January 16, 2001 - PalmOne: Patent to Product? We'll See!

[Darius Wey]

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-...RS=PN/6,850,780

"The present invention is a compact personal digital assistant (PDA) and cellular telephone with foldable dual-sided display. By utilizing flexible display technology, both a PDA and a cellular telephone are incorporated into one device. In a closed state, in one embodiment, the present invention corresponds to the form used for typical cellular telephone use (e.g., candy bar size). In an open state, in one embodiment, the present invention corresponds to the form used for typical PDA use by providing an enlarged viewing area. The present invention provides the benefit of two distinct devices in one device by allowing for common operations and functionality without compromising the respective form factor of either device."

Behold! This patent was filed in 2001, and while it shows a bit of promise, it's been four years since then and no Palm-based product resembling what is described in the quote above, has really surfaced in the market. Of course, patents do not necessarily mean new products surfacing overnight, but I wonder if anything like the aforementioned will ever appear and thus provide some serious competition to the Pocket PC. Anyone think this patent may hint at another attempt by Palm to get back in the PDA market, or is it just plain old vaporware?

[Darius Wey]

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-...RS=PN/6,850,780

"The present invention is a compact personal digital assistant (PDA) and cellular telephone with foldable dual-sided display. By utilizing flexible display technology, both a PDA and a cellular telephone are incorporated into one device. In a closed state, in one embodiment, the present invention corresponds to the form used for typical cellular telephone use (e.g., candy bar size). In an open state, in one embodiment, the present invention corresponds to the form used for typical PDA use by providing an enlarged viewing area. The present invention provides the benefit of two distinct devices in one device by allowing for common operations and functionality without compromising the respective form factor of either device."

Behold! This patent was filed in 2001, and while it shows a bit of promise, it's been four years since then and no Palm-based product resembling what is described in the quote above, has really surfaced in the market. Of course, patents do not necessarily mean new products surfacing overnight, but I wonder if anything like the aforementioned will ever appear and thus provide some serious competition to the Pocket PC. Anyone think this patent may hint at another attempt by Palm to get back in the PDA market, or is it just plain old vaporware?