Re: Psion. Sent an email to VMS yesterday, and got a reply today (pretty good turnaround).
Here is the email (their answer first, my query at the bottom):
10/23/00
Dear *****:
Psion is in the handheld operating system market. Their main competitors are Microsoft (WinCE, PocketPC) and Palm.
Psion makes palmtop computers, modems, and industrial handheld computers, but the company's greatest asset may be its Symbian alliance. A joint venture with Nokia, Motorola, Ericsson, and Matsushita, Symbian is boosting the number of handheld devices using Psion's EPOC operating system (#3 after Palm OS and Microsoft's Windows CE). Psion, which sells its products mostly in Europe (about 80% of sales), continues to see its market share shrink. Top rival Palm has displaced Psion as the highest handheld seller in Europe, but the companies share a common enemy in Microsoft. Palm and Symbian have discussed the possibility of cross-licensing their technologies.
From Psion's website...
Psion is split into four distinct companies:
Psion Computers - the market-leader in consumer and corporate palmtop computing with products such as the Revo, Series 5/5mx, Series 7 and Netbook ranges and a wide range of peripheral devices;
Psion Connect (formerly Psion Dacom) - the European leader and world number three PC Card modem manufacturer with a reputation for premium, cutting-edge products such as the Gold Card Global range of multi-function PC Cards;
Psion Enterprise Computing Ltd. (formerly Psion Industrial PLC) - formed in 1996 to focus on the growing demand world-wide for commercial and industrial handheld devices. Psion Industrial's product ranges include the Workabout, HC and Organiser and are sold through a network of distributors in over 50 countries around the world;
Symbian Ltd (formerly Psion Software in which Psion plc has a majority shareholding) - which will develop and market EPOC as industry standard operating system software for the next generation of mobile communication and computing devices.
The real interest these days is in Symbian, but Psion Enterprise Computing LTD does come into our space. Psion Teklogix offers hardware solutions for logistics, delivery and field services. e.g.
enterprise.psion.com They also offer SAP integration with these solutions.
To the extent that Versatile is a hardware company manufacturing the cradle and reselling Symbol devices, Psion has a competitive offering.
Given Psion's focus on the Symbian alliance and the EPOC operating system, I would be surprised if they ever became a serious threat in North America. They have their hands full with Microsoft and Palm in the OS wars!
Thanks for writing, *****!
Ted Moorhouse
Vice President, Marketing
Versatile Mobile Systems
604-683-2915 Tel
604-683-2965 Fax
604-306-5291 Mobile
tmoorhouse@versatilemobile.com
www.versatilemobile.com
----- Original Message -----
From: *****
To: tmoorhouse@versatilemobile.com
Sent: Sunday, October 22, 2000 4:56 PM
Subject: Psion
Ted: I've owned VMS for awhile, and am wondering what your take is on Psion. They don't seem to have a "presence" in the US, yet they partner with big names such as Motorola, Ericcson, Nokia, etc, etc, etc.
What do you offer that Psion doesn't, and why does it appear that you are more aggressive to move into the US market than they?
Tnx.
***** |
