Handango Releases New Version of InHand Client - Pocket PC Thoughts Version Coming

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://corp.handango.com/PressRelease.jsp?siteId=1&CKey=1_PRESSRELEASE_PR051105&option=pressroom' target='_blank'>http://corp.handango.com/PressRelea...ption=pressroom</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Today at the Microsoft Mobile &amp; Embedded Developer Conference, Handango announced a new version of Handango InHand for Windows Mobile that enables streamlined customization of on-device clients for a wide variety of companies including software developers, mobile news sites and retailers. With the new version, licensees can deploy their own branded versions of InHand quickly and easily, delivering a branded experience while creating a dedicated download catalog on their customers' mobile devices....Popular mobile news sites Geekzone, Pocket PC Thoughts, Aximsite, Pocket Download and Medical Pocket PC have already licensed the new InHand client and are deploying their own versions in May."</i><br /><br />That's right people, soon we'll have our very own customized version of the InHand client. Stay tuned!

[gregmills]

That's neat and all but i don't think I'll be re-installing it until they can make the entire catalog available from the program. As long as it's just a selection of the best selling software I don't think it's all that useful.

I don't know if they should include it all in the database but only provide screenshots of those "premium" programs to save space or if it would be better to make the thing connect to the full database over an internet connection. What I do know is that as long as it's just a finite selection from the entire catalog then it is just a marketing gimmick to me.

[Jason Dunn]

That's neat and all but i don't think I'll be re-installing it until they can make the entire catalog available from the program. As long as it's just a selection of the best selling software I don't think it's all that useful.

Here's a response from Handango:

"The Handango InHand client is not meant to be the entire catalog; it is designed to offer premium applications that are easily purchased and installed directly from the device. Not all applications are ideal or designed for OTA delivery. Handango’s on-device client is meant for those users who only want to see the best apps and utilize a much easier purchase and installation process.

If customers are happier to browse through the thousands of applications available on Handango-powered Web site, then by all means, they should continue to do that. In addition, we’re happy to point people to the mobile version of our site:

http://mobile.handango.com/ppc"

[gregmills]

I appreciate you getting the response from Handango but what defines "best apps." I'm pretty sure that means those which are considered "Best Selling" by Handango's sales/dollars metric.

I think it's interesting that Handango doesn't say that it's impractical in terms of memory or other platform limitations to provide a larger selection of products. Rather, the program is "designed" to offer a limited selection. I think it's exclusive by design because that creates a marketing value that Handango can sell to developers. That's speculation but I'd be very suprised if it doesn't play out exactly that way.

Sure there is the mobile version of the web site and that would be fine if I could purchase AND install the product right on my PDA. That's the nice thing about Handango's new program but they've crippled it by making it an exclusive marketing gimmick.

Of course they can do whatever they want with thier program, that's just my opinion of it.

[Jon Westfall]

I haven't played with the Handango client yet, but when a PPCT branded version comes out, I'll probably grab it. I'm assuming it can be used to download products you already own? So when I'm setting up a new device on the go, it can help speed things up?

[gregmills]

OK, they figured out a way to get me to re-install it. They are giving away eWallet for $1 through the program (Texas Hold'em and Weather Center too).

[Jason Dunn]

OK, they figured out a way to get me to re-install it. They are giving away eWallet for $1 through the program (Texas Hold'em and Weather Center too).

Yeah, I'll be posting on that soon. In the meantime you can all download the Pocket PC Thoughts client:

http://www.handango.com/ampp/store/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&amp;jid=2BB4A8B68A411CXEX465821F22X46434&amp;platformId=2&amp;productType=2&amp;productId=165104&amp;sectionId=0&amp;catalog=30&amp;topSectionId=-1