Windows CE Device Sales Surge - From Psion?

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://www.theregus.com/content/54/26590.html">http://www.theregus.com/content/54/26590.html</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.psionteklogix.com/ptxcms/core.asp?s=com&p=HomePage">Psion Teklogix</a> has a new model in its netpad product line that was announced three months ago and has been shipping for one month. It is burning up the sales charts at the company already garnering 15% of the overall product line's sales. It is a rugged netpad powered by Windows CE.<br /><br />This can't bode well for the Symbian OS. Psion Teklogix's own director of mobile computing estimates that the CE powered netpad will be 50% of the product line within 12 months. What's behind it? Just CE? Wireless? No. .NET. Many of the new customers are already porting their software to .NET. Microsoft looks to be in good position to take a substantial chunk of the embedded device market, and what is good for Windows CE is good for Pocket PC and visa versa. This is the leverage no other company has. Microsoft has Windows servers which will make use of .NET, which will make mobile computing easier for developers and safer for end users, which will increase the demand for .NET software and services, which will make mobile computing easier....well, you get the idea. :wink:

[sub_tex]

Did they used to use Symbian for the rugged devices?

I'll be more concerned when Psion releases new general consumer devices with CE rather than Symbian.

[Ed Hansberry]

Did they used to use Symbian for the rugged devices?

Yes, that would be the other 85% of the product line.

[revolution.cx]

It's a pretty neat looking device, reminds me a bit of the Newton 2000. Ruggedized and ready for vertical markets.

No USB and no i/o card slot (just mmc) meaning all i/o has to go via serial or IR...what were they thinking? Along with a 256 color display - must have saved them 32 cents.

[GregWard]

Did they used to use Symbian for the rugged devices?

I'll be more concerned when Psion releases new general consumer devices with CE rather than Symbian.

They've dropped out of the consumer market altogether - unless they do another about face.

I wonder how much this news has to do with the interface with the PC? I've said this before on PC Thoughts but I guarentee that anyone who thinks ActiveSync has problems would love it to bits after 5 seconds with Symbians rubbish heap of an alternative!!! Actually that's a stupid thing to say you can't do anything with it in 5 seconds! Five hours of waiting for your emails to sync maybe. These kind of things really matter to corporates where Psion's business is now.