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Is There Room for an IM only Device ?

tealover writes "MSNBC Has an article about a new device from Motorola that they're marketing that just does IM. It' called IMFree. Kind of a combination of a cordless phone and pager; There is a base station that plugs into a USB port in your computer, so it's only portable in relation to the base station. Sounds and looks like the kids would like this."

7 of 232 comments (clear)

  1. IM on my sanyo 4900 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I got the Java Midlet based IM (Specilized ones for MSN, Yahoo and AOL ) and a mobile jabber client. Also, with my sprint vision plan I can use the web browser to use the IM ( which I prefer, specially on a well made mobile IM tool like Yahoo's messenger).

  2. Maybe not IM only... by Black_Logic · · Score: 4, Interesting

    But a small dumb terminal, that looks and feels like a pda would be handy, I think the portable phone/usb base station is a pretty good idea, Would a pda that does all of it's processing on your desktop computer be a lot cheaper? I think a cheap zaurus-like pda would be a good trade of for range of use.

    --
    Ansi's and stupid tricks!
  3. What would be really cool... by TallEmu · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ... is something that provided a very cheap screen/kb/mouse combination which wirelessly connected to a new session on a linux box. That way, I don't need to scatter boxes all over the house and multiple people could use it all at once. Mike

  4. SMS ? by selderrr · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I know that the US is not really into SMS, but in europe, it's HUGE. In belgium alone, a few MILLION smss are sent every day. At 40cents/message, that's big bucks for a service that costs next to nothing.


    The situation has gone so far that studies have shown teens to use their thumbs for stuff that the previous generation would have used the index finger for. Like dialing an ordinary phone, or pressing the doorbell.

    1. Re:SMS ? by hendrik42 · · Score: 5, Interesting

      According the the GSM World Association, more than 1 billion SMS (10^9) are sent every day worldwide. Also, the usage doubles every year.

      SMS Stats

  5. Oh God another one... by shepd · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Motorola is still on that IM kick?

    After that crap V101, you think they might just go after quality and customer service instead.

    I'll wait 'till Nokia makes one. I need my phones to last longer than a few weeks.

    --
    If you could be told what you can see or read, then it follows that you could be told what to say or think - BoC
  6. MyAirMail.com by mirko · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Some years ago, my bro'in law was vp at Vodafon.
    He showed me their latest product : MyAirMail.
    It was exactly the same thing as mentioned above except that it would send and receive real emails and be 4-times smaller.

    So, is there a market for this new im device when there has already been such products in the past ?

    --
    Trolling using another account since 2005.