Microsoft's Peabody Nears Completion

[Mike Temporale]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/06/21/HNpeabodyphone_1.html?source=rss&url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/06/21/HNpeabodyphone_1.html' target='_blank'>http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/06/21/HNpeabodyphone_1.html?source=rss&url=http://www.infoworld.com/article/05/06/21/HNpeabodyphone_1.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"A low-cost smart phone from Microsoft (Profile, Products, Articles) code-named Peabody is nearing completion and will run on the recently released Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system, an executive from the software giant said Tuesday. When the phone platform was first discussed in February, Microsoft planned to aim it at emerging markets such as India and China. But the company has since decided to offer it in all parts of the world, since "everyone is interested in low costs," said Ya-Qin Zhang, corporate vice president at Microsoft's mobile and embedded devices division, during an interview in Taipei."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.smartphonethoughts.com/images/Temporale-20050621-Peabody.jpg" alt="User submitted image" title="User submitted image"/> <br /><br />According to the article, the planning and development for the Peabody are already done and it's only the hardware integration that remains. Once it's complete, it will be offered to OEM's as a quick way to enter the Smartphone market. Which leads me to think that this phone won't be on store shelves any time soon. :( Regardless of the release date, the fact that the Peabody will run the full Windows Mobile 5.0 and be available world-wide, is great news. Hopefully the specs on this phone will end up being half-decent, and the price will be something that most everyone can afford. :)

[Jason Dunn]

Well, if it's really going to be a low-cost phone, the specs will be horrible from our point of view: no Bluetooth, GPRS or CDMA only (no Edge/EVDO), probably a cheaper screen, etc. But that's not the point - the point is getting the cost down so that more people will buy them for the things that mobile phone users do today: make phone calls, do SMS. So even if these phones "suck" from our point of view compared to the high-end beauties we have today, I'm all for them coming out and gaining some market share for the platform.

[Damion Chaplin]

If they can get it down to the $99-129 price point (without contract), it may very well be a boon to WM. At that price, I would have no problem recommending it to my family and friends (who are very un-tech-savvy). It will undoubtedly lack bluetooth, so if MS expects to tout it as a wireless email/IM device, they'd better come up with a wired keyboard accessory. In any case, I hope to see it on the market soon. We need all the WM saturation we can get! :)

[Stinger]

If they can get it down to the $99-129 price point (without contract), it may very well be a boon to WM. At that price, I would have no problem recommending it to my family and friends (who are very un-tech-savvy).

Will a non-technically minded person want a WM phone though? All that extra functionality comes at a price. It may be cheap, but for basic funtionality it's never going to be intuitive as a low-end Nokia.

[sn1p3t]

So, the whole "Peabody" idea is a set of cheap phones running WM5 rather than just the phone that is pictured?

I'm REALLY hoping for a WM5 phone for Verizon (Cingular sucks here). It would make a great replacement for my V710.

[Mike Temporale]

So, the whole "Peabody" idea is a set of cheap phones running WM5 rather than just the phone that is pictured?

Think of the Peabody in the same way we see the HTC Typhoon. It's the model. It will then be picked up by various OEMs, branded, and sold under their name. Just like the Typhoon is being sold under Audiovox, Orange, Dopod, Qtek, i-mate, etc... It will look like the phone in the picture, just branded according to the manufacturer. :)

[Damion Chaplin]

Will a non-technically minded person want a WM phone though? All that extra functionality comes at a price. It may be cheap, but for basic funtionality it's never going to be intuitive as a low-end Nokia.

No, not necessarily. But even those low-end Nokias are gaining more and more functionality every day. Most phones these days will get email, even if it's a limited form. I guess the people I'm speaking of aren't completely computer-illiterate, but will still shy away from a $250 phone because they perceive that it is 'too much' for them. If they could get a $100 phone that plays MP3s and so forth, they may just decide to ditch that free phone (especially when I show them how superior it is).

As for intuitive-ness, I figure if my girl can pick up my 5600 and use it with no problem, that's intuitive enough. Besides, have you seen some of the Sony-Ericsson phones lately? Far from intuitive and still given away for free (I know, that's how I ended up with 3 of them).

Just my opinion though. :wink:

[HailFire]

I think a lot of people are missing out on the real significance of the Peabody. The development of a low-cost WM phone is critical because market saturation lures developers. Seen any good software for your phone lately? Didn't think so. Wait until you start seeing these things around on the street. Then some creative software will follow. As a developer, I can personally guarantee it.

[Rocco Augusto]

i wouldnt try to compare this phone to a lower end nokia or think of it as a way to get a non-tech person to get the phone. i look at it as a phone that tech savy individuals who want a WM phone but usually cant afford one will be able to purchase. not your average joe that made an impulse buy.

working for cingular myself and being fairly young i can state that while i love my phone it set me back a pretty penny. to get this phone i made the sacrifice of eating ramon noodles for 3 weeks :) ;)

granted i had to buy the phone at full retail value ($399.99) since i get a really cheap rate plan and im not on a contract but for your average 18-25 year old tech kid that wants a WM phone and couldnt afford the $299 activation charge before will be in heaven with this lower end phone. i can see this phone being huge :)

-opti-