05-09-2002, 03:51 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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Audiovox Thera disappoints Walt Mossberg
http://ptech.wsj.com/archive/ptech-20020509.html
Walt Mossberg recently reviewed the Audiovox Thera, a Pocket PC 2002 with CDMA technology built in. It is not a Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition device. Sierra Wireless added the wireless phone features.
As I was listening to the review on the way in this morning on Audible, I thought Mr. Mossberg was being a bit harsh on the device for its phone features. After all, it is a data device first and a phone second. However, the second half of his review focused on the data portion of the device. He praised the core Pocket PC 2002 OS, but was less gentle on the experience, some of which is Verizon's fault with their proprietary implementation of the new CDMA based 1X network they call "Express Network."
In my thought on Microsoft being able to step up and take advantage of the poor offerings currently on the market for integrated devices, I said I was ready for a device right now. Well, I am, but it has to be the right device. Microsoft has put a tremendous effort into the voice/data integration in their Smartphone 2002 and Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition software. I guess Audiovox didn't want to wait for the PPC2K2PE software to be baked or had other reasons for using their own dialer. Mr. Mossberg's final comments sum up the data integration. "Finally, the built-in phone software, supplied by a company called Sierra Wireless, isn't well integrated with the rest of the device. For instance, there's a separate address book for phone use. If you go to the main Contacts program, you can't dial a number. And, if you try to call up a Web page, the Thera won't automatically connect to the Internet to do so. All in all, I'd advise taking a pass on Verizon's Thera. It's unlikely to satisfy either the voice-oriented or the data-oriented user."
Being first to market has its advantages but does not guarantee success. Thanks to Steve Miller for the link.
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05-09-2002, 04:09 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 327
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Poor Design
I have to agree with the reviewer here. If the designers did not bother with something as basic as contact integration, then were else does the design fall down ? This flaw alone would earn it an ''F'' if I was handing out grades. :roll:
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05-09-2002, 04:12 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 57
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What doesn't dissapoint Mossberg of the Pocket PC???
Mr. Mossberg is the most unimaginative and un-ashamed cheerleader for the Palm OS. Even when the Pocket PC platform makes a huge step forward he can only make negative comments. The fact that he has put the dead end Treo device ( A second gen Palm Phone) ahead of the Thera ( A first gen Pocket PC Phone) is no suprise to me. I look forward to the Pocket Loox and the new HTC Phone from Voicestream. Maybe then Walt will see the light and return from the dark side. ( Only 7 Days until episode II :lol: )
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05-09-2002, 04:20 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 289
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The phone dialer problems are software based. This is the same issue on the Aircard 555 with PPC, although the phone functionality works its integraqtion is not all there. I have a feeling this was dictated by Sierra wireless because Audiovox used the 1xrt transmitter. I will bet that Sierra wireless will release an update to he software that will let you dig into your outlook contacts on PPC. But to be Honest, the speed of the data is killer!!!!
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05-09-2002, 05:05 PM
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Neophyte
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 7
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Why does it cost so much?
I think the $800 cost is prohibitive. First, this is a 1st gen device. People who buy are taking a testing risk for Verizon, and therefore will be less willing to pay big bucks for a device. Second, anyone who buys this device will be paying more than just a voice customer for service. They will pay for regular voice service plus whatever data plan they get. This means that Verizon's Thera customers will produce more revenue for them. Therefore they could subsidize the phone even more. Third, the Maestro costs $300 by itself (retail), it could never cost $500 to add a Sierra Wireless card to the device.
I know Verizon should charge people's willingness to pay for the device, but I think they really got it wrong on this one. Performance issues aside, this device should cost no more than $500. Remember, you still have to pay Verizon at least $50 (more likely at least $100) per month to use the device. The profit on these payments alone should suffice to create a subsidy for the Thera that would keep it from costing $800.
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05-09-2002, 05:15 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,060
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Re: Why does it cost so much?
Quote:
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Originally Posted by cparekh
Remember, you still have to pay Verizon at least $50 (more likely at least $100) per month to use the device.
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And, with such leading-edge users, they'll have no trouble at all getting one- or two-year contracts from each customer. That's a guaranteed $1,200 per year in revenues (plus whatever they can reap through the inevitable erroneous billing).
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05-09-2002, 08:24 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 109
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Re: Audiovox Thera disappoints Walt Mossberg
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
Audiovox Thera, a Pocket PC 2002 with CDMA technology built in. It is not a Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition device.
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Maybe I am stupid, but I thought that PocketPC Phone Edition is for GSM/GPRS only, not for CDMA... am I stupid?
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05-09-2002, 08:27 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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Re: Audiovox Thera disappoints Walt Mossberg
Quote:
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Originally Posted by jpzr
Maybe I am stupid, but I thought that PocketPC Phone Edition is for GSM/GPRS only, not for CDMA... am I stupid?
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The first devices will be but that is not a PPC2K2PE/SP2002 limit. The OS can handle just about any data capable radio stack you want to put in it.
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05-09-2002, 10:17 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 89
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First of all I disagree with the criticism of Walt Mossberg. He is one of the most respected and influential tech journalists because he reviews for the ordinary person without catering to the techie crowd. That, and not anti-Microsoft bias, is why he recommends Palm over PocketPC. He also rates MSN higher that AOL, so I don't see an anti-Microsoft agenda. But that's just my opinion.
Now, for the Thera, I would expect the first generation of MS smartphone devices to be poorly designed. It's the Microsoft way. Now bear with me for a moment here. That's not a slam on Microsoft (although grant me this, they have produced a few garbage 1.0 versions in the past). MS doesn't actually make these phones. They provide the OS, the reference designs, the developer kits, etc. After that it is left up to the individual licensees to do the innovation. There are going to be good and bad products - that's the way to work out what the market will buy. I doubt the Thera is any reflection of what is soon to come. It's clearly rushed to market.
If I was a Microsoft product manager on the smartphone team, I'd be hoping for the Treo to be a success. That would do two things. First, it would quickly legitimize the market. Then every review of the Treo would also be a look forward at the products yet to come in the booming smartphone market. Second, it would provide a roadmap to what the customer wants. It would be Embrace and Extend time. The focus could shift toward embracing the features that consumers liked in the Treo and then adding more enterprise functionality, courting the developers, cranking up the marketing, etc.
I personally want to see some good products on both sides.
Scott
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05-09-2002, 10:59 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Some good statements Scott, but just to be clear, the SmartPhone 2002 is a cell phone with MS software on it (like the Sendo) and the Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition (or Pocket PC 2002 PE) is the Thera - a Pocket PC with integrated wireless. 8)
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