM #
Many services provide SMS alerts when an e-mail is received, and many even alert you to partial content of the message. I know Yahoo offers a service similar to this for free. Maybe it will work for you. The link is:
http://mobile.yahoo.com/wireless/alert

is it outdated

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/13/2002 10:46:48 AM #
I dont know im getting a little concerned of the lack of product rollout for the treo (most importantly GPRS) and wonder if it will soon be outdated by other smartphones from other manufacturers or even handspring itself
RE: is it outdated
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/13/2002 11:04:18 AM #
they released this because GPRS wont be availible for the TReo until 2003
RE: is it outdated
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/13/2002 11:06:32 AM #
"they released this because GPRS wont be availible for the TReo until 2003"

This sounds like a malicious rumor. Handspring's website and the e-mail from Handspring quoted above both promise this year (specifically, mid-year or summer). What's the source for your reference to 2003?

Help me out here....

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/13/2002 2:08:50 PM #
The Treo - like all Palm OS devices - has a tcp/ip protocol stack, right? And it it's not 'hemmed in' from using this to access the 'real' internet the way that Palm.net service for PalmIIV/i705 is? So - why would i pay Handspring for their email service? Could i not use a standard email client app (there are a bunch out there) in conjunction with my existing account??? Somebody explain this to me please - why would i use this and - more importantly - why is it that these device manufacturers think that they should be service providers?? Dell,Gateway,Compaq and IBM don't sell email services, so whats the difference here?? Somebody explain this to me......
RE: Help me out here....
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/13/2002 2:17:17 PM #
"Could i not use a standard email client app (there are a bunch out there) in conjunction with my existing account???"

You could, as far as I can tell. But I don't know of any other e-mail client for the Palm OS that does the following (as TreoMail supposedly does):

(1) Can check for e-mail on a predetermined schedule.
(2) Compresses e-mail for faster downloading.
(3) Offers a corresponding web application for filtering.
(4) Operates via a "one-touch" button.

If I am mistaken, please let me know what other e-mail applications do some or all of the above.

RE: Help me out here....
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/13/2002 3:08:16 PM #
That's a secondary features tho' Not a real strong incentive to enter the service. It's a little like my car has more cup holders than yours, hence mine is better argument.
RE: Help me out here....
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/13/2002 3:23:49 PM #
Depends how important cup holders are to the car owner, I suppose!
RE: Help me out here....
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/13/2002 3:44:12 PM #
$50 and $100 annual fee makes an expensive cup holders don't you think? Specially considering yous til have to pay airtime and there are competition.
RE: Help me out here....
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/13/2002 3:58:11 PM #
No. I'd gladly pay $50 a month -- for the RIGHT solution. Unfortunately, Treo Mail is not (yet?) the right solution, because it's not "always on."

$100/year for THAT?

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/13/2002 5:38:19 PM #
I use Corsoft Aileron (www.corsoft.net) and not only get all the features of TreoMail, but I also get support for DocsToGo, Wordsmith, and Quickoffice attachment conversion from all the Word/Excel/powerpoint attachments... I can even now SEND email attachments from wordsmith or quickoffice and people get my emails with the Word file attached.

and, Aileron is only $30/year. plus, i can set it to get email every five minutes or 30 minutes, etc.

Seems like stiff markup for the treo brand...

RE: $100/year for THAT?
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/13/2002 8:24:27 PM #
I agree. I have been using Aileron for a year now and it is simply the best e-mail app out there. And you get attachments!

Corsoft needs a better marketing campaign.

Palm OS e-mail
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 4:27:08 AM #
Of course you could use any Palm OS e-mail client on the Treo, and just use the phone capabilities to dial up the internet through some provider.

I use MultiMail. You guys use Aileron. One thing Treo Mail offers that MultiMail hasn't is SSL, and that keeps me from using my Palm to access corporate mail. Does Aileron offer that?

I use poor man's always on with the Treo --- Here is how !

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 5:49:32 AM #
I use AT&T worldnet with the Treo. I use the e-mail forwarding capability such that when an e-mail is received it "pushes" a copy to my treo via my voicestream SMS e-mail address. (could be any e-mail that forwards) I receive "Instant notification". Of course with SMS you only get 160 characters or so of the e-mail. Most times this is enough. I know I have mail, and I can decide to dial up and use one touch download or not if I need to see more than 160 characters. I Like it.
RE: I use poor man's always on with the Treo --- Here is how !
big_raji @ 5/14/2002 12:38:15 PM #
I've tried that, but every time someone sends me an e-mail, and I have it forwarded to my phone, the cellular provider's SMTP<->SMS Gateway server sends an error message back to the sender if the message is >160 characters.

I personally don't care, but then I always get phone calls afterwards from the sender, or they try sending it 2 or 3 more times, etc, etc.

If Rogers AT&T in Canada would disable this error, everything would be fine. Now, it's just more of a hassle explaining it to people than having the convenience of e-mail forwarded to my phone.

I don't have a Treo, I'm just talking about SMS e-mails in Canada in general.

---
What's Wrong With This Picture?
http://raj.phangureh.com/picture.html

RE: I use poor man's always on with the Treo --- Here is how !
I.M. Anonymous @ 5/14/2002 7:20:50 PM #
Hi all,

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am currently using sms email notification through fido(@fido.ca) to get instant notification of email... The fido mail gets automatically forwarded to my personal pop3 mailbox... I can then connect through treo mail to my pop3 mailbox...

No error messages and works smoothly...

Everyone just emails me on my fido.ca email address...

Thanks!

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