Handspring releases Treo Mail
Published: 18 Mar 2002 16:28 GMT
Handspring has introduced a wireless email service to go with its popular Treo communicator, a handheld organiser that also functions as a phone.
Treo Mail, the new service, was released on Monday in its beta version. The software, which only works on Treo communicators, is available for a limited time from Handspring's Web site.
The Treo is one of a few devices on the market that combine cell phones and personal digital assistants. Samsung's SPH-I300 and Kyocera's QCP-6035 "smart phone" are others. Research In Motion has also recently added voice capabilities to its BlackBerry email device. Palm, which leads the market in PDAs, has not released a converged device, but just announced two new colour-screen handhelds.
Treo Mail will allow people to access email from their desktops, and is designed to work with Microsoft's Outlook/Exchange software, the company said. Handspring is soliciting feedback on the beta version and plans to start selling subscriptions when the commercial version is released in mid-2002.
Analysts were sceptical about Handspring's ability to deliver "always on" email to the Handspring Treo. The new software includes handheld software, PC desktop software and a service center that stores messages and then forwards them when the communicator is back in range. It runs on technology from Visto Corporation. The service offers encryption and allows people to select filters to allow only some messages to reach Treo from their desktop.
The service comes in two versions: The corporate edition for business professionals is designed to access a Microsoft Outlook/Exchange e-mail account behind a corporate firewall. The Internet edition is designed for users of a personal email account offered by a service provider such as EarthLink or Yahoo.
Handspring has announced several other expansions in its Treo business, including a move into Europe and more deals with carriers. The company is likely to keep broadening its Treo business, analysts said.
"Handspring has amassed eight carrier agreements for the Treo in the last 40 days and could very well add a few more before the close of the March quarter," said Matt Lewis, a SoundView Technology analyst, in a research note.
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