Peek email device: now with text messaging and image viewing capabilities

It's barely been two days since we heard that "Dan" at Peek had opened a suggestion box for would-be customers to recommend "minor" tweaks for their email only handheld, so we assume today's news is unrelated. Regardless, there was a pretty decent upgrade to the device last night, adding the ability to view image attachments, as well as text messaging capabilities. Texting works through an SMS email gateway, with users entering numbers in the "To:" field, but we're not going to start nitpicking about technicalities. Seriously though, if they add a way to make calls to this thing, we're totally sold.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

[deyanimay @ Nov 18th 2008 8:41PM]

They should add a mic and a camera for sending pics and audio recordings.

[nial @ Nov 18th 2008 8:44PM]

or just let this device be simple, and use a blackberry if you want all those features.

[Rotaryfan @ Nov 19th 2008 5:21PM]

Nial, there are some distinct advantages to the peek over any blackberry; it's simpler, cheaper, and now it can contact cell phones without increasing cost.

on the other hand, blackberries in general kick ass, but the initial cost and subscription costs make it expensive. also, I haven't seen RIM ask for ideas for feature updates and release a useful update in under a week. The peek has potential.

I think text messages are probably a more useful feature than calling, especially considering that there are more cell lines than land lines (correct me if I'm wrong). maybe an HTML browser with google and wiki searches would make this truly awsome.
VOIP? unnecessary.

[bob sakamano @ Nov 20th 2008 8:50PM]

they are giving away a free peek at peekforums.com... http://peekforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=4

[konshuss @ Nov 18th 2008 8:44PM]

nice to see a company bending to suggestion... when's the last time you heard of a device maker taking public advice that _triples_ the capabilities of the thing overnight?

[lowdef @ Nov 18th 2008 8:46PM]

hey just throw in a phone too!!!

[adam @ Nov 18th 2008 9:26PM]

false, but push/ actively sinced (like having servers check for new email MUCH more often, and then alerting phone). faster/more useful obviously, and it would save battery) would be nice.

i love ridiculous parentheses that completely interrupt/ruin flow of the sentence.

[lowdef @ Nov 18th 2008 9:49PM]

you didnt sense any sarcasm at all in my post? I need to work on that.

[Sebastian Sauced @ Nov 18th 2008 8:47PM]

if this had a web browser, it would be more convenient,cheaper and better looking than my sidekick(i didnt use it to make voice calls)

Sidekick-1$ day unlimited data(prepaid)
200+without contract
Huge Compared to peek

Peek-20$ month unlimited email and text(hence the need for a browser then it would be unlimited data)
80$ without contract
3G Network(in some areas)

this could be great for some teens who barely use the call feature of a phone and is cheaper 15$ only gets you unlimited text
so yeah add a browser

[austin @ Nov 18th 2008 11:09PM]

peek doesnt use 3G. just EDGE

[CJ @ Nov 18th 2008 11:50PM]

Austin: So does Every version of the sidekick/hiptop.

[allislost @ Nov 18th 2008 8:50PM]

The only thing this extremely boring device needs is the ability to introduce what is necessary and, above all else, the functionality to address the current needs because i'm a banana.

[absinthe party @ Nov 19th 2008 7:30AM]

Why are you so pissy and negative all the time? Do you just need someone to love you?

[allislost @ Nov 25th 2008 5:15AM]

I'm guessing you don't like to read the full comment before you reply to that comment...

[PEZ @ Nov 18th 2008 8:59PM]

If they start adding all this crap, its just going to be a semi-connected PDA. Didnt we get rod of those things years ago? Its fine as it is - then again, wasnt this the OGO in 2003?

Keep it simple.

[Mikey @ Nov 18th 2008 9:40PM]

I still use my Toshiba e750 daily. However, there is not always a wifi network to connect to. I would love this if it had a browser and mobile office suite. A media player would be nice, but not necessary.

I don't need/want to pay for an actual phone/voice plan. My speech impediment makes vocal communication tougher...

[Rollins @ Nov 18th 2008 8:54PM]

I think it should have tethering next.

...

:D

[chefgon_ign @ Nov 18th 2008 10:52PM]

On GPRS? That would be pretty near the most useless feature ever.

[jake @ Nov 18th 2008 9:15PM]

I think a browser is key, if only for information - restaurants, directions, maps, sports scores, news. It could easily be a system like the Kindle where you select from a menu of subscriptions to the sites you want. International coverage for email would also be nice.

[DC @ Nov 18th 2008 9:10PM]

Give it a web browser, half the monthly fee to $9.99, and I'm in.

[Rollins @ Nov 18th 2008 9:47PM]

If they did even one of the two I'd be in.

[chefgon_ign @ Nov 18th 2008 11:14PM]

Between the GPRS data connection, the absurdly low end specs, and the scroll wheel as the only directional input.. this thing would make for the most pathetically useless web browser ever. It would serve no use other than dragging down user's opinions of it.

As for the monthly fee, $10 would certainly be an awesome deal, but I imagine they are limited in how low they can go based on how much of that is being paid out to T-Mobile.

[Yusuke @ Nov 19th 2008 2:45AM]

I like it. Text and email about all I use data plan for anyway. It be nice if they had something that did the web, but I know it be over $20 a month if it did.

[crow610 @ Nov 18th 2008 9:14PM]

HELLLP!!!

I'M TURNING INTO A PDA/PHONE!!!

[bill cant fart @ Nov 18th 2008 9:16PM]

Well, stop it then!!

[Marty @ Nov 18th 2008 9:26PM]

Maybe go in the opposite direction, and require users to purchase stamps for sent emails.

[chuck_milner @ Nov 18th 2008 9:30PM]

Make it play Crysis and I'd buy one.

[digitallysick @ Nov 18th 2008 9:33PM]

Excellent marketing, you make something, ask someone what they would do to improve it, and then, you improve it! amazing. I agree throw a web browser on it!

what is the OS like? hope its not like windows mobile

[Abdel @ Nov 18th 2008 9:35PM]

I'd have been nice if it had an MP3 player embedded.

[chefgon_ign @ Nov 18th 2008 10:46PM]

It has 8mb of internal storage and no expansion slot. Adding an MP3 player would have been a radical change in the hardware design, it's not just something they can include as an afterthought like they do on cell phones.

[Peter @ Nov 18th 2008 9:40PM]

Question: Will this be WiFi-only or will it have a cellular modem thingy; or both?

[JStro @ Nov 18th 2008 9:55PM]

I believe it is cellular modem thingy only.

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Nov 18th 2008 9:52PM]

Will it Blend?

[GingerFox @ Nov 19th 2008 5:14AM]

these comments are getting OLD

[Uncontrol @ Nov 18th 2008 9:57PM]

This is a great product, but not for $20 a month.

[Alex Padilla @ Nov 18th 2008 10:16PM]

Actually I do think this was a response to suggestions. Peek's twitter was replying to people who suggested texting as a feature.

This thing is quickly becoming an attractive buy.

[Rob @ Nov 18th 2008 11:58PM]

Looks like the folks at Peek are fairly responsive to fixes and open to helping their customers too.

Take a look at their Facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/pages/Peek/76421030631 ). Their Twitter ( http://twitter.com/peekinc ). And their YouTube ( http://youtube.com/peekinc ).

I like what I see. That's how wireless companies should run - THEY CARE AND LOOK AFTER THEIR CUSTOMERS WITH RESPECT.

[Ervel Flick @ Nov 18th 2008 10:43PM]

So, basically... it's a BlackBerry?

Way to be 10 years behind the curve, peek! Woo!

[chefgon_ign @ Nov 18th 2008 10:43PM]

To clarify, Peek has been able to open image attachments from day one. It was previously limited to JPEG files only, this enhancement adds other image formats like GIF, PNG, and BMP (which I'm pretty sure I've never received as an email attachment anyway).

The text messaging, however, is huge. Unlimited email and text for $20 a month is a significantly better deal than unlimited email for $20 a month.

[Edmund @ Nov 18th 2008 11:01PM]

hmm I dont have one of these devices but i have been sending text via email with the t-mobile 5.99 plan
so really you could already send text by sending to: [e-mail] ..right?

im guessing that they made it easier by just entering in the number? since many ppl didn't know about sending text as emails?

idk, but if the Peek had a browser on a 3g network, im all in =D

[chefgon_ign @ Nov 18th 2008 11:26PM]

I'm fairly confident that's what it is. I find it unlikely that it's actually sending SMS messages without the T-Mobile fee increasing.

[cwj @ Nov 19th 2008 12:54AM]

The funky part about SMS-via-email is having to know the specific domain for the number you're sending to AND knowing the recipients carrier. For a while, before getting a texting plan, I made a habit of asking people what their carrier was so I could text to them from home (which can often seem creepy to people you don't know well). If Peek had a way of cipherin' for me a recipient's carrier just by me putting in their number...why, that'd be downright helpful.

Or is there an application already out I don't know about?

[Alexander Huynh @ Nov 18th 2008 11:44PM]

I would mind access to that SMS email gateway. That way I can forward my emails to my dumbphone :)

[Woody Sabran @ Nov 19th 2008 4:43AM]

I'm sorry but am I missing something here? I thought the whole deal with Peek was that it's a device dedicated to email? If you start to add loads of other features the software will become bloated and the physical limitations of the device will become apparent - to add all the other features that have been requested you would need to redesign it physically therefore it would no longer be the elegant / easy to use product that it is now, it would lose it's USP. Trying to turn this in to a phone would be the most stupid thing ever, it would be like designing the perfect couch and then trying to turn it in to a car. It's not practical!!

[Imran @ Nov 19th 2008 6:12AM]

This is all good but now there's a danger they might start adding too many features and take away its unique selling point... And then it'll just be another all round device in an already saturated market...

[wodheila @ Nov 19th 2008 8:07AM]

Like the old Seinfeld comment about TV remotes and men not caring what's on TV, (they just want to know what else is on), no product posted here will be complete till everyone imagines what it should have been.

[Unique Gift Ideas @ Nov 19th 2008 12:48PM]

I checked Peek out after I read an article about it in the new Men's Health, and I still cannot fathom why anyone would want a device that only did emails. Am I missing the boat here?

[chefgon_ign @ Nov 19th 2008 2:17PM]

I have tried to give away former smartphones to people, and a surprisingly large number of people just absolutely refuse to try it. They'd rather have their cheap flip phone because there's nothing to figure out.

This is a device based purely on simplicity in an attempt to appeal to people who are terrified of smartphones. Yes, a smartphone is clearly a better deal, but there are just tons of folks out there who believe that smartphone is not an option for them.

[Milkjam @ Dec 19th 2008 5:28PM]

Why Buy a PEEK?
ANSWER:
Blackberry is perfect at emails and calls, everything else is sub par (including viewing pics/pdf's/spreadsheets within emails).
iPhone is perfect at everything except emails and calls. Plus developers are mostly only coding for iPhone.

I switched from BB to iPhone and miss reliable emails. I may just buy the Peek today if emails are as instant as a BB.