Part Shortage Delays Treo Rollout
In a conference call after announcing its most recent quarterly results, Handspring's CEO Donna Dubinsky revealed that the release of the Treo has been delayed by parts shortages. The Treo is being manufactured but in smaller numbers than the company wants.
Handspring has decided to send the majority of Treo handhelds that do get produced this month to Europe. The Treo line uses the GSM wireless standard which is far more prevalent in Europe than in the U.S.
According to Ms. Dubinsky, U.S. buyers should be able to find the Treo online in limited quantities during February but it won't be available in large enough quantities for retail stores until March.
She didn't say exactly what part was in short supply.
Earlier today, mm02 Plc, the British mobile phone group, agreed to distribute and market Handspring's Treo line of smartphones in Europe.
This is Part Two of a three part series on Handspring's quarterly report and the associated conference call. Part One covers the financial results while Part Three is about Handspring's plan to phase out the Visor. -Ed
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RE: Disappointing
Danger's hiptop device is supposed to be out in March.
Everytime I see video of that baby I want I want..
The Treo would be nice if you could do data/voice
simultaneously, but since it can't.. well it's sorta
useless isn't it?
RE: Disappointing
RE: Disappointing
simultaneously, but since it can't.. well it's sorta
useless isn't it? <<
Correct me if I'm wrong, but once GPRS support is added to the Treo (granted, it won't be there intially) there will be an always-on IP connection to the device. So, to say it can't do voice/data is only a temporary condition which Handspring fully expects to resolve.
Of course, finding GPRS service in your area is a whole 'nother story!
RE: Disappointing
Would be interesting to understand how RIM implemented there email solution in the GPRS device. Any one know?
There are a number of GPRS classes. I would guess at Treo being class B, which doesn't support simulatneous voice + data. However, voice can suspend a data session and then resume it on disconnect.
RE: Disappointing
> right now? Ans just why would it be useless ebcuase
> ti cant use data/voice at tehe same time? You taling
> as if peiople will eb surfing all day on this thing.
You wouldn't be able to use webclipping for taking
orders or looking up information while you are talking
to a client. That sorta thing, which is 90% of my
usage scenarios. The other 10% is talking for an hour
with a client and doing other things like checking/
answering incoming email etc while we wait for his Windows
to reboot or something, but I couldn't do that either.
Finally Handspring gets jacked
no treo
If Palm can get new devices out now and sony, handspring is betting too much on treo and on top of it they are now going to the dance LATE!!
RE: no treo
Even worse, I'll wait for Danger if it comes out too close to the release date for that.
This is really disappointing.
[http://www.mediathreat.net]
RE: no treo
The FTC makes sure companies don't do **** like that. If they do, they get hardcore fined. You'll have to give up your conspiracy theory. It's not true.
Ha, a Sony wireless device. That's funny. Thanks for making me smile.
Part shortage?
> She didn't say exactly what part was in short supply.
OOOHhh... let me see.... it must be the highly-engineered plastic case. No, it's the flip cover. They're in such high demand they can't get enough for the launch.
Realistically speaking. It must be the GSM module. Phone companies may be creating a shortage ;-)
In any case, a GSM phone for the US market is suicide. Good luck to Handspring.
RE: Part shortage?
Maybe that's why they're releasing in Europe first, eh?
RE: Part shortage?
The Treo (GSM variety) will be facing stiff competition in Europe. We'll see how they do against the big boys.
RE: Part shortage?
Really? So VoiceStream is quickly going into the toilet as we speak?
Actually, I admit that I don't know any specific numbers for carrier signups/churn/etc but it appears to me that VoiceStream is signing up customers on GSM left and right .... and that's without having a phone as cool as the Treo. AT&T is in the process of upgrading to GSM/GPRS as well, from what I understand. So, I don't think the lack of CDMA capabilities will be such a huge marketing mistake. If anything, I think the Treo will help bring grow the customer base for the GSM carriers more than they would have otherwise ... which will then increase the coverage of GSM in the US.
RE: Part shortage?
RE: Part shortage?
RE: Part shortage?
RE: Part shortage?
RE: Part shortage?
I had to eventually change services because I want coverage at all times.
Who knows, if they get better coverage, I might go back to them.
RE: Part shortage?
Besides, the RIM product is way better.. They're moving to a GPRS device too...
i705 - hint i just got trained
RE: i705 - hint i just got trained
Does it look like the pics show it? I know of two people that actually have a pre production unit. Not near me, but online. The pics make it look real ugly. I hope its not like that.
http://pdan.has.it
oversupply to shortage?
2) What is meant by simultaneous data and voice? I place purchase orders on my kyocera 6035 while reading from handyshopper. Isn't that data+voice, accessing palm functions while talking? I never really thought that not being able to surf the web while talking was a limitation since I'm only paying for one phone line.
3) Peeking ahead to next article. "Senator: You're no John Kennedy". Handspring: you're no Nokia. They've got to be joking about transitioning from an organizer to a communicator business. Of course both businesses are tough as your new product gets eclipsed within a month. What is this thing you all are calling "danger"?
David in Pflugerville, TX
Fishy parts shortage
RE: Fishy parts shortage
Treo FAIL FAIL FAIL
Ignorance
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Disappointing
Do I wait for new PalmPhone?
All I want is a cell phone/pda with a mini keyboard. Graffiti sucks.