Treo Available Today -- Not!

A few weeks ago, a review in the New York Times said the Handspring Treo line would be available on January 14. Well, it's January 14 and there's still no sign of either of the new wireless models. A PIC reader who called the company and tried to order a Treo was told to check back on January 21. Handspring representatives were unavailable for comment. In the past, the company has only said that the Treo would be available this month.

This can't really be considered a delay in the release of the Treo as the January 14 release date came only from David Pogue at the NY Times. Clearly, he was in error.

In fact, the Treo is well ahead of its original deadline. Last year, Donna Dubinsky said her company planned to release a handheld with integrated wireless by June 2002. Later in the year, Handspring said the first models would be out sometime around March of 2002. In November, the release date was moved up again to this month.

The Treo line is made of of several models, all of which have integrated wireless capabilities allowing them to handle both voice and data. The Treo 180 will have a built-in keyboard while the 180g will use Graffiti for text input. Both of these will have monochrome screens and cost $400 with a service contract.

Later this year, the company will release the Treo 270 with a color screen and a built-in keyboard. Handspring currently plans to charge $600 for it.

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ARGH

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 1:05:07 PM #
THAT SUCKS!
Even though it's already outdated technology. DIAL-UP?! Sheesh, they shoulda partnered with Sprint and did a CDMA version first - at least there'd be plenty of wireless content already available, and you wouldn't need an ISP ACCOUNT!

CDMA
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 1:10:25 PM #
The CDMA version is under development.

Don't you just love it when the same old points get brought up again and again?

RE: ARGH
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 1:28:11 PM #
..... Treo is not even out yet ..... ~~ ......

isn't that fun

RE: ARGH
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 2:20:01 PM #
GPRS is already available with voicestream in my area. Handspring said there would be an upgrade to allow the treo to have gprs funtionality. Also with GPRS no ISP is required. It is a digital 56kbps alway on connection. Only drawback is it is very expensive at $10/mb

RE: ARGH
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 4:12:08 PM #
Right, GPRS is much much faster than anything CDMA or TDMA can do. Have you noticed that AT&T, Sprint and Cingular are moving to GSM/GPRS network in the next couple of years?

RE: ARGH
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 6:11:33 PM #
Might want to double check your facts. Sprint is not leaving CDMA. They are going to CDMA2000.

http://www.sprintpcs.com/aboutsprintpcs/Cdma_3g/

David Pogue is an Idiot!

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 1:57:17 PM #
Why do we listen to the rumors? They only tease us. What do these guys know anyways? You would think a reputable paper like the NY times would have a clue, but apparently they are just there to spit out lies. Well, thanks for bringing my hopes up.

waiting

JeepBastard @ 1/14/2002 2:00:03 PM #
there are a lot of us waiting. that website is going to be really slow the day it comes out.

I for one.. am getting it as soon as it comes out even thought i got TOTALLY burned by buying a visorphone.

I can't wait. I hope they let the people develop some cool apps for it.

[http://www.mediathreat.net]

Treo's available date is pushed forward

peter167 @ 1/14/2002 2:55:26 PM #
because this company was supposed to run out of cash by this quarter or next quarter. Handspring wanted to woo outsite investors, which apparently now is Qualcomm, to buy its shares at a $50 mil cash deal, and that's why they very high-profile announced it will be avaiable in Jan 2002.

But you can pretty much expect that there will be a lot of buggy problems in that device because the testing phase had been dramatically shortened.

In addition, the product may be delayed now because the company got Qualcom's $50 mil anyway.

RE: Treo's available date is pushed forward
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 9:06:56 PM #
Well so far I have seen no bugs.... Why are you always bad-mouthing Handspring anyhow?

Really that popular?

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 2:57:57 PM #
As much as I'd like a Treo (especially the color version), GSM services do not seem to be that widespread (yet) in the United States. With only a very small GSM footprint available, do you really think that this will be an immediate hit? I, for one, am in the Southeast and can't think of a single service provider that offers GSM other than VoiceStream ... and their current rate plans stink. Comments?

RE: Really that popular?
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 3:16:56 PM #
I think it will be a dog, unfortunately. We have had GSM capability for PDA's for years, now, and nothing has taken off. In fact, most have gone down the tank. I'd say it will be as popular as the Springboard phone. Everyone talks about it, nobody buys it.

RE: Really that popular?
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 3:30:09 PM #
I don't know, I own the VisorPhone and wouldn't ever go back to my NOKIA 6160. I was an early VisorPhone adopter and paid $299 (I know, I know...)

Believe it or not, I live out in a small little town that only has 2 quickie marts, a car wash and a Piggly Wiggly. GSM Coverage is full strength here. I've used the VisorPhone in my travels and rarely have any problems with a signal. I had more problems with my cellular reception with my NOKIA.

I think the VisorPhone is a steal. I'm debating buying a new Prism with VisorPhone for my wife, she's always wanting to use mine.

The only thing I don't like about the VisorPhone is the ear bud. I frequently hear noise interference bleeding from the RF in the ear piece. But without the earpiece, the sounds is really good and with a WriteRight on the Visor's display, I don't worry about scratches and Finger prints.

I have to say, I've gotten much more use out of my VisorPhone than I ever have with any other type of phone. I'm sure the TREO will be even better!! But I think I'll hold out for the Color Unit and give my wife the Prism (if I can wait that long).

RE: Really that popular?
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 3:46:18 PM #
Voicestream also has really lousy service and coverage. if you travle at all wiht a Voicestraem phone you will have alot of problems.

RE: How about the REST of the world?
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 4:10:20 PM #
Maybe GSM isn't widespread in the USA, but the world is a little bigger than that. Over here in Europe Handspring could sell a lot of Treo's (although I will wait for the color version).
Greetings from Holland, Roel.

RE: Really that popular?
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 4:13:33 PM #
Voicestream is very very good where they have service. I have a Nokia 3390 and in the Philadelphia area I hardly ever get anything less than full strength. The only time I get less is when I'm at work in a large building.

Yes, its true that Voicestream coverage isn't as good as CDMA or TDMA, but its getting better. Cingular, AT&T and Spring are moving to GSM networks in the next couple of years. Just give it some time. I'll never leave Voicestream. By the way, their services plans are the best out there. Free nights and weekends and nationwide roaming. I pay $40/month for 500 minutes.

RE: Really that popular?
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 4:15:47 PM #
Does anyone have a good pointer to material that summarizes the differences between the various wireless technologies? I'm looking for a comprehensive summary between technologies like analog, PCS, GSM, GPRS, CDMA, TDMA, etc. and the companies that make use of these...

Thanks!

VoiceStream is cool
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 4:19:48 PM #
VoiceStream works very well for me. The only place I go that I have trouble getting coverage is waaaaay out in rural SC. Out here Sprint is the only one with good coverage anyway. But the voicestream plans are very competitive - check it out for yourself.

RE: Really that popular?
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 5:27:08 PM #
I really like Voicestream. My spouse just traveled to Dallas(600 miles away) and we spoke on Home minutes(no extra charge. GSM is the way to go.

RE: Really that popular?
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 5:46:14 PM #
GSM is great. I have an Ericsson T68 which is tri-band. I have global roaming service so I use this phone everywhere I travel (US/Asia/Europe) and use the same SIM card and phone. It is true that GSM is still not that popular here in the US but it is growing. I love the SMS function...you get the message through without using up your talk minutes...of course, the other person receiving your message needs to have a GSM capable phone,too.

RE: Really that popular?
Synwpn @ 1/14/2002 7:18:37 PM #
I have been a Voicestream subscriber for over 2 years and have not had any problem yet. Clean signals pretty much wherever I go (with the exception of one small spot on the way to Tahoe from SF, then again, no other service worked there either). I now have a Ericsson T39M and it works worldwide. And with sms I can already receive short email messages on my phone. PLUS reply to them. I haven't seen anything from Sprint or AT&T that would make me leave yet.

RE: Really that popular?
mtg101 @ 1/15/2002 4:09:44 AM #
GSM is in fact very popular, if you take into account the fact that there are countries outside the USA. Worldwide the breakdown of networks goes something like this:

GSM - 69%
CDMA - 13%
TDMA - 10%
PDC - 8%

Cheers
Russell

---
russ@russb.fsnet.co.uk
---
Diga ao Falante pelos Mortos
---

Go Handspring

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 4:07:06 PM #
Anyone else glad Handspring didnt release this product today? I know i sure am. Take that NY times! See Handspring does let it leak out when they launch products which is excellent.

I think they purposely changed the date just to not release it today

RE: Go Handspring
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 7:39:54 PM #
huh? I for one am not happy at all due to all the hype created for NO reason. Handspring would not change the date for that reason, but I do agree that these rumors stuff is getting old.
PDANature - http://pdan.has.it - Hourly refreshed pda news, reviews, commentarys, software, software update notices, features, etc. http://pdan.has.it


Palm i705

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 7:18:55 PM #
On a totally unrelated note, a new Palm pilot will be officially announced and acknowledged by company officials within the next 14 days. My source hasn't indicated the exact date and/or time and wouldn't give me a straight answer when i asked him if the 14 days were actual days or 14 business days (working days). Also, purchase orders are in the systems of almost all retail outlets.

IASEDA

RE: Palm i705
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 7:29:40 PM #
I'm sure you might be right! Palm did indeed say they will release it within these two months. I hope that is the truth.
PDANature - http://pdan.has.it - Hourly refreshed pda news, reviews, commentarys, software, software update notices, features, etc. http://pdan.has.it

RE: Palm i705
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 9:12:38 PM #
Hahaha... You missed the sarcasm.

RE: Palm i705
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 10:07:04 PM #
Check it out:
http://insync-palm.com/new_handheld.html

This is might just bomb...

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/14/2002 11:32:12 PM #
The palm os phone ideas has been tried by Kyocera (sp?) and I don't see too many around. The price is high for a non-color device. I think color will be a selling point for any palm os device.

The monochrome devices need to be dirt cheap for consumers to keep buying. I have noticed a decline in my own sales of monochrome palm os devices. Reading forums confirms that I'm not the only one who thinks this too.

My next device will have color. The batteries last a good while compared to the pocketpc. My co-workers need to charge their's all day. Battery technology will improve and devices will get smaller and color will be everywhere. We went through this with our pc's. Remember orange and green monochrome monitors! =)

Just my 2 cents. But I think the color Treo will sell well if price is not too high. Contracts can lower the price too and give nokia & motorola some competition. I hope this year is a good year for palm os devices. Sony seems to be on the right track with their diverse models.

I got one!

I.M. Anonymous @ 1/15/2002 11:59:03 AM #
I am from the Czech Republic and already bougt a TREO with Graffiti about a week ago. I am still testing at and using all the features but overall it looks like a very good device. One thing is sure by now! Battery life is miserable!

RE: I got one!
mikecane @ 1/15/2002 12:07:57 PM #
How miserable?

RE: I got one!
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/16/2002 3:28:22 AM #
so far it looks like it can last one full day with a decent phone usage. that is not enough! imagine you will be having a day with a lot of phone calls and at the end of the day, the phone will collapse on your way back home... not good! anyway - may be the battery needs a few cycles to get to work full power!

RE: I got one!
rcockx @ 1/16/2002 3:46:14 AM #
Can I ask you were you bought one? To the best of my knowledge, Treo isn't available in Europe either. At least that's what the folks at Handspring tell me. Also, how much € did you pay for it?

RE: I got one!
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/16/2002 9:40:00 AM #
I was very surpriced to get it. The distributor in the Czech Republic got a shipment of Treos with Graffiti at the beginning of the year. May be they were not supposed to sell them yet but it was easy to order it through their dealer network. I guess I am one of the few lucky ones... :-)) The more I use the device - the more I like it!

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