Pocket PC Overtakes Palm In Devices Shipped Q3 2004!

[Ed Hansberry]

<a href="http://brighthand.com/article/Gartner_Results_Q304">http://brighthand.com/article/Gartner_Results_Q304</a><br /><br />HP isn't far behind in overtaking palmOne either, just two percentage points separate the two tech companies. Can you say "recount?" :wink: <br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/hansberry/2004/20041110-q32004share.gif" /><br /><br />Worldwide, PDA sales were up 13.3% over the same quarter last year, which is a coincidence because palmOne was <i>down</i> 13.3%. HP was up 19.2%. For the first time worldwide, Pocket PCs shipped on more devices than did PalmOS. This has happened several times over the past few years in various market segments but the US/North American market, long a stronghold for the PalmOS, had kept Palm in front.<br /><br />No longer. For the year, Pocket PCs are expected to ship on roughly 5 million devices, a 15% increase over 2003. :rock on dude!: PalmOS is expected to ship on 4.4 million devices, a 23% decrease.<br /><br />In related news, palmOne <a href="http://www.forbes.com/technology/feeds/infoimaging/2004/11/10/infoimagingcomtex_xml_2004_11_10_comtex_comtex_043705_2077987946378194394.html?partner=yahoo&referrer=">shut down their China office</a>.

[huangzhinong]

"Recount" is not that necessary :D . IDC report last month has the similar result.

[Ivan]

Forget Palm... RIM is only five percentage points behind HP and growing. It is remarkable how that little company has tapped the corporate market the way they have by offering a simple, but extremely efficient way to do push real-time email, and grow to the position they're in right now.

I have to confess that, since getting a Blackberry for my company email, I have found I am leaving my Pocket PC at home more often.

If only Blackberrys did ebooks...

[Ed@Brighthand]

While I understand the desire to crow over Pocket PC beating out Palm OS, let's not ignore the fact that RIM's BlackBerry platform is likely to outsell both Palm OS and Pocket PC next year.

[Ed Hansberry]

While I understand the desire to crow over Pocket PC beating out Palm OS, let's not ignore the fact that RIM's BlackBerry platform is likely to outsell both Palm OS and Pocket PC next year.
No kidding. It is a basic email appliance. Simple to use and does one thing really well and will likely be a staple of those wanting anywhere-email. It doesn't complete though for people that want a light-weight computing experience. Not sure why the report you used put RIM devices in this and excluded the Treo. Did it also exclude the Pocket PC Phone Editions?

[surur]

Yes. I could not believe such a low profile device is sneaking under the radar to take over the handheld market.

On the other had, I wonder if RIM should really be counted here. Its an e-mail appliance, not a general purpose pocketpc. Its more like a Nokia non-smartphone, single purpose. You wont be able to run your GPS software on it, or e.g. read your e-books.

Its still worrying however, but the good news is that blackberry functionality is now showing up in other connected units such as the XDA II and XDA IIs.

You no longer have to make the choice between always on e-mail and a general purpose device. I just hope MS sees the threat and responds by improving the interface of its software. One handed usage especially needs to be targeted, even on a pocketpc.

Surur

[Stik]

While I understand the desire to crow over Pocket PC beating out Palm OS, let's not ignore the fact that RIM's BlackBerry platform is likely to outsell both Palm OS and Pocket PC next year.

That may depend on how this turns out :devilboy:

" While the initial catalyst moving Research In Motion was talk of customer dissatisfaction with a new product, the real item pumping up volatility is the impending decision on a patent infringement lawsuit brought by privately held NTP Inc. Whichever way the ruling goes, the stock is likely to make a significant move, because the ramifications are huge.

Research In Motion lost the case the first time in 2002, resulting in an injunction banning BlackBerry sales in the U.S. The injunction was stayed pending the outcome of the appeal, but it's likely to be reinstated if Research In Motion loses. At the time, the company was also required to set aside 8.55% of U.S. sales as a royalty rate for NTP until the case is concluded. Those funds would go back to Research In Motion if it wins the case; that would create the double bonus of a cash windfall and the removal of giant legal question mark. "

http://www.thestreet.com/_googlen/options/stevensmith/10193650.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEN&cm_cat=FREE&cm_ite=NA

Sorry for the OT. :oops:

[Perk]

Dude, I'm gettin a Dell!

Not yet though, I got two more years warranty on my HP.

I got a friend with a blackberry that's got PDA envy. He's not very happy with his machine. When he emails me it's got jibberish in the text and missing letters and caps. Blackberry's not all that. More connected PocketPCs are coming.

8)

[Ivan]

No kidding. It is a basic email appliance. Simple to use and does one thing really well and will likely be a staple of those wanting anywhere-email. It doesn't complete though for people that want a light-weight computing experience. Not sure why the report you used put RIM devices in this and excluded the Treo. Did it also exclude the Pocket PC Phone Editions?

I tend to disagree that Blackberrys are merely email appliances. I find myself using it more and more everyday for calendaring, contacts and wireless Internet browsing... and finding less of a need to carry my [unconnected] Pocket PC around.

However, you raise a very interesting comment... the line between a PDA, a pocket computing device and a cell phone with added PDA functionality is vanishing... should they just compile a list of connected devices and unconnected PDA-like devices?

[David Prahl]

Suprised to see RIM that high. I remember when almost all of that pie was Palm-based... 8O

Go windows mobile! :D

[Pinnacle]

I bought a BB 7100t for $199 (after $100 rebate) from TMobile to try it out. I've been using it for about a month, now, and I have a tough time leaving the house without it. As a phone, it blows my HP 6315 out of the water.

It's small, has a powerful speakerphone, Bluetooth (granted, crippled to just work with headsets right now), rock-solid stability, and great RF...beyond the push email that works so well. But it also offers just enough functionality and 3rd party apps to be dangerously close to replacing a PPC for me.

I'm seriously contemplating buying an iPod or Rio Carbon to get my music and Audible fix, and using the 7100t as my organizer/phone. I already purchased Palm Reader for my laptop, as well, to read books in my spare time when I don't listen to them on Audible.

I agree with another post above: If there was a RIM ebook reader, this would be a solid PPC/Palm replacement. Mapopolis for BB would also be a wish of mine. There's already Word and Excel reading and editing right now, though.

[Jeff Rutledge]

I'm in a similar position as some of the posters above. I love my iPAQ 2215, but my Blackberry 7280 is the device I can't be without and take with me whenever I leave the house.

I use it for phone, email, calendar, contacts and surfing primarily. It's PIM functions are terrible and it has no multimedia, but I would think it would be easier for RIM to include this functionality more easily than it will be for Microsoft to meet Blackberry's wireless functionality.

Also, the newest Blackberry devices now have Bluetooth (limited, as mentioned earlier) and a Photo viewer. I believe this is the first move to making them media-capable devices.

If they improved the PIM functions a little, and threw in a SD slot and an mp3 player, they'd get a harder look from folks in the Windows Mobile camp.

Personally I see RIM and Microsoft as the key players. Palm will fade to the background more and more.

[lapchinj]

...If they improved the PIM functions a little, and threw in a SD slot and an mp3 player, they'd get a harder look from folks in the Windows Mobile camp...
Yeah because after they did all that they would basically have a Pocket PC :wink: .

Jeff-

[Kowalski]

i dont get it, the only advantage i find is the "mail push", but it has lots of disadvantages over ppc.
i think the show the company marketing success rather than the device

[wshwe]

RIM gets it. Most people prefer thumb-boards over styli. Mobile instant email is addictive.

I wish all of my PDAs had integrated thumb-boards.