Palm/Motorola to Develop Combo handheld/phone

dannyp writes "The New York Times reports that Palm and Motorola are going to jointly develop a phone with embedded Palm functionality. The story requires free registration, as always." I've seen a PalmPilot III/combo phone before - just looked clunky and heavy. And some of the non-US phones do a better job, but I'd still like the ultimate combo phone.

Comments

If we can't invent something new...

[BrK]

...Then lets just start blending existing products together. PDA's and phones serve 2 very different purposes, and thus have 2 very different sets of design guidelines. A phone should be small(ish) and a PDA should have a large, hi-rez, readable screen. Furthermore, you should be able to take notes on your PDA while talking on your phone, and I _don't_ want yet another wire/cable/dongle to carry around, or lose, or break, or forget, etc, so don't recommend the "hands-free" solution :)

Re:If we can't invent something new...

[gatzke]

But we all have needs/wants/desires. I personally don't want to carry 5 different devices. One device the size of a palm III would be great.

I want:
1. basic Palm III functions (address book, schedules, games, etc.)
2. cell phone usage (integrated with address book, click and dial)
3. mp3s (and 128+ MB storage)
4. gps (I get lost)
5. limited voice recognition ("new memo, buy beer" )
6. Wireless, easy communication to laptop, etc (IrDa, Bluetooth, wireless LAN)

The new Compaq iPaq can do these things with add-ons, but then it is as big as the clunky Qualcomm PdQ thing that integrated palm III with a phone. Damn thing was a brick.

I now use a qualcomm phone, a palm III and a wire. I can check mail/surf web, but I have to hook up this damn wire all the time and carry three pieces of crap.

One day...

Re:If we can't invent something new...

[markt4]

Furthermore, you should be able to take notes on your PDA while talking on your phone, and I _don't_ want yet another wire/cable/dongle to carry around, or lose, or break, or forget, etc, so don't recommend the "hands-free" solution :)

Well, if you want to risk brain tumors by holding your "small(ish)" cell phone to your ear, by all means, be my guest. Me, I already use an earphone/mic wire to talk on my cell (as do most people I've seen using cell phones in Europe lately). Since I already have to carry around my PDA anyway, why not have the option to plug that earphone/mic wire into my Palm or Handspring or whatever and use it as a phone too?

However, I don't like the idea in this article of shrinking the Palm into a phone (like the Qualcomm pdQ phone). I'd much rather just leave my Palm the size it is and add phone functionality to it (like Handspring).

Re:If we can't invent something new...

[Trinition]

A phone should be small(ish) and a PDA should have a large, hi-rez, readable screen.

I think if you did away with the keypad on a cell phoen and use a high-res screen, the form factor would still allow for a screen capable of displaying tons of information.

don't recommend the "hands-free" solution

Well, if you'd prefer to gum up your scroin with your bodily oils, go right ahead. I'f you'd rather lose a hand or shoulder while talking on the phone, go ahead.

I think a lot of poeple, myself included, would prefer hands-free opertation -- which would, as you said, enable you to use the PDA while tlaking on the phone. All you need to communicate via a phone is a speaker/ear-piece and a mic.

No NYT signup...

[biftek]

As usual, you don't have to signup for NYT, just use the partners link:

http://partners.nytim es.com/2000/09/25/technology/25PALM.html

It's an interesting idea..

[Talonius]

but as some of the other posters pointed out, it's going to be a hard sell for some people. However, the integration possibilities are really kind of cool.

Instead of looking up a phone number on your PDA and dialing it by hand, you hit a button.

Instead of having your PDA beep (and too damned softly!) at you when you have an appointment, your phone can vibrate, ring, or glow. (The LCD. :-))

I admit it might not be for everyone; but for those who use the Palm as a simple address book, phone book, and appointment calendar, it might be extremely handy. I'd personally like it, just because it's one less gadget to carry. Right now the laptop, cell phone, pager, and Palm KILL me when I'm in an airport.

What'd be extremely cool would be if the phone/Palm combo could sync up with a PC or other Palm, and transfer data back and forth.

-- Talonius

UI Design Questions

[Alien54]

I keep wondering about a proper UI for these things. You have an inherent conflict of interest in the basic size of the screen, the demand for extreme ease of use, and the irresistable urge for more bells and whistles. At the very least, it is an interesting design problem.

- - - - - - - -
"Never apply a Star Trek solution to a Babylon 5 problem."

this isn't big news

[kootch]

Qualcomm already makes a cell phone with Palm functionality on the Sprint Network (I don't know if it works elsewhere). It's called the Qualcomm pdQ.

Info can be found here

Features:
Smart Phone Digital phone and electronic organizer in one package.
- 3COM-based (Palm III platform) Personal digital assistant (PDA) is built-in.
- Address book keeps track of names, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail and website addresses, as well as other information about your personal and business contacts.
- You can make a call, send an e-mail or open Internet sites directly from your address book. - Date book records appointments quickly and easily.
- To-Do list allows you to make a list of things to do and assign a priority level and due date for each task.
- Calculator lets you perform basic operations.
- HotSync Technology: Synchronize data between your phone and your PC.

Wireless Web Message Capable
This phone is MiniBrowser ready, includes all necessary items (software and cable) for wireless connectivity and can receive wireless web messages. Access the Internet to browse text-only versions of popular web sites. Check weather reports, sports scores, stock reports and more.

Stylus Navigation
Large Display offers touch-screen capabilities and stylus-based navigation. Hold the stylus like a pen, and you can write directly on the screen.

Funny thing is that this phone doesn't sell well. When will people learn that taking two things they like, like ice cream and tuna fish, and combining them simply does not always work. This is a perfect example.

People, especially americans, want smaller phones. Hell, people that WANT a Palm will get a Palm. The majority just want a cell phone and don't need that additional functionality. Plus, putting a huge block of a phone against your ear simply is not "new yorker-ish" (ie stylish)

Palm VII

[Devil Ducky]

The way they should do this is to take the Palm VII design and add phone support. They could call it the Palm VII.V

After all which is more difficult (I imagine) adding phone support to a working (and proven, powerful, popular, and a few more P-words) PDA, or to add PDA support to a working phone? I would believe that the first is easier, all it needs is a microphone and speaker.

Devil Ducky

I want integration, not convergence

[ruud]

Personally, I would prefer a separate PDA and phone, but they should be tightly integrated (using Bluetooth or similar). The possibilities are essentially the same as with a combined device (browse the web, caller ID, call from PDA, etc.), but to me having two separate devices with specific functions seems a lot more convenient.
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