Palm Treo 650 - Cingular - Product Advisor
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Product Advisor
Palm Treo 650 - Cingular
Smartphones in Mobile Devices - U.S.
Avi Greengart
Principal Analyst, Wireless Devices
Brad Akyuz
Analyst, Mobile Wireless North America
Contents
Product Assessment Summary
Current Perspective
Product Strengths & Weaknesses
Product Metrics
General
Pricing
Device Description
Technology
Displays
Camera
Video
Messaging
BREW/Java
Connection
Other Features
© 2005 Current Analysis Inc. All rights reserved.
For more information, please call +1 703 404 9200, toll-free +1 877 787 8947,
Europe +33 (0) 1 41 14 83 14. Or visit our Web site: www.currentanalysis.com Competitive Intelligence
levels the playing field...
Competitive response
is about winning
Product Advisor
Palm Treo 650 - Cingular
Summary
Analyst:
A. Greengart, B.
Akyuz
Current Perspective: Very Threatening
Date Updated: We are taking a strongly positive stance on Cingular’s launch of the Treo 650, which offers the
February 10, 2005 most balanced compromise between voice functionality/form factor and a range of secondary
Product Class:
functionality, including messaging, PDA, and media playback. The Treo 600 was the first
Smartphones in
converged device with a phone form factor that crossed the “good enough” threshold for use as
Mobile Devices - U.S. a phone, PDA, and messaging device (a VGA camera was also included, but image quality was
terrible). The Treo 650 builds on the 600’s success without tilting the functionality towards any
specific user set – though the broad range of features definitely lends itself to consumer-initiated
purchases, not strictly enterprise sales. The phone form factor and one-handed user interface
are unchanged, but improvements for voice include “call” and “end” buttons, a removable
battery, Bluetooth, and a configurable side button clearly intended for PTT applications. PDA
and Web browsing functionality is enhanced with EDGE support, slightly improved software,
a dramatically enhanced high resolution screen (from 160x160 to 320x320), and a faster Intel
processor. Battery life on the GSM version is much better than with CDMA, and the quad band
radio means the 650 can be used worldwide, not just in the U.S.
Sprint had an exclusive on the Treo 650 for two months – missing the holiday sales season
– but Cingular is still getting the popular smartphone well before Verizon. The Web and e-mail
capabilities are well suited to Cingular’s national EDGE network, though at $44.99 per month
for unlimited usage, Cingular is still pricing the service for business accounts. Despite the high
pricing, use of the Treo 650 as an EDGE modem over Bluetooth will have to wait for Dial Up
Networking support, expected a few months after launch.
Messaging is improved with slightly better key spacing and an improved messaging client. Full
support for IMAP and ActiveSync with Exchange 2003 should help palmOne compete with
RIM, allowing enterprises running Exchange 2003 to use Treo 650s instead of BlackBerry devices
and additional enterprise software from RIM. Improvements were made to the camera optics, but
resolution remains at VGA level, making imaging the least appealing aspect of the unit. The Treo
650 is making inroads into media playback as well. Real’s media player software is included, and
the headphone jack has been upgraded to a standard ¾” size; therefore, with the addition of an
SD card, the Treo can also take the place of a flash music player.
Strengths & Weaknesses
Strengths
• The Treo 650 remains the best balanced smartphone on the market. PalmOne’s one handed user
interface makes the device’s powerful functionality accessible, and the PC-sync friendly Palm 5
OS is appreciated by PC-centric U.S. consumers. The Treo 650 has a slightly better user interface
than comparable Windows Mobile smartphones, slightly more intuitive PIM usability (e.g., fewer
clicks to set up a recurring appointment), and with Dataviz’s included Documents-To-Go, more
compatible Office integration. And as a Palm OS 5 device, the Treo 650 allows users to extend its
© 2005 Current Analysis Inc. All rights reserved.
For more information, please call +1 703 404 9200, toll-free +1 877 787 8947,
Europe +33 (0) 1 41 14 83 14. Or visit our Web site: www.currentanalysis.com Competitive Intelligence
levels the playing field...
Competitive response
is about winning
Report: functionality with the most extensive and often exclusive library of third-party applications.
• Cingular is launching the Treo 650 $100 below Sprint’s initial pricing after incentives. At $399
Palm Treo 650 -
Cingular with a two-year contract, Cingular’s pricing is not much above a high-end PDA, and should be
attractive to consumers purchasing the device for mixed personal/corporate use.
• EDGE support keeps Cingular ahead of Sprint and Verizon in terms of Treo connectivity
speeds. The CDMA version supports 1xRTT but is not expected to support Verizon’s EV-DO
network.
• Full support for IMAP and ActiveSync with Exchange 2003 should help palmOne compete
with RIM, allowing enterprises running Exchange 2003 to use Treo 650s instead of BlackBerry
devices and additional enterprise software from RIM.
• Non-volatile memory should have been mandatory on every PDA and smartphone; it makes a
welcome appearance here, even if total available memory has been reduced slightly from the Treo
600.
Weaknesses
• The Treo 650’s e-mail experience is still not as good as with a dedicated messaging device such
as RIM’s BlackBerry 7730. The keyboard is compromised by being squeezed into a phone form
factor; despite improvements over the Treo 600, the Treo 650 is still difficult to use for those with
large hands.
• Other smartphones entering the market in this price range have megapixel cameras. Consumers
who prize imaging already have several megapixel devices to choose from, some at considerably
lower price points.
• In order to move to non-volatile memory, palmOne reduced the actual usable memory below
32 MB; to compensate, PalmOne is providing 128 MB SD cards. However, heavy Treo 600 users
looking to upgrade who have applications that won’t run off of SD will be disappointed.
• The Treo 650 includes Bluetooth, but not WiFi, which would have enhanced Web surfing,
messaging, and other PDA activities in hotspots, corporate campuses, and areas with poor EDGE
coverage. HP’s 6315 is offered by T-Mobile in the same price range as the Treo 650, and has both
Bluetooth and WiFi support built-in.
All materials Copyright 1997-2005 Current Analysis, Inc. Reproduction prohibited without express written consent. Current Analysis logos are trade-
marks of Current Analysis, Inc. The information and opinions contained herein have been based on information obtained from sources believed to be
reliable, but such accuracy cannot be guaranteed. All views and analysis expressed are the opinions of Current Analysis and all opinions expressed
are subject to change without notice. Current Analysis does not make any financial or legal recommendations associated with any of its services,
information, or analysis and reserves the right to change its opinions, analysis, and recommendations at any time based on new information or revised
analysis. For additional reproduction rights and usage information, go to http://www.currentanalysis.com.
Current Analysis, Inc.
21335 Signal Hill Plaza, Second Floor, Sterling, VA 20164 2 rue Troyon, 92316 Sevres Cedex, Paris, France
Tel: +1 703 404 9200, Toll free 877 787 894 Tel: +33 (1) 41 14 83 17
© 2005 Current Analysis Inc. All rights reserved.
For more information, please call +1 703 404 9200, toll-free +1 877 787 8947,
Europe +33 (0) 1 41 14 83 14. Or visit our Web site: www.currentanalysis.com Competitive Intelligence
levels the playing field...
Competitive response
is about winning
Product Metrics
Product: Palm Treo 650 - Cingular
General Value Main Display -- Height (in pixels) 320
Manufacturer PalmOne Main Display -- Size (diagonal, in 2.58
inches)
Phone Model Treo 650
Main Display -- Number of Colors 65536
Carrier Cingular
Main Display -- Screen Type LCD/TFT (Color)
Prepaid (No, Optional, Exclusive) N
External Display No
Tier Smartphone
External Display -- Width (in pixels) N/A
Status Current
External Display -- Height (in pixels) N/A
Availability-Launch Date Feb. 2005
External Display -- Size (diagonal, in N/A
Phone Launch by Quarter 1Q05
inches)
Pricing Value
External Display -- Number of Colors N/A
2-Year (Web, including instant rebates) 449.99
External Display -- Screen Type N/A
1-Year (Web, including instant rebates)
Camera Value
Prepaid (Web, including instant N/A
Camera (y/n) Yes
rebates)
Resolution (Pixels) VGA
Device Description Value
Megapixel Count N/A
Height (in inches) 4.44
Zoom Capabilites
Width (in inches) 2.4
Zoom Range 2x
Depth (in inches) 0.9
Built-in Flash Yes
Weight (in ounces) 5.9
Auto Focus No
Battery Life -- Standby Time (in hours) 300
Self-timer No
Battery Life -- Talk Time (in minutes) 360
Rapid Picture Sequence
Milliamp rating
Sensor Module
Form PDA
Video Value
Push-to-Talk No
Video Record Yes
Speakerphone Yes
Video Record -- Record Time (in
QWERTY Keyboard Yes
seconds)
Navigation Key 5-way, touchscreen
Video Record -- Frames per second
Technology Value
Video Playback/Streaming Yes
Technology GSM
Video Playback/Streaming -- Format MPEG-4
Band Quad-band (850, 900, Supported
1800, 1900MHz)
Video Playback/Streaming -- Software RealPlayer
Data Speed EDGE Messaging Value
Operating System Palm SMS Yes
Browser Version EMS Yes
WAP Version MMS Yes
WIFI No IM
WLAN No IM Protocols
WLAN version N/A Email VersaMail, Microsoft
Exchange, POP3,
DRM - 0MA No
IMAP4, corporate
OMA Version N/A e-mail
Displays Value E-mail VPN security capabilities
Main Display -- Width (in pixels) 320 RIM No
© 2005 Current Analysis Inc. All rights reserved.
For more information, please call +1 703 404 9200, toll-free +1 877 787 8947,
Europe +33 (0) 1 41 14 83 14. Or visit our Web site: www.currentanalysis.com Competitive Intelligence
levels the playing field...
Competitive response
is about winning
Product Metrics (Continued)
Product: Palm Treo 650 - Cingular
BREW/Java Value Other Features Value
Brew No Alarm Yes
Brew version N/A Calculator Yes
Brew client N/A Calendar Yes
JAVA No Changeable Face Plates No
JAVA version N/A Games Yes
JAVA client N/A 3D Games No
Connection Value Number of Embedded Games 1?
Bluetooth Yes GPS Yes
Bluetooth Profiles/ Restrictions Headset, Car Kit, GPS Type
Computer, Printer
Infotainment
Infrared Yes
MP3 Player Yes
USB Yes
MP3 Player -- Samples per second
USB Type
Multi-language
Cable Yes
Phone Book Entries 99999
Cable Included Yes
Predictive Text Yes
PIM SYNC Yes
Ringtones -- MP3 No
Memory Value
Ringtones -- Polyphonic Yes
Internal Memory 32MB
Vibration Alert Yes
External Memory Yes
Voice Recorder No
External Memory -- Type MMC/SD/SDIO
Voice-activated Dialing No
External Memory -- Amount Included 0
VOIP No
External Memory -- Maximum Limit 1.0GB
© 2005 Current Analysis Inc. All rights reserved.
For more information, please call +1 703 404 9200, toll-free +1 877 787 8947,
Europe +33 (0) 1 41 14 83 14. Or visit our Web site: www.currentanalysis.com You can also read
