Handango targets carriers and handset manufacturers

[Andy Sjostrom]

<a href="http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020314/dath007_1.html">http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/020314/dath007_1.html</a><br /><br />I have admired Handango and the people running that company since they started. Laura Rippy, CEO of Handango, is surely one of the top five most innovative as well as influential people in the mobile device software "value chain". Now I think she is on to something again!<br /><br />Handango targets carriers and handset manufacturers with a "turnkey service" utilizing Pocket PC 2002 and Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition. The over-the-air software provisioning service can be found at <a href="http://mobile.handango.com/ppc">http://mobile.handango.com/ppc</a> and as part of Microsoft's Pocket PC Software Store at <a href="http://mobile.handango.com/ms">http://mobile.handango.com/ms</a>.<br /><br />The key idea is to enable Pocket PC 2002 and Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition users to "wirelessly purchase, download and use handheld software without being tethered to their desktop. Handango Over-the-Air Technology delivers unique benefits to carriers and handset manufacturers. By delivering hundreds of value-added applications and driving network usage, carriers and handset manufacturers can grow average revenue per user, increase customer loyalty and differentiate their product offerings. ... "Handango Over-the-Air Technology delivers on the promise of wireless data for our partners today,'' said Laura Rippy, chief executive officer of Handango. "With more applications and a proven platform, Handango is leading the market in providing a turnkey solution for wireless carriers, OEMs and handset manufacturers."<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/handango.gif" /><br /><br />(Thanks to Chris Coulter for the link!)

[Janak Parekh]

Bravo, Handango.

I have to say nothing but good things about them. One of my customers was looking for a place to buy RIM units, and bought a bunch of 850's from them (Motient network-based). The company is small enough that he was able to work with one rep over several phone calls. One of the recipients of the RIM units found he had no coverage at home, but only told us a couple months later -- yet Handango exchanged it, no questions or problems, with a RIM 950 (Cingular network-based) which did have coverage there.

I've also bought a fair amount of PPC software from them, no problems, hassle-free.

--bdj

[Chris Forsberg]

Laura rocks!

However, I just made a search and it looks like the complete product catalog is not there yet. Hopefully it will be complete soon.

[Andy Sjostrom]

Not sure it will that "complete". I believe apps have to be "configured" to be available. In essence, have a CAB file install option -- not just a PC based setup. Would make sense if this is the case... :wink:

[mit4]

Cool idea - I dig Handango.

However, it would be nice to be able to "one click" buy with Passport/MS Wallet. That would make purchasing games a no-brainer for click-happy fools like me. When I have to take out my credit card, I start questioning the purchase.

Mike

[fmcpherson]

Just fell off my chair... did I actually read that someone *likes* Passport???

[Jason Dunn]

Just fell off my chair... did I actually read that someone *likes* Passport???


I LOVE the concept of Passport. The execution is still a little screwy, but I really like the fact that I can go to any computer with Windows Messenger installed, log in, and have all my contacts there. KILLER. 8)

[JohnnyFlash]

Handango targets carriers and handset manufacturers with a "turnkey service" utilizing Pocket PC 2002 and Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition.

To be fair you should mention that they target also Java enabled phones:
http://www.handango.com/Java.jsp

And symbian, and Palm, etc. etc.

[Jason Dunn]

To be fair you should mention that they target also Java enabled phones:
http://www.handango.com/Java.jsp
And symbian, and Palm, etc. etc.


So you're saying we are required to post on Palm & Java software, accessories, etc. just because the company offering a Pocket PC version also supports?

I don't think so bub. Look at the URL. :roll:

[JohnnyFlash]

So you're saying we are required to post on Palm & Java software, accessories, etc. just because the company offering a Pocket PC version also supports?


No, I am just saying that sometimes it is nice to know full truth.
Handango is system-agnostic. The question only is which OS
they support best. Maybe indeed it is Microsoft's...


Similar example: Samsung - they want to produce smartphone from all vendors.

And as far http://mobile.handango.com/ppc is concerened
I agree wholeheartedly: it is a brilliant idea, which can bring more
developers to Microsoft's systems: competition simply yet DOES NOT HAVE similar system in place...

And my major doubt still remains: to develop in eVC++ and then switch to C# at .NET for mobile devices, or to develop right away in C#...?

[Jason Dunn]

No, I am just saying that sometimes it is nice to know full truth.
Handango is system-agnostic. The question only is which OS
they support best. Maybe indeed it is Microsoft's...


So by not telling people that Handango has mobile portals for other devices, which we really don't care about come to think of it, we're not telling people the "whole truth"? That's not a fair statement - we tell people the news we think they'll find most interesting, and most of it centres around the Pocket PC. Hence the URL.

If you don't like that, please find another site that caters to your needs better - or stay here and stop making comments like this. Thanks.

[JohnnyFlash]

That's not a fair statement - we tell people the news we think they'll find most interesting, and most of it centres around the Pocket PC.

Do you agree that sites/services SPECIALIZED in one platform are usually better for this given platform, than agnostic ones (serving ALL platforms)? That is why telling people that handango sells software for all PDAs, not only PocketPC is more fair, than not telling it.

[Jason Dunn]

Do you agree that sites/services SPECIALIZED in one platform are usually better for this given platform, than agnostic ones (serving ALL platforms)?


Yes, I agree.


That is why telling people that handango sells software for all PDAs, not only PocketPC is more fair, than not telling it.


I don't follow your logic here, but I won't engage you on this topic further - I know you understand what I'm saying because I've already contacted you privately about this.

[JohnnyFlash]

I don't follow your logic here, but I won't engage you on this topic further - I know you understand what I'm saying because I've already contacted you privately about this.


Sure Jason, don't engage me on this topic.
Could you be once a nice guy and tell me
where, at what stands (of what companies) have
you seen, on CeBIT, the MS smartphone 2002 related stuff???

I would even be eager to buy prototype or engineering sample of such device...