Tech Watch | InfoWorld Staff » Look out BlackBerry, Palm is back

February 06, 2007 | Comments: (0)

Look out BlackBerry, Palm is back

TAGS: Internet/browsers/e-mail

Palm's dated OS is a love-hate relationship -- let's say familiarity comes at the cost of modernity. But with a new boost to its e-mail service, the old dog of smartphones has new tricks.

Look out BlackBerry? Well, maybe not, if RIM can just update its core devices line with some memory expansion, cameras and other multimedia features. But it still has the problem with its business-class pricing for data.

I just traded my BB 8703E on Sprint for a Palm Treo 700p and did the VersaMail update, and getting my InfoWorld Exchange mail and calendar via push was a snap.

Much is said of the BlackBerry, and its killer app -- its very pushy and addictive e-mail service, which usually beats Microsoft's Exchange to the delivery line in my experience.

Now the Treo 700p and 680 can do the same -- for much cheaper.

The clincher on my deal to trade phones over eBay was that I could not justify $30 a month for push e-mail alone ... no real multimedia features on the BB. But this agreement to exchange devices took place before I found out about the Palm updating its Active Sync with support for Microsoft Direct Push tech.

I was first charged $60 a month for BB data service from Sprint before haggling them down. And there is no option for a lesser service. Just doesn't work.

That's going to add up and SMBs for one are always keeping an eye on monthly costs.

But with the Treo, its $15 for unlimited because it's just a data connection, and the rest is done by Microsoft Direct Push, bypassing any network middleware, which drives up the cost of BB service.

With a Treo 700p, albeit more expensive, you get a camera for stills and video, digital music player, and the list goes on. But I could justify paying for those features if I could not get real push email and calendar functionality.

I have not used 700W (Windows), but what I've read is that it is pretty clumsy, and Palm with Docs to Go is better at opening MS docs than it. (Comment below if you do no share this take, or have a different experience.)

The other thing I've taken note of is some of the new interface in this AccessPowered device (OS not owned by Palm). But Treophiles have noted how the new UI only appears in certain apps which take advantage of it.

If Palm and Access spent some time further developing it, and even trimming down the Treo line, they'd be serious contenders again. For now I'm pretty happy with my XP in a Vista world-sort-of device. It's a bit old school but it gets the job done, and the brick-like device has a lighter side too.

I've done the opposite of Open Sources blogger extraordinaire Matt Asay; I've converted to Treo from BB. Matt, I'd love to hear if you are still in love, and if Direct Push won't bring you back. And I'll update as I've spent more time with the new-life Treo.

Posted by Mike Barton on February 6, 2007 11:48 AM

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