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Technology Stocks : Qualcomm Moderated Thread - please read rules before posting -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Caxton Rhodes who wrote (8271)	3/8/2001 9:10:14 AM
From: Dennis Roth	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 196452

Verizon Smart Phone No Bargain For The Masses e-topics.com [ Some analysts pan the smart phone - DPR ] [Phillips Publishing International,Inc.] Wireless Today via NewsEdge Corporation : By Malcolm Spicer, mspicer@pbimedia.com Verizon Wireless [VZ] boasts it's taking the lead in offering a smart phone, but the handset's price could leave customers' wallets smarting. Bedminster, N.J.-based Verizon Wireless yesterday made Kyocera Wireless's 6035 Smartphone model available for $499 to customers that sign on for at least a year of service. Kyocera Wireless, a subsidiary of the Kyocera International holding company of Kyoto, Japan-based Kyocera [KYO], introduced the 6035 last December. The 6035 features Web access and supports the installation of applications compatible with Palm's [PALM] software for handheld computer operating systems. The handset will work with CDMA PCS and cellular networks, as well as with analog coverage. Verizon Wireless won't be the only carrier offering a smart phone for long, the Strategis Group's chief analyst for the wireless handset market, told Wireless Today. "The carriers are really trying to be in each niche market so that they can be part of the new profits as they come along," she said. While Verizon Wireless is the first U.S. carrier to offer its customers a Palm-compatible smart phone, Cingular Wireless and Sprint PCS [PCS] already are offering products or services enabled by PDA technologies. Cingular last December began offering its GSM customers the VisorPhone Springboard module from handheld computing technology vendor Handspring [HAND]. The module links Handspring PDAs to voice service on GSM 1900 networks. In October last year, Sprint PCS began distributing LG InfoComm's TP3000 model phone, which is compatible with Microsoft's [MSFT] Outlook e-mail platform and with proprietary computing software from LG InfoComm. Sprint PCS offers the TP3000 for $199 to business customers with service for at least five phones, and for $399 to other customers, which discounts of up to $200 linked to buying service agreements. "For business people, it's one of our most popular phones," said Suzanne Lammers, manager of Sprint PCS' media relations. In January, Sprint PCS began offering customers access to Palm's MyPalm portal, which features access to e-mail, e-commerce and Web-browsing capabilities. Like smart phone offerings from vendors such as Ericsson [ERICY] and Nokia [NOK], Kyocera's model features a larger display screen than wireless handsets not embedded with PDA-like capabilities. PDA functions and larger display screens are attractive features, but the price tag could repel most wireless users, industry analysts said. "It's still going to be a difficult sell at $500," said Bryan Prohm, wireless equipment market analyst for Gartner Group's [IT] Dataquest research unit. "The addressable market is much smaller," said Panayi. "Of course, it is targeted to the professional side that needs these additional features and capabilities." According to Strategis research, smart phones accounted for 4 percent of the 426 million mobile phones sold worldwide last year. That percentage will likely grow by 1 percent to 2 percent this year in a market projected by Strategis to reach 533 million handsets. However, Strategis is reviewing its handset sales prediction and will probably lower it to between 500 million and 525 million, Panayi said. Regardless of the degree by which handset sales slow or grow, smart phones aren't likely to represent more than a niche market product with no more than 10 percent of the total market, Panayi said. "The regular consumer doesn't need all those features and doesn't want to pay that price," she said. The Bottom Line Strategis analysts aren't convinced there's widespread support among wireless users for converging PDAs and phones into a single device. "The trend we are seeing is, basically, 'we are going to keep the devices separate,'" Panayi said. Having digital music and camera functions and PDA features, such as e- mail and contact lists in addition to the voice and data functions, most handsets already offer isn't likely to be in demand by a large market of wireless users. Plus, Bluetooth technologies will support using multiple devices instead of encouraging convergence, Panayi said. Bluetooth will enable transmitting data between wireless phones and other devices, such as transferring e-mail messages received on a PDA to a handset. <<Wireless Today -- 03-06-01>>

To: Caxton Rhodes who wrote (8271)	3/8/2001 1:48:12 PM
From: Eric L	Read Replies (4) \| Respond to of 196452

Caxton, << Did you ever find yourself trying to juggle a mobile phone and a Palm hand-held computer to look up phone numbers or consult your calendar while making a series of calls? >> Yes! But no more. I am now the first "kid" on my block with a Kyocera 6035 Smartphone. Maybe the first in Delaware. The phone went on sale Monday at the large local Verizon store (Wilmington BTA), but I was the first buyer here 2 days later. None of the limited line of accessories are available yet and I will probably order the "portable hands free kit" on the Kyocera site. There is no extended battery available for the phone. I'll miss this. Battery life of my Audiovox CDM9000 with extended battery was truly exceptional. The included travel charger, however, is compact enough to easily pack on business trips. Price was $499 with an annual contract. $699 without. This was almost a gotcha. I purchased my Audiovox CDM9000 last August, so was not eligible for the promo price till July but worked around this by purchasing a sub for my wife who inherits the CDM9000, which I had planned to do anyway ... ... so we have 1 CDMA net sub add to count today. Meantime, I cancelled the $6.95 per month WAP add on, which I experimented with over the last year but never really used. I still hate WAP crap. AvantGo & ProxiNet through my regular ISP a much better way to travel. ProxiNet data optimization make throughput a lot brisker than the nominal 14.4 kbps of CDMA. Phone comes with an (unpowered - can't be used for charging) synchronization cradle with DB9 serial connector which I will plug into my Palm's Serial to USB connector off an 8 port hub since my serial port drives a label printer. I'm a little disappointed the cradle is not powered (so can't charge the phone). Phone fits neatly in the universal cradle mounted on my dash and will use the same microphone that's dressed through the dash into the driver side visor when the car kit is added. The car kit is identical to that for the 2035 but has a different connector than that for the QCP860 Thinphone I retired last August. Phone also comes with 2 software CD's which include the same Palm Desktop software I already have installed, an Outlook conduit and 3rd Party software. Salesman says the phone supports 2-way SMS ... he thinks? [Prior to the 6035 the Kyocera 2035 was only phone in Verizon's lineup to support the new 2-way SMS capability ... software upgrades due shortly for the Motorola models and the Nokia 5185i due shortly ... at least according to the local sales folks]. My initial reaction to the 6035 is VERY positive although I haven't used the Palm or other data features yet (only voice). Initially on my frustrating journey to useful wireless data, I used the QCP860 with the Palm Vx and the "Qualcomm/Kyocera" Organizer". Nice rig with a neat short data cable. With the CDM9000 I had to kludge together 2 data cables with a null modem DB9 to DB9 connector. Not exactly a real streamlined package. 6035 eliminates a lot of clutter for me since I always travel with a phone and palm and sometimes the cable and keyboard. One minor drawback is that the phone connector is different that the Palm Vx or Palm III connector so my portable "GoType" keyboard(s) can't be used As for stocking levels for the 6035, they are probably pretty low. Its predecessor the pdQ did not move well. Salesman told me that in the year plus it was stocked locally they moved 5 units. The pdQ of course was limited to 2MB memory and was rather unwieldy. The 6035 is lighter and very shallow. Not a bad form factor at all for wireless Palm computing. Its not 1xRTT, but I am a happier CDMA camper today, than I have been for a long time. I think I'm gonna like this phone. Not a bad price if your into Palm computing. Saves lugging a laptop on my short trips. I'll update my "review" here when I have all installed and programmed. - Eric -