Posted by
CmdrTaco
on from the breaking-into-new-markets dept.
the beava writes "Palm has officially announced the release of their latest handheld, the Zire. At $99 dollars (retail), it looks like they're trying to market this thing to people like parents and children. " Not a bad looking unit for the price.
In other Palm news
by
Anonymous Coward
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
Palm taps into pager networks By Ian Fried Special to ZDNet News October 8, 2002, 5:02 AM PT URL: http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105-961154.html PalmSource struck a deal Monday that will let new wireless handhelds running the Palm operating system take advantage of older networks designed for pagers.
The software and operating system unit of handheld maker Palm said it is working with Dallas-based WebLink Wireless to pave the way for Palm OS-based devices with the built-in ability to run on WebLink's ReFlex network. WebLink spokeswoman Lori Burzynski said that there are a number of companies licensed by Motorola to create devices that use the ReFlex standards and that one of them should have a Palm-based device on the market by the first half of next year.
Although much of the hype around wireless networks has centered on newer, high-speed data setups, there are some advantages to older pager networks like WebLink's. Such networks have broader coverage than many cellular systems and also work inside buildings, where cellular service is less reliable. They're also acceptable in places like hospitals, where cell phones are not allowed because of the possibility of interference with medical equipment.
"It's pretty pervasive," PalmSource vice president Albert Chu said of the ReFlex network. "It gets into places where cell phones and other (devices) can't."
Despite such advantages, the demise of pagers at the hands of cell phones has put a major crimp on the balance sheets of a number of wireless carriers that specialized in low-speed data devices like pagers.
WebLink Wireless itself emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization last month. Rivals Metrocall, Arch Wireless and Motient, have gone through similar processes. WebLink had planned to merge with Metrocall, but that deal fell apart, and WebLink is now an independent private company owned largely by its former creditors.
PalmSource was not deterred by WebLink's financial position, according to Chu, who said the company is in better financial shape as a result of its restructuring.
"I think they are emerging stronger than they were," Chu said. With the bankruptcy, "they are able to shed their past financial mistakes."
Networks such as WebLink's are capable of handling data suited to slower speeds--short text messages, for example--but aren't the preferred choice for delivering graphics or Web pages. But Chu said while such networks may lack the performance of newer ones, they can still offer some wireless access and a good value.
The deal with WebLink is the first time that PalmSource has negotiated directly with wireless carriers, but Chu said the company expects to do more work with carriers to make sure they understand the possibilities of working with the Palm OS.
Re:parents and children?
by
SealTit
·
· Score: 2, Interesting
I disagree, they're widely used by CS undergrads as well:-)
But in all seriousness, handhelds are of great use and importance corporate america. I know many people that couldn't live for more than a day if they were disconnected from their Outlook contact list. While I agree that handhelds are worthless for children, and non tech-savvy parents, they do have a niche in society that uses them quite effectively.
Palm isn't going anywhere just yet, and if this this works out then they might even have an edge on the Pocket PC market.
two nice features
by
night_flyer
·
· Score: 3, Interesting
1) rechargable batteries 2) usb support
--
Thanks to file sharing, I purchase more CDs
Thanks to the RIAA, I buy them used...
Re:parents and children?
by
shri
·
· Score: 3, Interesting
Electronic shopping lists could be a real blessing for parents, specially those of young kids. Imagine putting your shopping list into your palm, then either syncing it with the grocery stores website or walking into the grocery store and beaming the shopping list to the store's computer. You can then sit at the coffee shop (more business for the store!) while someone packs your groceries for you and brings them over.
I am still hoping that GPS prices fall and there is a GPS that can plug into the Palm.. or perhaps a bluetooth based location detection system. This would allow you to program a 4 dimensional alarm system (location (X/Y/Z) + time). Imagine a $200 device which could be programmed as follows... "when you're out to lunch and walk past the video store, pick up DVDs for the weekend".
Pity no one listens to me.:)
Re:2 Meg of ram?
by
TheLoneCabbage
·
· Score: 3, Interesting
Like I said, as an organizer it will do just fine. But little else.
Map and news paper cost me $5 at a news stand (especialy in Manhattan, and even then the maps are usually free).
I'm talking about real funtionality. If you had a low powered computer strapped to your hip at all times what would you want it to do? You have to justify spending $100, when $10 will do.
Beep when you had an apointment? OK, but there are hundreds of lowcost devices that already do that.
Keep phone numbers? See above.
Scribble notes? I prefer papper thankyou. It's more reliable (it only breaks when I get it wet, but so does a PDA)
What I really would want are things like:
Translators e-books (think library, or tech manuals, while you are on a job) wireless internet (IM, EMAIL, syncronicity with an Exchange server) Educational software (for those rediculously long trips) Telnet/http connections to a remote server (serve maintenance)
For the most part, you need much more expensive units to do this. And for the life of me I don't know why! It should be a cake walk to build a system that could let you plug in a wireless network device (isn't that why we invented USB?), or more memmory.
Why wouldn't it be cheaper to build a system that has NO features but is just an infastructure for plugged in addons?
Slashdot Mirror
Palm taps into pager networks
By Ian Fried
Special to ZDNet News
October 8, 2002, 5:02 AM PT
URL: http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1105-961154.html
PalmSource struck a deal Monday that will let new wireless handhelds running the Palm operating system take advantage of older networks designed for pagers.
The software and operating system unit of handheld maker Palm said it is working with Dallas-based WebLink Wireless to pave the way for Palm OS-based devices with the built-in ability to run on WebLink's ReFlex network. WebLink spokeswoman Lori Burzynski said that there are a number of companies licensed by Motorola to create devices that use the ReFlex standards and that one of them should have a Palm-based device on the market by the first half of next year.
Although much of the hype around wireless networks has centered on newer, high-speed data setups, there are some advantages to older pager networks like WebLink's. Such networks have broader coverage than many cellular systems and also work inside buildings, where cellular service is less reliable. They're also acceptable in places like hospitals, where cell phones are not allowed because of the possibility of interference with medical equipment.
"It's pretty pervasive," PalmSource vice president Albert Chu said of the ReFlex network. "It gets into places where cell phones and other (devices) can't."
Despite such advantages, the demise of pagers at the hands of cell phones has put a major crimp on the balance sheets of a number of wireless carriers that specialized in low-speed data devices like pagers.
WebLink Wireless itself emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization last month. Rivals Metrocall, Arch Wireless and Motient, have gone through similar processes. WebLink had planned to merge with Metrocall, but that deal fell apart, and WebLink is now an independent private company owned largely by its former creditors.
PalmSource was not deterred by WebLink's financial position, according to Chu, who said the company is in better financial shape as a result of its restructuring.
"I think they are emerging stronger than they were," Chu said. With the bankruptcy, "they are able to shed their past financial mistakes."
Networks such as WebLink's are capable of handling data suited to slower speeds--short text messages, for example--but aren't the preferred choice for delivering graphics or Web pages. But Chu said while such networks may lack the performance of newer ones, they can still offer some wireless access and a good value.
The deal with WebLink is the first time that PalmSource has negotiated directly with wireless carriers, but Chu said the company expects to do more work with carriers to make sure they understand the possibilities of working with the Palm OS.
I disagree, they're widely used by CS undergrads as well :-)
But in all seriousness, handhelds are of great use and importance corporate america. I know many people that couldn't live for more than a day if they were disconnected from their Outlook contact list. While I agree that handhelds are worthless for children, and non tech-savvy parents, they do have a niche in society that uses them quite effectively.
Palm isn't going anywhere just yet, and if this this works out then they might even have an edge on the Pocket PC market.
1) rechargable batteries
2) usb support
Thanks to file sharing, I purchase more CDs
Thanks to the RIAA, I buy them used...
I am still hoping that GPS prices fall and there is a GPS that can plug into the Palm.. or perhaps a bluetooth based location detection system. This would allow you to program a 4 dimensional alarm system (location (X/Y/Z) + time). Imagine a $200 device which could be programmed as follows
Pity no one listens to me.
Like I said, as an organizer it will do just fine. But little else.
Map and news paper cost me $5 at a news stand (especialy in Manhattan, and even then the maps are usually free).
I'm talking about real funtionality. If you had a low powered computer strapped to your hip at all times what would you want it to do? You have to justify spending $100, when $10 will do.
Beep when you had an apointment? OK, but there are hundreds of lowcost devices that already do that.
Keep phone numbers? See above.
Scribble notes? I prefer papper thankyou. It's more reliable (it only breaks when I get it wet, but so does a PDA)
What I really would want are things like:
Translators
e-books (think library, or tech manuals, while you are on a job)
wireless internet (IM, EMAIL, syncronicity with an Exchange server)
Educational software (for those rediculously long trips)
Telnet/http connections to a remote server (serve maintenance)
For the most part, you need much more expensive units to do this. And for the life of me I don't know why! It should be a cake walk to build a system that could let you plug in a wireless network device (isn't that why we invented USB?), or more memmory.
Why wouldn't it be cheaper to build a system that has NO features but is just an infastructure for plugged in addons?
I would rather be ashes than dust!