palmOne to make Microsoft Windows Mobile Treo?
By Phillip Torrone 
posted November 2nd 2004 2:59AM
posted November 2nd 2004 2:59AM
First that team wins that thing, now this—palmOne (PalmSource's biggest customer and maker of the Treo 650) appears it really might be planning to use Microsoft's Windows Mobile OS in its Treo line of smartphones (they'd keep making Palm-powered Treos). No comment from Microsoft on this yet, when it'll be out, carrier, specs or even which flavor of Windows Mobile it will be, but we're guessing Pocket PC Phone Edition if it's going to be in a Treo form factor. A few weeks ago palmOne hooked up with Microsoft to better provide Microsoft exchange support, we mentioned there might be something bigger coming.
[Thanks, Jacek]
this will be great next to my Intel-powered Macintosh.
i'll believe it when i see it.
of course... it would be rad... but if i absolutely positively wanted such a thing i think i would just get the BenQ P-50 which already will be MS powered *and* includes WiFi with no add-on. and will most likely be released well before this thing.
so basically... i think PalmOne needs to realize its not the OS that makes the Treo 650 suck... its the lame hardware non-inclusion decisions (wifi / lame camera / a bit light on memory) that make it crapass.
It seems as if Palm were heading off in the smartphone direction. And now they're planning on using their main rival's OS instead of their own? A PalmOne device that runs Windows Mobile? I find it hard to belive.
I think it's more likly that they're teaming up to get PalmOS to work with Microsoft Exchange or something.
... because otherwise Microsoft's licensing MS Exchange communication to PalmOne makes no business sense. But if it is only a part of deal then it makes a lot of sense: Microsoft give PalmOne sync technology for PalmOS smartphones and PalmOne in return makes Pocket Pc phone in Treo form factor!
Now it all becomes clear. This is logical consequence.
Well, I would like to add one point though: if this Treo Pocket PC phone will not have built-in Wi-Fi then it will be absolutely not acceptable considering Motorola MPx, HTC Blue Angel, HP iPaq phones - that all have bult-in Wi-Fi.
Wi-fi is need for skype to work with voice, so better PalmOne include built-in Wi-Fi ...
I'm so confused, somebody help me out. It is rare a reference go thru here that I don't get...
Engadget is referring to the Boston Red Sox. The Sox, and Palmone building Windows gadgets, are just a few signs of the end of the world. Watch for four horsemen coming to an apocalypse near you
and after their done cranking out that puppy maybe they'll have time to make a Palm OS 6 device?
This would STINK! They had better not do it, i hate windows mobile. it is just like windows, it doesn't work very well.
PalmOne says it's not that case: see http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=7260.
PalmOne's Jim Christensen says, "We believe that the folks at Needham misunderstood our palmOne execs: no one from palmOne expressed the sentiments attributed to us, either at our October 5 Securities Analyst meeting or in the individual analyst meetings that followed...It's a well-known fact that palmOne has attracted a large and loyal customer base delivering products that employ PalmOS, and that we are committed to a multiyear contract with PalmSource that includes a $40 million minimum annual commitment. We have often said that the PalmOS today has the best combination of power, ease of use, user interface and flexibility to innovate on top of the OS."