05-09-2006, 04:00 PM
|
|
Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
|
|
HTC Stealing Thunder From RIM BlackBerry 8700
http://www.forbes.com/markets/economy/2006/05/08/rim-t-mobile-0508markets17.html
"Despite high hopes for Research In Motion's BlackBerry devices, sales have been disappointing and competition in the smartphone market has been fierce...But despite strong sales of the 8700 at T-Mobile, Research in Motion's gains were offset by strong sales of Taiwan-based High Tech Computer's MDA pocket computer."
The T-Mobile MDA is the HTC Wizard, known by a variety of names around the world. Mine is called the K-Jam, and most blackberry users that I come in contact with are blown away by what the device does. Part of it stems from the ultra-lame "attachment viewing" the BlackBerry does. Spreadsheets are opened with fixed width columns that can't be altered - at least by the users I am working with, and again, they are just viewers. I wouldn't do a ton of work on my K-Jam, but it is nice knowing I can create or change a spreadsheet and save or send it on to someone else in my department. For users wanting to go beyond basic text email, HTC devices armed with Windows Mobile offer a compelling option. Of course, having Voice Command installed doesn't hurt either. I love it when a call comes in and the name of the caller is announced. :wink: Cingular stores are also seeing strong sales of the 8125, a sibling in the HTC Wizard lineup, and Verizon is showing strong sales of the Treo 700w, another HTC device. Do you think Microsoft and HTC have finally figured out a formula that will stem the growth of RIM?
|
| |
|
|
|
05-09-2006, 04:20 PM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 218
|
|
I've been using a Treo 700W, but am expecting a Blackberry 8700C any day now. I'll be either getting rid of Verizon, or reducing my use of it extremely. Cingular is offering a reduction on my phone and internet bills, since it is offered by the same company that handles my cable modem, TV, phone, etc. I have found Verizon difficult to deal with; my bill is astronomical, and I don't have a lot of services that I need from them. Such as bluetooth that works with anything other than a headset! Anyhow, I don't think Blackberry is going anywhere any time soon. I may wind up just using my Treo to play games on. :roll:
|
| |
|
|
|
05-09-2006, 04:30 PM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 211
|
|
I also have an HTC Wizard (Cingular 8125). I really like it, but there are a couple of things that I do miss from the Blackberry.
1. Vibrate notification when a new e-mail arrives - this just flat out does not work unless the Wizard is powered on (not in Standby).
2. Alarms? Reading over the HTC Wizard forums @ the XDA Developers site, it seems that alarms are a big problem with this device. Maybe not a big deal during the day, but apparently when the device is in standby overnight, it doesn't process everything completely and alarms for early the next morning don't work. From what I can see, this apparently depends on the device and some claim to have fixed it, but the majority seem to have problems.
On a related note, it would be nice if Cingular was able to update their device even close to the HTC firmware releases. As it is, I was able to download an update from the XDA site to enable push e-mail and a lot of other fixes, but Cingular should really make that available sooner. If someone can pick up an HTC Wizard ROM and modify it to look almost exactly like the Cingular base install within a couple of weeks, Cingular should surely be able to have a team able to put out updates in a couple of weeks. :?
Overall, I agree that this could be a hurting point for Blackberry, especially with some of the free push e-mail services out there right now. Just wish they'd fix some of the basic issues that corporate folks tend to appreciate.
-Pete
ps - any feedback on a good Bluetooth headset to work with the HTC Wizard? The hands-free that comes with the unit is okay, but the wires are really long.
|
| |
|
|
|
05-09-2006, 04:57 PM
|
|
Neophyte
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 1
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by paschott
any feedback on a good Bluetooth headset to work with the HTC Wizard? The hands-free that comes with the unit is okay, but the wires are really long.
|
I just bought the Plantronics Discovery 640. Works great. Might want to check out the updated 645. I've seen it as low as $85 (MSRP is $145).
|
| |
|
|
|
05-09-2006, 05:41 PM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 215
|
|
Seem to have trouble with quotes today - Try PhoneAlarm from pocketmax.net. Gives a vibrating alarm on my JAMin without a problem.
|
| |
|
|
|
05-09-2006, 05:51 PM
|
|
Ponderer
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 107
|
|
Re: HTC Stealing Thunder From RIM BlackBerry 8700
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
Do you think Microsoft and HTC have finally figured out a formula that will stem the growth of RIM?
|
Until Microsoft can release an enterprise push mail system as tight and secure as RIM's I kind of doubt it. Enterprise sales are what put RIM where they are today simply because of the kind of control you can have over the remote devices via BES. You can't even come close to locking a PPC down compared to the extent that you can lock down a Blackberry.
Not slammin' the PPC here. Just pointing out the facts. Personally, I wish they had developed a similarly secure system as then I would not have to juggle a PPC and a Blackberry.
|
| |
|
|
|
05-09-2006, 06:41 PM
|
|
Neophyte
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 7
|
|
Re: HTC Stealing Thunder From RIM BlackBerry 8700
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
Do you think Microsoft and HTC have finally figured out a formula that will stem the growth of RIM?
|
From what I've heard, RIM is the only one who builds ALL their devices to conform to a high level security clearance spec. Consequently many government departments and government contractors can only use Blackberries. Otherwise security personnel would have to able to differenciate between the ABC Model 123 basic PDA and the ABC Model 123a PDA phone with digital camera, etc.
So while you and I might switch to an HTC - if we can get it for $99 on a cheap plan - there is a larger customer base willing to pay premium $$$ that will keep RIM in the money for quite some time.
|
| |
|
|
|
05-09-2006, 07:39 PM
|
|
Banned
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 372
|
|
Re: HTC Stealing Thunder From RIM BlackBerry 8700
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by r@dimus
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
Do you think Microsoft and HTC have finally figured out a formula that will stem the growth of RIM?
|
Until Microsoft can release an enterprise push mail system as tight and secure as RIM's I kind of doubt it. |
uh, they already have, its just up to carriers to implement it. MSFP takes care of push email just fine. iJam users can attest to that.
|
| |
|
|
|
05-09-2006, 07:48 PM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 126
|
|
Re: HTC Stealing Thunder From RIM BlackBerry 8700
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by inteller
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by r@dimus
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
Do you think Microsoft and HTC have finally figured out a formula that will stem the growth of RIM?
|
Until Microsoft can release an enterprise push mail system as tight and secure as RIM's I kind of doubt it. |
uh, they already have, its just up to carriers to implement it. MSFP takes care of push email just fine. iJam users can attest to that. |
Not even close. I've been in PPCs since the early days (iPaq, Toshiba e700, XDA, etc. etc), and I still love them for some of the things they can do. But if I had to give an executive a Pocket PC device instead of a BB, I'd quit. The Pocket PC can do far more - not picking on it - but what it does it doesn't do nearly as well. I have gone through the PPC ranks and the BB ranks, from the original 950 "pager" to the current 8700, and they've all been simpler to use and more reliable than any PPC. From an enterprise standpoint, it's far cleaner - it just works. Plus I do the equivalent of "soft-resetting" my blackberry monthly, if even that. It just works.
You give a CFO a PPC that they want to get to work on their home wireless, work wireless (with security), GPRS/EDGE/EV-DO, and you might as well hire a support person to go with them. 
There's finally more software for the BB out there, and while I'll still champion the PPC, the BB is my daily device.
|
| |
|
|
|
05-09-2006, 07:53 PM
|
|
Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
|
|
Re: HTC Stealing Thunder From RIM BlackBerry 8700
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by r@dimus
Until Microsoft can release an enterprise push mail system as tight and secure as RIM's I kind of doubt it. Enterprise sales are what put RIM where they are today simply because of the kind of control you can have over the remote devices via BES. You can't even come close to locking a PPC down compared to the extent that you can lock down a Blackberry.
|
Interestingly, there's one twist in this argument: don't RIM products still communicate through RIM's own servers? The one significant security advantage with Direct Push is that the device communicates only with the corporate Exchange server. No middlemen, and everything's SSL encrypted/certified.
I do buy the reliability argument, though. Blackberries' simplicity makes them very reliable at the everyday task they were designed to do: handle email. However, my 700w is the first Pocket PC that I've owned that actually comes close, and that's a huge step up for MS.
--janak
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
