Palm Q3FY07 Conference Call Highlights

"Handheld revenues came in at $56 million, a 44% year over year decline. Handheld sell tough was 456,000 units with 277,000 sold. Even with the reduction in PDA sales, Colligan remarked that the handheld business is continues to be profitable. He also remarked it continues to bring in customers that eventually upgrade to Treos, but expects the declines to continue."

Well gee... maybe PDA sales wouldn't be declining if Palm would put out PDAs that are worth buying. Their current line-up is full of mediocre PDAs that are full of compromises and issues. Their last really good PDA was 4 years ago, and look at that... PDA sales were INCREASING. Go figure. And those PDAs had better specs than today's Palm PDAs.

People keep telling Palm what features they want in a PDA, but instead they keep cranking out and pushing smartphones. Of course they sell more smartphones, it's the only thing Palm markets and puts an effort into R&D. Too bad they suck as PDAs and can't hold a candle to the capabilities of Palm PDAs from several years ago.

http://vtbsd.net/winhelp/

I wish Palm would continue to innovate in the Palm OS PDA area.

I am hoping Hawkins is preparing something new that will appeal to us handheld fans.

Remember, Treos are good but they are not the same as a handheld in that they do not have large screens and are not focused on mobile computing excellence. They are cells first, computers 2nd.

There IS a dedicated power mobile computing market out there, a huge one. But Palm has to make a device for us to buy one!

btw, glad Palm is not being sold. Good move.

Also, Colligan saying that he expects continued handheld declines is a destructive self fulfilling prophecy. He should SHUT UP on such matters. JUST MAKE/SELL THE DEVICE AND WE THE CONSUMERS WILL DECIDE IF HANDHELDS ARE TO DIE OR THRIVE.

== "...Palm's international expansion continues to grow..."

It is not clear the above is true, given the Subject of this thread.

Note that the reported quarter had sell-through from Christmas but probably not sell-in (unlike what some Me-Too Media folks "reported").

http://seekingalpha.com/article/30450

The self-proclaimed pundit who had a thing for old Samsung Palm-Phones and the TX55? Has he/she been banned or just thrown in the towel? Been quieter around these forums lately.

Who knows, if Palm has a brain and releases a new handheld, the community might partially rejoin.

I will see the day when Palm comes back begging for handheld sales.
Mark my words! And if they don't, then I send a big sincere F YOU to Colligan and his minions.

And even IF some day I decide to buy a cellphone, I will NEVER buy a Treo; just out of sheer spite.

I would be curious to get some "web hits" numbers from pic and 1src.com. I am convinced the visits are dropping. I can tell just by the falling apart of the forums, mirc, usenet, etc. Treo sales are by cell phone lovers. Notice how Colligan's slow destruction of his core customer base is resulting in less talk and projects surrounding Palm projects. He is making a huge mistake and doesn't realize it. Treo Treo Treo that is all he has on his little obsesses mind. And you know he is never sure of anything because he keeps changing his vision and statements from quarter to quarter.

But the best part is this man actually laughs when he hears about handhelds. Idiot. You stupid IDIOT!

PDA sales dropping? Why not sell a good PDA? Where is our oled screen? Where is our camera? Palm PDAs are devoid of all the latest exciting technology. Everything R&D is going into Treos.
There is no reason why Palm cannot offer both a healthy line of PDAs (mobile computing emphasis) and a Treo line.

THEY ARE IDIOTS! There is no other explanation. All Palm needs to do to fix its horrible PR image is to announce 1 or 2 new handhelds. Instant cure. But noooooooooooooooo...

Do these morons realize how many years it took to build the PDA core business? the software community of developers? So they?! Colligan is bragging that he is transforming into a phone company and offers WM to boot. Despite his success with Treos, I would fire his ass and get someone else to replace him and put in place 2 objectives: Continue the expansion of Treos and b) try and save the Palm OS PDA consumer base and the Palm OS developer base; ASAP before its too late.

When Palm Inc. hired Colligan, we all knew he was a smartphone wh**e. He think before that he was running his Handera or something old cell phones. He walked into Palm and did a good thing by putting the company back into the black, but at the same time has undermind a core part of the business. He has ever changing rationals and he thinks that a 1 trick pony Treo core design is a recipe for perpetual success. HE IS WRONG. The competition is ferocious in cell phones and Palm is missing A PLATINUM opportunity, and UNIMAGINABLE OPPORTUNITY to walk in and secure the PDA market. Dell and HP are off track and Palm thinks those companies must know something about the market. They are all wrong!

Anyways do whatever the hell you Fn want Colligan/Palm, I will be back whenever you either a) fire Colligan or b) start selling serious fully features true mobile computing PDA/multimedia centric TX sized handhelds, that just so happen to have a cell phone radio, among others.

I just mailed this letter to Ed Colligan at:
Palm, Inc. Corporate Headquarters
950 W. Maude Ave.
Sunnyvale, CA 94085
====================================
Dear Mr. Colligan/Palm Inc.,
For more than 10 years Palm OS has been valued by millions of people. I am one of those consumers (and occasional leisure developer) who has purchased numerous Palm handhelds and has become accustomed to relying on Palm OS to remain organized and entertained on a daily basis.
I am writing this letter because I am increasingly dissatisfied with Palm's apparent objective of gradually abandoning handheld development.
Treos are great devices for consumers who wish to own a phone-centric device capable of average mobile computing. However, it is the opinion of many long time Palm supporters that thinner TX style devices with 320x480 screens are a bare minimum in screen real-estate in order to assure a satisfactory mobile computing experience. Watching movies, playing games, reviewing PIM info, reading eBooks, viewing spreadsheets, etc are all significantly more enjoyable on a 320x480 screen. Adopting and embracing mobile computing relies heavily on the visual experience. A Treo with a 320x320 screen simply is inadequate in order to meet one of Palm's vaunted objectives i.e., promoting and selling the best mobile computing devices.
Treos have a major role to play in Palm's long term success. However, there is also a big market of handheld consumers. HP, Dell and other traditional Palm competitors are apparently pulling out of the handheld market. Rather than following in the footsteps of those companies, Palm should be using that error by the competition as an opportunity to move in and strengthen its presence in the handheld market segment. If HTC continues to make pda-phones then there has to be money in it. And since HTC products are overpriced and hard to buy in the USA and Canada, Palm still has free reign in North America.
In the last 2 years, handheld sales have crashed in such a way that it is nonsensical to conclude that a 10 year old market segment has given up on handhelds and simply prefers Treos. A large number of consumers would purchase 320x480 handhelds IF those devices contained value added technology like that found in the Treo e.g., a camera, cellular, mic, removable battery, etc. Here are a few basic reasons for the drop in handheld sales:
- The lack of new handhelds by Palm.
- The lack of adequate contemporary technology inside Palm handhelds.
- Many Palm fans are holding on to their old devices while waiting for the latter 2 points to be answered.
- Many Palm fans are experiencing with WM devices, seeking better hardware/software, waiting for Palm to upgrade its line.
- Some users are migrating to Treos.
For many Palm fans, it is discouraging and destructive to hear the CEO repeatedly state that Palm expects and is managing a 40 to 50% handheld sales decline quarter to quarter. A CEO should instead be explaining that he will continue to invest in Treos but is also working hard with designers and engineers to reinvigorate handheld sales.
Palm has a following of dedicated Palm OS fans somewhat like Apple enjoys. This type of loyal consumer base is hard to get and once a company has it, it should do everything in its power to protect it. Planning for the demise of handhelds is a self fulfilling prophecy that disgruntles and alienates a significant portion of the user base. The success of the Treo should not become an excuse to abandon a valuable part of the traditional base; which can be leveraged for the company's overall prosperity if only the right products were presented to it.
Palm has experienced some dramatic and often very dangerous changes in the last decade e.g., Palm Inc. split, being in the red, Sony abandoning Palm OS, loss of Palm OS rights to Access Co., etc. However, Palm is currently experiencing a period of prosperity due to the cell phone frenzy worldwide. However, dear Mr. Colligan, you need to fully understand that despite the Treo success, the Palm OS base is faltering and needs your action in order to stop the trend. Evidence of the falter is found in the reduction of Palm OS dedicated websites (which many are increasingly blending in WM content), IRC, blog, Usenet and various forum communities are drying up fast, and equally troubling, the number of OS hackers, developers and leisure programmers is decreasing fast as well. You need to know that vast numbers of Treo fans are phone-centric consumers and they are not translating into an active Palm OS mobile computing savvy community. Palm needs to design/sell new handhelds to turn this tide.
Although sometimes controversial, Palm has the respect of millions of consumers because it has a reputation of being an exciting underdog company that cyclically surprises the industry by presenting fun, exciting, innovative devices. But perhaps equally important, Palm is also known for its unique community of Palm OS loyal fans who promote the products word of mouth; exponentially. Without the latter, Palm, in a sense, becomes commoditized and loses its appeal. Please protect this community by offering powerful, fully featured new handhelds.
When Palm decided, to the dismay of many hardcore Palm OS fans to start selling WM devices, consumers were told that Palm was dedicated to offering greater choice. Isn't maintaining the handheld line also offering Palm consumers greater choice?
For Palm to get a clear picture if handhelds deserve a future in its business model, it is imperative that Palm present new handhelds yearly and that those handhelds have superior technology than that found in the phone-centric Treo; technology that makes handhelds superior mobile computing focused devices.
Here are a few examples of what many fans are asking for:
- 320x480
- OLED (wide angles, high refresh rate, rich colors, thin, low power)
- Solid unified thin design (like the TX)
- High quality camera with flash.
- 624 MHz+ (with switch to lower to 312, 416 MHz for battery savings)
- 128 MB ROM NVFS
- 4GB+ SD slot
- Mic
- LED
- Vibrating alarm
- Front twin speakers
- Unit capable of standing up on desk for movie viewing
- Mini USB connector
- Better sound chip. Get rid of white noise. Tremble/bass controls.
- OS software to add audio effects (concert hall, etc)
- Cellular, Wi-Fi, EVDO, BT, and IR radios.
- VoIP. Video-phone.
- Gaming friendly large buttons (like on the Life Drive)
- If including HD, system operations should work off of RAM/ROM (avoid HD lag).
- Removable battery.
- Optional snap on, slide keyboard.
- Graffiti 3 with single stroke 'T's, 'K's, etc.
- Single handed heavy/sturdy cradle with no light built in.
Help us help you.
A fan who is still hanging in there, hoping for a renewed focus on handhelds.