@robots199: But how badly will you feel the sting of obsolescence with a device that is basically just for texting and emails? Unless emails are upgraded to support holographic message attachments, how substantial a difference would there really be?
@Kaiser-Machead: Exactly my point, if emails or texting evolve into something completely different, than how will you be able to use this new type of communication on an obsolete piece of hardware?
"That the Pronto represent the pinnacle of human technological achievement for the next few hundred years, and that medical science on on the verge of extending the human life indefinitely. It's possible!"
@weatherman: negative. medical science and technical achievements are weighed seperate/independently of each other. much the same as culinary milestones are kept seperate from advancements in bathroom tech. 'cause you just don't take food in the bathroom.
I gotta say, Peek has definitely hit on something with these devices. They make a lot of sense for folks who are looking to have email sometimes but may prefer to use a smaller phone or might not want the direct and ongoing costs of a smartphone.
I think for the corporate market this is a clear winner, especially for small business. It's a lot easier to justify handing these out to employees, and it's a lot easier to control costs over an expensive smartphone that can rack up some serious airtime charges.
Peek's going to make a good sized dent in the market with this, not by taking share away from RIM or Apple, but by creating a lower-end device that brings necessary features to a new audience.
It makes sense to me, but I'm not sure that it's marketable. I have a brother who drives trucks for a living and knows next to nothing about technology. I tried to convince him to get one of these so that he could have Email and SMS while on the road (he can't figure out how to type with T9 on his regular cellphone).
Ultimately he decided that I was right, but responded by buying a Blackberry from Verizon. He absolutely hates it because he can barely figure out how to use it.
He would have been much better off sticking with his regular phone and getting a Peek to compliment it, but it just proved impossible to make that sale even though he's the perfect target audience for this thing.
@chefgon: you make a good point. From the sounds of it your brother is in the right demo for the device, but he probably went to his phone company to see about how to get email and of course their response was the one that made them the most money - that he should buy a $200 phone, and sign up for a two-year contract @$45/mo. in data charges.
They're relatively new, so it's going to be a little tough for them to get to the right people, especially non-techies. But I think their chances of success are pretty good and they've got great traction so far, and really good press.
09/29/09
09/28/09
If you add calling features like skype or something like that, I will gladly pay for it.
Yet paying $300 checks you into a lifetime contract with a device that may soon become obsolete
I'll Pass On This One.
09/28/09
09/28/09
09/28/09
09/28/09
Actually, isn't that contradictory?
09/28/09
03/24/09
I think for the corporate market this is a clear winner, especially for small business. It's a lot easier to justify handing these out to employees, and it's a lot easier to control costs over an expensive smartphone that can rack up some serious airtime charges.
Peek's going to make a good sized dent in the market with this, not by taking share away from RIM or Apple, but by creating a lower-end device that brings necessary features to a new audience.
03/24/09
It makes sense to me, but I'm not sure that it's marketable. I have a brother who drives trucks for a living and knows next to nothing about technology. I tried to convince him to get one of these so that he could have Email and SMS while on the road (he can't figure out how to type with T9 on his regular cellphone).
Ultimately he decided that I was right, but responded by buying a Blackberry from Verizon. He absolutely hates it because he can barely figure out how to use it.
He would have been much better off sticking with his regular phone and getting a Peek to compliment it, but it just proved impossible to make that sale even though he's the perfect target audience for this thing.
03/24/09
They're relatively new, so it's going to be a little tough for them to get to the right people, especially non-techies. But I think their chances of success are pretty good and they've got great traction so far, and really good press.