vB Easy Archive - Why doesn't Treo have GPRS?

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Why doesn't Treo have GPRS?
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Posted by: dEn0

Can anyone shed any light on the reasoning behind Handspring shipping the Treo w/o GPRS?

Surely someone of Jeff Hawkins intelligence would realize his device is almost completely dependent upon an always-on, easy to use, high speed IP connection. They keep claiming they are going to have a software upgrade available but its been like 6 months at least. I expected that the color Treo would have most certainly launched with GPRS but no they again somehow decided it would be best to have an unconnected communicator. It seems like Handspring is trying pretend it believes in the communicator paradigm but is terrified of actually competing with the big boys. I think they are just more comfortable with the Palm Pilot. I thought the Treo was going to change things but its a just terrible waste.

I don't own a Treo and wouldn't even consider just for the simple fact that its not good at anything. The keyboard they claim they spent so much time designing is chincy at best.

Is there some hidden motive that I am not seeing? Does Handspring not like VoiceStream? What is the rationale behind such a blind decision?

Posted by: traveling2

The reason why the Treo does not have GPRS enabled yet is because the communication software needed to facilitate the connection is still being certified by Voicestream. This is not a Handspring issue, but rather a wireess provider issue. The Treo has the GPRS radio built in all it needs is the wireless providers to allow Handspring to release it.

Handspring understands the importance of GPRS and expects to release the software shortly. They are suffering from the same issues that the Danger Hiptop has encountered, which wireless providers dragging their feet certifying software or hardware.

Posted by: dEn0

I don't see why Handspring needs another company's approval to release the product. I would understand if VoiceStream were to sell the Treo as a VoiceStream product such as the Sidekick but they are not. What about the plethora of devices not even sold in the United States? I am sure VoiceStream didn't have to approve my Ericsson T39. I agree you with if and only if the carrier is going to sell the device in its stores and support it. The beauty of GSM is that you don't need a carrier's approval in order to use a device on their network.

Handspring is quite capable of testing and supporting their own product. If VoiceStream doesn't want to sell and support the Treo then I can't see how they can stop Handspring from allowing GPRS capability.

Did VoiceStream have to approve the GSM/GPRS sled that you get for a Compaq iPaq PocketPC?

There must be some clandestine deal, contract, or alterior motive otherwise Handspring is ensuring the Treo's long term failure.

Posted by: lost_rebel

Well as far as the carrier's approval, it is a yes and no thing. All USA domestic carriers have thier own certification process. Some are as simple as qualifying the product through some certification body, others have a stringent procedure before allowing a phone to be certified on their network. If the TREO did not contain GPRS when it first came out, they may need to pass some interoperability testing (which is required in Europe as well) before they can implement the feature in their handset. I do not know their particular situation so I am only speculating.

Posted by: ScottLM

The new Handspring device will be sold by SprintPCS and feature their 1XR high speed data (max of 144kbps). It will be the Treo 300 (http://www.handspring.com/products/...e=Communicators). This new 3G network was turned on today...the devices are available to Sprint agents now.

Voicestream will not have this product. They have released their Pocket PC Phone Edition handheld (http://www.voicestream.com/products...es/pocketpc.asp). This unit runs off the VS GPRS network...also high speed...but not truely 3G.

I have the VS Pocket PC Phone Edition handheld and am loving it. I dont like the Palm OS...but there is a guy in my office that is supposed to receive his Treo 300 on Monday. We'll see what it can do...

ScottLM

Posted by: veloslave

Quote:

Originally posted by dEn0
Can anyone shed any light on the reasoning behind Handspring shipping the Treo w/o GPRS?

I thought the Treo was going to change things but its a just terrible waste.

I don't own a Treo and wouldn't even consider just for the simple fact that its not good at anything. The keyboard they claim they spent so much time designing is chincy at best.

Is there some hidden motive that I am not seeing? Does Handspring not like VoiceStream? What is the rationale behind such a blind decision?

This sounds like VERY poor trolling

You don't own one but the keyboard is "chincy at best"?

"What is the rationale behind such a blind decision?"

Why do you care if it has a chincy keyboard?

First says, "I thought the Treo was going to change things but its a just terrible waste."

And then says

"I don't own a Treo and wouldn't even consider just for the simple fact that its not good at anything."

You thought it would "change things" when "its not good at anything"? BUT how would YOU know that if you don't even own one?

The only thing worse than a phone not satisfying its owner is a TROLL wasting bandwidth.

Get a job Trollboy