WebLink Shows Palm OS 5 Messaging Device

Posted By: Ryan Thursday, March 20, 2003 2:07:39 PM

WebLink Wireless has announced at the CTIA show that it will carry the HuneTec H500 Palm OS 5 device on its ReFLEX wireless network. PalmSource licensed the Palm OS to Korean Korean wireless communication devices manufacturer Hunetec in January. The H500 is aimed at the enterprise market as an advanced 2way messaging device.

Hunetec H500
At this time very little is known about the Hunetec H500 device. We do know that is a monochrome Palm OS 5 device. It will have 8MB of memory and an expansion slot, though the format is not specified.

Designed as a messaging device, it features an integrated QWERTY thumb keyboard. It also has ReFLEX 25 wireless technology built in. The device will be priced in the mid $200's USD. You can click on the image on the right for a larger picture.

"WebLink is excited to bring affordable 2way paging devices with sleek new designs to market. ReFLEX device offerings have been limited and more expensive in the past," said Noel Gouldin, vice president of products and services at WebLink Wireless. "Over the past year, we have successfully teamed with our OEMs in order to develop innovative products with attributes and price points that meet the needs of our business customers."

ReFLEX 25 technology offers exceptional coverage, higher signal strength and in-building penetration, providing enterprises with "always on" access to important emails and company information. The network has the largest high-powered terrestrial footprint in the United States, with roaming partners in Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

According to a recent Yankee Group survey, the functions most desired on a mobile device are access to corporate data, contact information, email and calendar functions. The new business- focused ReFLEX devices will feature a variety of functions such as full PDA capabilities, synching, secure wireless communications between work groups as well as encrypted access to company email and corporate data.

WebLink expects to release the device sometime in the beginning the second quarter of 2003. Availibility, firm pricing and service rates for the device are not known.

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B&Why?

Fammy @ 3/20/2003 3:22:18 PM #

At least it is Hi-Res black and white.

_____
Fammy

RE: B&Why?

gfunkmagic @ 3/20/2003 7:02:25 PM #

I don't understand that either... maybe for battery purposes?

RE: B&Why?

Scott R @ 3/21/2003 7:35:01 AM #

According to infosync, despite being an OS5 device, the screen will only be 160x160.

RE: B&Why?

rsc1000 @ 3/21/2003 1:03:31 PM #

>>According to infosync, despite being an OS5 device, the screen will only be 160x160.

Well then - this is not a photo of a real, working device - the close up is clearly higher res than 160 x 160.

As for the monochrome - i guess its to keep costs down / battery life up. The general layout and and design is simple and clean - the most RIM-like Palm OS device yet - which is what this seems to be shooting for.

What's a "Data Book"?

cscullion @ 3/20/2003 3:28:07 PM #

I noticed it has a "Data Book" instead of a "Date Book" (you have to look at the enlarged picture to see it). Is that just a translation error in moving the standard Palm apps to this device (unlikely), or is this a picture of a mocked-up screen (more likely)?

Chris Scullion

RE: What's a

macshimidh @ 3/20/2003 3:42:33 PM #

Also looking at the larger image, I wonder what the 'memory' app is all about.

RE: What's a

Admin @ 3/20/2003 3:43:55 PM #

I'm 100% certain this is a screen mock-up, it does not even accurately resemble certain Palm OS interface elements.

The memory icon is a remnant from palm os 1 & 2, where the usual info/delete launcher menu items had their own application.

The "data book" must be a typo.

RE: What's a

k. surfer @ 3/20/2003 4:40:00 PM #

Yes, I noticed the Data Book too. This screen has to be a mock-up. I wonder if it's all just a joke...

RE: What's a

Massman82 @ 3/21/2003 6:13:11 PM #

According to Infosync, they have redesigned the Palm OS GUI for the device. (Check out the shots over at Infosync). They did this with the help of PalmSource.

(Maybe a sneak peak at OS 6 except in grayscale?)

Roman Pedan
Palm V/Vx
Will get a Palm OS 5 handheld

Blackberry competition? Sort of?

Leech @ 3/20/2003 4:05:00 PM #

I guess if Weblink dipped their bills into the enterprise e-mail fray then this would be competition for the Blackberry.

RE: Blackberry competition? Sort of?

Lungboy @ 3/20/2003 5:02:04 PM #

I'm sure "Lawsuits in Motion" already has legal docs enroute.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Eagles may soar but at least weasles don't get sucked into jet engines.

RE: Blackberry competition? Sort of?

kidA @ 3/20/2003 5:19:55 PM #

"Lawsuits in Motion"
HA!

RE: Blackberry competition? Sort of?

abosco @ 3/20/2003 6:35:31 PM #

Yeah, I've always thought of RIM as RIM JOB.

-Bosco
Proud Member of the Top Non-Mods
Members: abosco and ImpReza M3
Now accepting new applications

RE: Blackberry competition? Sort of?

gfunkmagic @ 3/20/2003 7:03:07 PM #

I thought Palmsource licensed from Good Technology to compete with RIM? Hmmm... maybe they're just covering all the possible bases with Huntec and etc. I just wish this device had more interesting hardware. This device seems to be going backwards spec-wise when compared even to the i705! Sheesh....

RE: Blackberry competition? Sort of?

RhinoSteve @ 3/21/2003 3:06:49 AM #

If RIM tries to sue, good luck. This is an OS licensed device and the keyboard is not like the Blackberry. But yes, this screams Blackberry competition ... and you can run cool Palm apps instead of the no-touch screen, roll-in-click Blackberry UI.

Just data, and no voice? HUH?

gfunkmagic @ 3/20/2003 10:48:50 PM #

I understand that ReFLEX network is just for data, not voice, and it doesn't provide very high bandwidth. Thus wouldn't implementation of this technology be better if combined with GSM/GPRS for example? M$ has aready agreed to license RIM technology for their smartphones, so why not this combo? Is this not technicall feasible? Any thoughts?...

Treo 180 deal

Scott R @ 3/21/2003 7:35:41 AM #

Right now you can get a Treo 180 for $50 after mail-in rebate from tigerdirect.com

Interesting, but wrong price.

sub_tex @ 3/21/2003 1:10:53 PM #

I own both a Palm OS and a motorolla pager. A device like this would take that pager off my belt for good.

That's a good thing.

The bad thing is the price on this thing. I wouldn't pay more than $130 for a b&w device anymore. PERIOD.

Color is everywhere and cheap, so b&w white devices need either some insanely good specs, or need to be cheap as hell.

This is neither.

Lower the price to the same as a Zire, and watch these puppies sell a lot better.

RE: Interesting, but wrong price.

hkklife @ 3/21/2003 2:00:42 PM #

Well, I too prefer color but you can't have everything in this day and age. Also, keep in mind a device like this would probably be heavily discounted via carrier subsidies and/or offer a mail in rebate, so it would end up having an extremely low "final cost" for most customers. It's also the first unit of its kind, so they don't want to sink too much R&D $ into the unit before its proven itself--it's probably like the Zire, designed to be cheap to manufacture on the theory that it'll end up selling for less than its introductory price.

Also, there are varying degrees of greyscale screens. Some are hideously dim and dark (SL10 Sony) while others are quite good (Handera 330, m500). If nothing else, a large(ish) high-res greyscale screen beats a dim, low-res greyscale screen.

I could see some large corporations or medical firms reallly jumping on the bandwagon for these devices.

This deeply saddens me

poopy @ 3/21/2003 4:12:32 PM #

When stupid companies make devices that are 36-48 months behind the curve, it makes Palm look bad

RE: This deeply saddens me

Massman82 @ 3/21/2003 6:16:21 PM #

This is a good device for a specific audience. Some people want a device just for email but do not need a high-end smartphone. This is perfect for them!

Roman Pedan
Palm V/Vx
Will get a Palm OS 5 handheld