Peek CEO: buy two Peeks, your next iPhone or G1 bill is on us

Yesterday we sat down for an interview with Amol Sarva, CEO of the email-handheld startup Peek. We're in the midst of transcribing what was a fairly interesting conversation, but in the middle of our chat he proposed a curious deal, and we wanted to put it out there (as well as see the company put its money where its mouth is). Sarva and co. are pretty convinced that while the Peek may not be the perfect device for the hardcore gadget junkie, it is the perfect device for their moms or girlfriends (or boyfriends, we assume) -- in fact, they're so convinced that they're offering to pay a month of said junkie's iPhone or G1 bill (up to $150) if they buy a Peek for their mom... and girlfriend. According to Amol, if you buy two of the devices (which you can get for $79.95 right now) and activate them, the company will cover your November cellphone bill. Amol himself will be heading up this project, and as long as you place your order by December 1st, you can make the magic happen. Wildly, Amol says to just email him with the account info at: amol (at) getpeek (dot) com.

[Sneakz @ Nov 26th 2008 11:17AM]

No BB Love?

[amol @ Nov 26th 2008 12:15PM]

:) no love. Sorry Waterloo. Not geeky enough. Check HarvardBusinessReview.com for the special "buy 2 Peeks and get 1 share of Citibank" offer

[holycow @ Nov 26th 2008 12:58PM]

Waterloo not geeky enough? Oh boy, you're mistaken.

(University of Waterloo student)

[RodTheBod @ Nov 26th 2008 2:16PM]

holycow: You're right, I never saw any of you guys on the way from my trips to Western.

(Student from Toronto who visited UWO to hook up with the Western girls.)

[bob sakamano @ Nov 26th 2008 11:04PM]

why pay for a peek? you can win a free peek right now at http://peekforums.com/viewforum.php?f=24 !

[gyros23 @ Nov 26th 2008 11:22AM]

is this the next advertisment for this complete usless device? why should i use this device and not a mobilephone?
thank you engadget!

[dagwud @ Nov 26th 2008 11:25AM]

You shouldn't. Obviously, by your comment, you're not the target market.

[JoeG @ Nov 26th 2008 11:31AM]

You probably shouldn't use this device. Basically no readers of engadget are in the target demographic. It is designed as a giftable device for people who already have a voice device they liked (and are probably still locked into a contract on) to try mobile email without committing to multiple years with a smartphone and full data plan. (Note that that $199 iPhone with a 2 year $69/mo contract is actually a total commitment of $1855... hard to justify if you're someone who hasn't used mobile email before and aren't sure you'll use it a lot and realtively impossible to give as a gift unless you're *really* generous.)

[J-Rad @ Nov 26th 2008 3:02PM]

Must... strain... eyes... to read absurd comment

[Fred @ Nov 26th 2008 11:23AM]

He's probably gonna change all their rate plans on them.

[amol @ Nov 26th 2008 11:44AM]

I promise not to. Or your money back. Quote me.

[Mobius_1 @ Nov 26th 2008 11:29AM]

The small print:
Peek inc shall not be responsible for strained relationships.

[Flashpoint @ Nov 26th 2008 11:31AM]

The Peek isn't bad, but I am in no way this serious about email.

I get very few emails each day ( I am an Assistant Principal Technology/Life Science) and the vast majority of what I do get is SPAM, chain mail from the Dept. of Ed and more SPAM.

This device is great for businesses to hand out (if their willing to pay the fees) but without a phone, the Peek just doesn't appeal to me.

I handle purchasing for my school. I'd almost consider this for the guidance staff (the Principal has a Blackberry) but for me, all I need is my iPhone. I love emailing pictures and having a neat rolodex.

[absinthe party @ Nov 26th 2008 11:32AM]

"Remember that e-mail we got from those Nigerians who need our help getting that money out of Africa? We did it! I got the check today."

[Tired of Men in Electronic Design. @ Nov 26th 2008 11:34AM]

I am a woman and I love gadgets. I am insulted that this article suggestions that men enjoy gadgets and that a dumbed down version would be good for the woman in your life. We don't need gadgets to have simpler features and to be in pink to enjoy them.

Overall, in terms of design, it's still very male-centric. It would be more appealing to a larger market if design was uni-sex like Apple, rather than all leather, chrome and black like design for cars, dell computers.

[nd @ Nov 26th 2008 11:40AM]

Then you too are clearly not the target demographic.

Also note: "moms or girlfriends (or boyfriends, we assume)". Engadget did not imply the sexism.

An a related note, get used to it. You are not the norm. Males and females view and use gadgets differently than each other.

[Ryan @ Nov 26th 2008 11:40AM]

......because the Peek on the far-right (in the posted picture) is very 'male-centric'....

[Flashpoint @ Nov 26th 2008 11:43AM]

I understand your concern. I too love to see gadgets marketed towards women. Think about all the women who pioneered the presentation and marketability of gadgets.

Singourney Weaver - pulse rifles
Samus Aran - cybernetic battlesuits

...and even though, those two names are the only ones I can think of, I'm sure the list goes on and on.

[Hypocritical? @ Nov 26th 2008 11:45AM]

I can understand being insulted at the tone of the article, but you just contradicted yourself in your own comment.

"We don't need gadgets to have simpler features and to be in pink to enjoy them"

Immediately followed by:

"It would be more appealing to a larger market if design was uni-sex like Apple, rather than all leather, chrome and black like design for cars, dell computers"

Not only are Apple designers are known for their 'simple' design, which you stated you don't need, but you then directly implied that "leather, chrome, and black" are only for men. Oh yeah, and cars and dell computers too.

If you're going to stand up for equal rights, at least be equal about it.

[amol @ Nov 26th 2008 11:47AM]

Hey ladies and gentegeeks

No offense intended. We have lots of women at Peek who are iphone/blackberry/android types. No sweat! But they often have less-techie sweeties in their lives... guys can be luddites too!

[OMGizzle! @ Nov 26th 2008 11:53AM]

Jesus. Are you kidding me? What kind of jaded individual are you to think that this is a slam towards women? At least someone's getting you something....

[joe23521 @ Nov 26th 2008 12:59PM]

Here are some female-centric gadgets you might enjoy:

http://www.thedeets.com/2007/12/31/usb-powered-vibrators/

[tnkgrl @ Nov 26th 2008 2:07PM]

As @Amol said... There are plenty of tech/gadget savvy women out there - I'm one of them!

@Ryan, the peek on the far right is actually burgundy in real life.

The Peek is not for everyone, but even for smartphone geeks like me, there's something very attractive about its simplicity. My only gripe is the cost of the monthly service - $5.99 to $9.99 would be ideal.

Here's my review: http://tnkgrl.wordpress.com/2008/11/20/peek-review/

[Marcela @ Nov 26th 2008 2:15PM]

Wow, engadget really is something...people discuss gadgets, equal rights and even recomend erotic items! ( joe23521 @ that's unisex by the way...)

But...about the peek.... I liked the look and the features, I like smartphones but I'm still not in need of one enough to dish out the money smartphones require to buy one. So...if it ever comes to Brazil..I'm going to try it out... the blue one...

But I need to agree (partialy) with Tired of Men in Electronic Design. @ ...to just put some pink (and charge more!why they charge more??) in a gadget does not make it 'girl gadget'.... or make it HelloKitty... the hot pink/red of this cellphone hurts the eyes... you can probably find people in the dark with that.

And to be frank the world of gadgets its usually men centred, after there are chicks in the majority of gadgets adds for a reason. But I didn't think the post was sexist....besides the statics prove the majority of the consumers to technology are males...so is natural that most gadgets target this market.

But as a consumer I still would like something more...me..

So I would like to a see a hot guy presenting a gadget that its not necessarily pink/purple, with a more resistent sufarce (my cellphone is usually fighting for its life in the middle of a jungle of things in my bag) easier to handle (I had I cell I just couldn't take the battery off, not matter how much I pulled the thing!I'm not a pink version of the HULK!) and lots of colors and options to customization(from themes, to colors and features).Because I like to change the look of my things.


..it would help if the guy was shirtless too...What? Its not like any of you never thought the same about the girls on adds!

[Cargo Jack @ Nov 26th 2008 3:50PM]

It is not the razor, it's the blades. It is not the cheap printer, it's the expensive refill ink.

Even if Amol gave the Peek away for free I would not get one until the monthly subscription fee was much less.

If it could do unlimited text messaging and e-mail for $10 a month, then I might buy one for $75.







[It would be just the thing I would need to get around in Liberty City.]

[eggothewaffle @ Nov 26th 2008 11:34AM]

Take a legitimate pride in bed!

Be real man
No side effects is amply compensated hardened pirate tore the Mighty Mother, .

[Brian @ Nov 26th 2008 12:03PM]

Cool device, the monthly fee is too high. For 20 bucks a month you can add data to any cell phone except the pda phones, and if you have one of those you don't want something like this anyway. Honestly my mom would have no idea what to do with this and doesn't have a need to have her email everywhere. Anyone who does already has an iphone with data plan, or a bberry, or a G1 or similar phone.

[amol @ Nov 26th 2008 11:41AM]

Hey you guessed my gmail account right! If only the nigerian princes would stop guessing it too....

[ScOObyDoo @ Nov 26th 2008 11:49AM]

Say what you want about Peek, but their marketing is sheer brilliance. All Amol needs now is a blender.

[Jash Sayani @ Nov 26th 2008 11:46AM]

Well, the Peek needs online access which is $20 a month. And if you get a Peek, then you will obviously be paying $20 every month, so the $150 scheme would obviously be a good deal for them...

[Precurse @ Nov 26th 2008 11:52AM]

I ignored the second half of your message, but I believed you and have wire transferred you $400,000 American Dollars. I have taken out a loan, home mortgage, and spend my husband's retirement fund in order to pay for this. Please inform me what the next step is.

Thank you,

Miss Oregon Woman

[matt merritt @ Nov 26th 2008 11:53AM]

Ya know, I've been looking at this device pretty closely for a while - I can't get a new cell phone until like August, and while I'm dead set on a smart phone this thing has all of the functionality that I actually want at the moment. Mobile internet would be nice for sure, but my college life is run by the power of email.

Maybe I'm just excited because this is the first time a niche device has appealed to me! I fit in!

[sandmanfvrga @ Nov 26th 2008 11:53AM]

The peek is cool and there are some on Endaget like me that would like one, when the platform develops more. I mean lets think of this: A $80 to $100 device, no credit checks, activation fees (can't stand them, I can activate a phone for God's sakes), and no contracts. What do most use phones for other than talking today? Texting. This thing is unlimited text and email, with image attachments, for $20. It is Linux based and being hacked all the time (the text messaging was added on). I have been reading the forums, this is going places! They are looking into adding IM to it. Then you have a $20 a month unlimited texting, email and IM client! I think this little device can go places and I hope they succeed.

[digitallysick @ Nov 26th 2008 5:00PM]

They put on IM on this thing and support multiple clients then i will cancel my cell service for sure!

[utahnkid @ Nov 26th 2008 11:53AM]

Sorry but I just can't imagine a place in 2008 for this device. Maybe they should sell it tandem with another device that *only* lets you listen to music, then one that only takes pictures, and follow it up with some phone-call-making device. Then one day, when technology allows, we can combine all of these devices into one.

Oh wait they already have those. Thanks for the step backwards Peek.

When Palm (embarrassingly) tried to release the Foleo, an email only netbook, did Peek's CEO think it just needed a different name or something? Get this crap out of here and give us a true iPhone killer. If you can't pull that off then don't bother with your little email device.

[puhsitch @ Nov 27th 2008 1:33AM]

You're comparing it to the Foleo? Really?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Palm_Foleo.jpg

Like it or not, the Peek fits a niche that apparently needed to be filled.

[cjstuff @ Nov 26th 2008 11:55AM]

I'm currently testing out a Peek to see what it's actually like to use one, as opposed to crunch the reviews. For the record, I'm a long-time smartphone user, and I use the browser and mail reader on my phone almost as much as the voice side.

The Peek is a hardwired POP3 client. That's all it is, that's all it does. Yes, you can do some SMS with it, but I stupidly bought a Peek at Target and got a unit with an older production release that can't be upgraded by mere mortals (you have to send it to Peek to be reflashed--it's almost cheaper to buy another one).

So, anyway, does the Peek have a purpose in *my* life? Maybe, maybe not. I'm carrying it along with my phone just to get a sense of its portability. It weighs almost nothing, and the screen is bigger and easier to read than my phone's. One-handed operation makes it easy to use even if you're holding a cup of coffee or (dare I say it?) driving down the road. Around the house, I can carry it while I'm away from my computer, so I can see if anything of importance has come in--faster and easier than using my phone, and I'm less concerned about dropping and breaking it if I'm chasing my kids around the park.

Is the Peek better than my smartphone? No. Is it better than a Blackberry? No. Does it have value for someone who doesn't want to get bogged down by a long-term service contract and who doesn't want to carry a bulky smartphone? Well, just maybe yes. I sure wish monthly service were cheaper, though. At $10/month, it would be a no-brainer to have one of these.

[Anthony @ Nov 26th 2008 11:56AM]

I think this is one of the best looking, most functional devices on the market. But going back to carrying more than one thing is just not going to happen. T9 text-emailing on my N82 is a pain, but not carrying a separate camera, PMP, etc is such a joy. I want Peek to succeed so they can release a phone w/ this same design (or maybe HTC should just release their very similar initial Android phone).

[Ryan L @ Nov 26th 2008 11:58AM]

Hey Amol make that sucker play nice with facebook and I'll buy one for my wife right now!

I've dropped home internet all together and substituted surfing on the G1...only problem is the wife keeps stealing it from me to check her mail and facebook.

[amol @ Nov 26th 2008 12:05PM]

try out fuser.com for social networks or maybe twittertogo.com for twitter of ping.fm for updating facebook status or posterous.com for your blogs....

[bull3964 @ Nov 26th 2008 11:59AM]

They are so close to something neat with this product, but I just can't see the point at the current pricing levels. The ONLY use for it is if you don't have a cell phone at all.

Just about every cell phone out there will give you email access right now and even the King of Fees Verizon offers a $15 /month dataplan for dumbphones which would give you email access on your cell.

So, this would be $20 /month plus the cost of the device. Aside from the qwerty keypad and the larger screen, I just can't see the advantage of this device over adding data to a normal cell phone and accessing your email there. It's not even a matter of hardcore gadget junkie, even your free phones now can access email.

[Kakooch @ Nov 26th 2008 12:20PM]

Hmm, I admit that I am a geek (I already own and use an iPhone and a TyTn II) and I already in love with peek. Main point here is functionality, I prefer to use a peek instead of my handset to send emails and for the very same reason, I use my Garmin handheld GPS instead of any of my phones for tracking!
OTOH, I know lots of people (here at Netherlands) who don't use mobile phones at all, but are addicted to email... . It is bad peek is not available here!

[matt merritt @ Nov 26th 2008 12:16PM]

The best thing that they can do with this, if you ask me, is break their niche entirely and add mobile internet capabilities. If they could swing it with t-mobile to get the thing as essentially a MID (maybe with opera mini or an open source browser) I think their market would increase insanely. Hell I'd buy one right away - I get a huge discount on my cell phone right now by having it under my mom's name, and I'm gonna miss that a lot when I switch, but if they could work it so that this thing were say $120-150 with say a $20-$30/month data plan, I'd be all on it like fat kids on happy meals.

[Tohe @ Nov 26th 2008 12:19PM]

I could see my boyfriend with one of this, he always favors texting over calling anyways.

[JohnMazz @ Nov 26th 2008 12:19PM]

I'm a gadgetphile and engadget reader. I drool over the new all-in-ones like everyone else. I'm a tech geek like any other. However, I'm also a poor student and a spendthrift to boot. I own a Peek and I love it. Would I love an Android more? Probably, but I'm neither able nor willing to pay for it and that monthly bill. Rock on, Peek, keep up the good work Amol.

[Matt @ Nov 26th 2008 12:22PM]

I think the device has a ton of potential. It is already using the cellular networks. If you can add text messaging in addition to the email, I think you would instantly capture just about every high schooler and college student in the country with this device. Almost none of them actually talk on their cellphones anymore.

However, I think this device might suffer the same downfall that the Sony Mylo did. It isn't integrated with a service. The slightly extra step to integrate it with a complete service package I think can really put it over the top. It doesn't matter whether that service be Windows Live, Yahoo, Gmail or whatever, but adding in the calendar support, etc. I think positions it exactly where it needs to be.

[sandmanfvrga @ Nov 26th 2008 12:27PM]

They have added that. Just send a message to the 10 digit number, done. Like i said and some above this reply, some just don't need all the iphone and android, even if they are cool, and want to save money. I think with texting, this would be teen "sensation".

[Matt @ Nov 26th 2008 1:12PM]

@sandmanfvrga: Agreed. since I haven't used the device I do not know how it handles address book integration, but the 10 digit typing can get old really fast and is not very personal. If that can all be done within this device where I can select "Joe Smith" from my address book and then send him an email, text or IM (maybe in the future Facebook or Myspace?) message then I think there are a ton of people who would eat this up.

If Facebook, Myspace, and texting have shown us anything it is that print may be dead, but words and text are stronger than ever. The fine line I guess now they have to straddle is how do they capture the Facebook/college crowd who would love texting without scaring away the Mothers and Fathers of the world.

I could see my parents being on the fringe of this device. Both share a single cellphone for "emergencies only". I would imagine a lot of 40+ parents are in that boat.

[ryan l. @ Nov 26th 2008 12:31PM]

I think you guys have the market segment for this device all wrong. I don't see it as a mobile email device. I see this as a full time home email device for someone that isn't ready to pay for internet at home or is cutting costs and wants some connectivity (email) but doesn't want to shell out 59.99 (cable) bucks a month for a hookup. Oh and its mobile in case you want to take it with you.

As I see it, the biggest competitor to this device is dial up internet.

I think this market is about to get huge as cash strapped Americans look to downsize their monthly expenditures.

[cjstuff @ Nov 26th 2008 12:39PM]

The Peek isn't a substitute for home internet service because it's limited to e-mail and text. Adding browser functionality would be incredibly cool and groovy, especially if the Peek could keep its form factor, but the additional hardware required to turn this thing into a baby Mylo or n810 would increase the price significantly. Also, T-Mobile would probably want to put a meter on the connectivity service--web browsing sucks down packets much more quickly than any amount of plain text e-mail and messaging.