When will Sony make a Clie/Cell phone?

[VLevyNYC]

I love my Clie for its color quality. But I hate lugging around both my cell phone and my PDA. I also hate having to look up someone's number on the PDA, then in the other hand dialing it. It's just inefficient. I would love to go with Sony PDA/cell phone, but they don't make such an animal, and as far as I know they aren't planning on it.

I am waiting for my mobile plan to expire (August), after which I will consider upgrading to a Palm-based PDA, with cell phone, and hopefully MP3 player as well. The voice-recorder function would be great but is not a must.

I love the Handspring Treo 300's design and functionality (http://www.handspring.com/products/treo300/index.jhtml), but haven't yet seen its color quality. Unless that quality is terribly unacceptable, it is a front-runner for my next PDA.

Until yesterday, when for the first time I learned about the Palm Tunsten W (http://store.palm.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1243428). It was love at first sight, but I haven't seen or read anything about it yet. At first blush, it seems like it has the basics I need, except for the MP3. But I'm willing to sacrifice that in exchange for other advantages, which this seems to have: nice design, keyboard option, the drop-down Tungsten feature, sturdier body. Just looking at it , I am drawn to it like a cute redhead walking by. Although it is currently out of my price range, I hope that by next fall it will drop to an affordable level.

While the above two are PDA-based cell phones, I also am considering a cell-phone-based PDA. The Kyocera 7135 smart phone is the only appealing one (http://www.kyocera-wireless.com/7100_phone/7100_phone_series.htm), because it is small--the size of a regular cell phone, and has the PDA capabilities, including MP3. I woul have to see it in person before considering it further.

Does anyone have any opinion/information/advice on any of these? Better yet, does anyone know if Sony is planning on enterring the PDA/Cell phone market? I would probably jump on whatever they made, for many reasons--color quality, overall quality, brand loyalty, Memory Stick reusability, the great peer-to-peer support this site offers, etc... If Sony is intent on not terring this market, I truly think they will be "missing the boat" on a fundamental paradigm shift in consumer demand--the all-in-one device. Are you listening, Sony?

Although I realize this is a Clie-user site, I hope this post was informative, and hope it spurs a discussion over feature demands in a PDA, as well as the realtive pros/cons of the above models. Please participate in the poll on this page, as I would like to see if there are others in my boat.

Thanks in advance.

[InfoPalm]

I think Sony, with a little help, could do well with PDA-phones.

Thing is, they already make phones with Sony-Ericsson

Who knows? Maybe they will make one.

[xlr8]

I think they are making phones with more PIM functions and organiser capabilities rather than pdas with phones. Just look at the T800

[T1000X]

No, I don't want a Sony Smartphone! The reason why is I have a small cell phone already and I don't object to using two devices. That and if one device's battery dies when I'm away from a charger I still have the other. What I really want is a Bluetooth enabled PDA (like the TG50), and a Bluetooth enabled cellphone. That would be the perfect marriage for me because then I wouldn't need a cable between the phone and PDA. I just hope that Sprint PCS Vision offers a Bluetooth enabled phone before the end of the year.

[VLevyNYC]

That's why I think they are missing the boat. Maybe they're worried about cannibaliztion, but that short-term fear may in the long-term translate into lost Clie market share because I believe all-in-one functionality is outcome-determinative for most people.

[SprSaiyan8]

i am not to fond of PDA phones i think that is too much

[Unregistered]

just think of the smudges on the screen when you hold the clie to your ear

[VLevyNYC]

Well, I assumed it would have a speakerphone capability like the Treos. You could also use an earpiece to avoid that. At worst case, you could buy a screen protetor like most people do on this board. I really see the smudge factor as a non-issue, but thanks for bringing it up.

 

P.S. Will everyone please take a second to vote in the poll above?

[Tixx]

I believe it to be a logical progression of this technology and have invested in a few of the companies because of this. I cannot wait for them to finally get on with it, though they do have the Sony Ericsson P800 http://shopwireless.sonyericsson.com/store/handset_P800.asp out which uses the Symbian OS. I want an NX with this feature, thought it would look large as a phone, but if you think about it you are already using it minus a phone, so why not. Another advantage to that form factor would be to avoid the most ridiculous thing I see every day: People moving their cell phones from ear to mouth a hundred times during a conversation because the phones are too short. The NX would be beautiful as it would not have this problem in the least and would be quite comfortable to use in that fashion.:)

[PDA gadgetfreak]

I don't mind carrying both. I have a motorolla V60i phone and an SJ-30. I'm a pretty heavy user of both cell phone and PDA so I do worry about battery life. I guess next phone and PDA I'd consider bluetooth in both....that seems idea for me at the moment.

[mrdeucie]

I don't mind carrying both either. I'm not too fond of devices that have more than one thing packed into them.

[sollars9082]

like the kentucky fried chicken's with a taco bell in them!

[aaronrkelly]

I like upgrading my cell phone often and that would start getting expensive with a all-n-one device - but if it was well integrated with user removable batteries I would consider it.

[rob_squared]

Sony will release a PDA phone 'round about never. Chiefly due to their Sony-Ericsson series.

[SprSaiyan8]

i agree rob_squared also the problem i see is what happen if you drop the unit you will have to go with out a PDA and a phone

[skiclie]

VLevyNYC,

The Treo300 is the best out there at the moment.  Unfortunately, they made one tremendous blunder - They didn't put in any memory expansion option!!!  No flash, no SD nothing.  I don't know about you but with only 16 megs (or 11) built into these things having a memory card is an absolute must for me.  If they had that built into the 300 I would probably have bought that instead of my NX70.

Unfortunately, I haven't found any device out there that really gets it right (for my needs and wants anyway).  I would love to see sony make a phone/pda combo.  I think the NR/NX/NZ design would make for a perfect phone.  If they beefed up the speaker on the back (for speaker phone) and placed a speaker in that little black strip at the top(in clamshell mode, bottom in tablet mode) and moved or added a mic at the very bottom of the keyboard area it would be an outstanding phone design.  Port Cisco or Avaya's softphone to Palm and you've got a great IP phone as well.  However, I'm afraid I have to agree with other posts on this thread.  Sony's alliance with Ericson will probably squish any plans for such a device.

[VLevyNYC]

Thanks for your helpful comments. I actually did not know the Treo wasn't expandable. I assumed it was because almost every other one in its prcie range is. I, too, need to have much more than 16MB free. So I guess that one's out. But the design is so nice!

I guess the Tungsten W is now in the lead. I've seen the T model and honestly my t665c's 65,000 colors come out much brighter and more vivid than the T's 65,000 colors.

Hopefully, by the time I make my decision Handspring will make an expandable version (with MP3), or Palm will roll out higher-end Tungsten models. Too bad Sony doesn't seem to be enterring this market, at least for a while. D'oh!

Meanwhile, FYI: Sony will intro a new TG50 by end of March. It will replace the T665c and will feature the OS5, a keyboard, voice recorder, and built-in Bluetooth! Read more about it at http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=5021

 

[Tixx]

Originally posted by VLevyNYC
Thanks for your helpful comments. I actually did not know the Treo wasn't expandable. I assumed it was because almost every other one in its prcie range is. I, too, need to have much more than 16MB free. So I guess that one's out. But the design is so nice!

I guess the Tungsten W is now in the lead. I've seen the T model and honestly my t665c's 65,000 colors come out much brighter and more vivid than the T's 65,000 colors.

Hopefully, by the time I make my decision Handspring will make an expandable version (with MP3), or Palm will roll out higher-end Tungsten models. Too bad Sony doesn't seem to be enterring this market, at least for a while. D'oh!

Meanwhile, FYI: Sony will intro a new TG50 by end of March. It will replace the T665c and will feature the OS5, a keyboard, voice recorder, and built-in Bluetooth! Read more about it at http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=5021

 

The Tungsten W needs earphones to be used as a phone. Can it get any more inconvenient than that? Umm... hold on while I get these things out of my pocket, connect them and stick them in my ear.? It is one of the poorest combo devices I have seen. Though I am by far not a PPC supporter, these companies need to learn from such devices as the http://www.t-mobile.com/products/overview.asp?phoneid=166765 .

[holmesness]

The bare minimum requirements before I could consider buying:

1. 320x320 and preferably 320x480
2. expandable memory
3. os 5 or higher (what's the point of moving backwards?)
4. easy to use (ie don't have to carry separate ear piece)

there's many other features I'd want including 32mb ram, bluetootch, usable cf, etc. But if it just had the 4 items listed I'd probably buy and be thrilled. Unfortunately and amazingly right now nothing even comes close. Maybe the Tungsten W once the add on cover/intergrated earpiece is released. Even then, The OS takes a step backwards. To me that's hard to justify. So for now I'm sticking with my separate devices and watching the rumors closely.

[T1000X]

There is also another downside, or multiple, for the T|W. It uses a 33MHz processor and a unique Hi-Res API that from what I've read makes it incompatible with many of the existing Hi-Res capable programs. Honestly, I just wish Palm would just license Sony's own Hi-Res and Hi-Res+ APIs so we could use programs on any device without any fear of incompatibility.

For me, I think the SJ series is the perfect size for a smart phone. Give it a little bit more height, or add a speaker to the clear cover and put a mic in and it would be perfect. Make a model with a thumboard (like the Treo's), increase the volume on the built in speaker for a speakerphone and I think it would sell very well.

[VLevyNYC]

MANDATORY:


Expandability
Seakerphone built-in, with headset capability too
At least 320 x 320 (hopefully as clear as Sony's)
Graffiti and keyboard capable (I expect the keyboard to be more important if I use it for e-mail)
E-mail capability

At least a 66mhz processor (no reason for me to go backwards)




DESIRED:


MP3 player (not an absolute, but am very partial to one with this feature)
Voice recorder
Good service provider, like Sprint or even TMobile. But I'm in NYC so pretty much everything will work in most areas. ATT wireless is really crappy since they stopped building their network, so hopefully the newer Tungstens will offer better providers (but not likely).


Is that too much to ask??

Although Sony may not be a player, in light of the things I found out about the Treo (not expanable) and the Tungsten W (no speakerphone), I may consider the coming TG50 (target=_blank>http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=5021 (http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=5021)). I dont know much about Bluetooth, but I guess it enables the PDA to go wireless via a cell. Also, I guess another factor not yet mentioned is the great software that Sony packs with the Clie: DocsToGo, gMovie, PGPocket. If I had to lose, or pay more for, these by going non-Sony, I'd probably stay with Sony.

Ah, decisions, decisions.

[decdaddy5]

I would personally love a cellphone/PDA.

What about a CF cell phone card? Would that be possible?

Also, they have bluetooth headsets out there right now. So get a bluetooth capable phone, and use that.

but if sony was going to create a new pda/cell phone, here is what I would need

- MS slot
- CF slot (the driver will be out soon for CF mem... hopefully)
- Bluetooth
- MP3 player
- Virtual graffiti
- Thumb board

would like;
- camera
- more than 16 MB RAM (I haven't used it all up yet. then again 2 128 MS help)
- Voice recoreder
- speaker

If they did a nx60/70 with a cell option, i would go for it in a flash

[nMotion96]

this is what i would like in a pda/phone combo

something like a T665 size
320x480 screen
bluetooth
32mb memory
virtual graffiti

then just get a bluetooth headset to use the phone instead of a wired one in the tung W

[mashoutposse]

Sony already makes a PDA phone. It's called the P800.

Honestly, the TG50/T68i combo is as good as it gets. The T68i is small enough to be dropped in any of your pockets and forgotten about -- with Bluetooth not needing communicating devices to have a line of sight, your T68i could be in your pocket or briefcase, while your TG50 communicates with it. Also consider that the T|W isn't even much smaller than this combo (if it's even smaller at all).

The T|W is a poor phone and a mediocre PDA, yet they're charging $549. You're talking about a PDA on the level of those released by Sony two years ago (N610C, anyone?), and a nearly throwaway phone. I certainly wouldn't recommend it. At the very least, wait until it gets to $300 or so before you commit.

[nMotion96]

yea i think since i have the t665/t68i combo right now i'm gonna wait for the tg50. but i think i'm gonna still try out the t/w since i can maybe get it for free or really cheap cause my friend works at retail.

[VLevyNYC]

Originally posted by mashoutposse
Sony already makes a PDA phone. It's called the P800. 



Thanks for mentioninng that one. I actually never heard of it before. I checked it out (http://www.sonyericsson.com/P800/frameset.htm) and it is not Palm OS. It runs on something called the Symbian OS. But it sure looks nice.

[quiller]

personally, i think the hype around smartphones (either PDA-based or cell-based) is too much. first, there will have to be some great jumps in technology or something for and PDA-phone to look good (both the T|W and Treo look like a brick-phone) and still be functional.

personally, i can't get any smartphone because of my service area, but if i could i still wouldn't-- i have a cell phone and PDA now and have no problem carrying both. my clie stays in my pocket and my cell phone (which is used more, anyways) is always in my hand or sitting next to me, ready to be answered.

if the service would come to my area, i would be highly interested in a BT phone coupled with a BT clie, mostly so i can keep both updated-- be a lot easier to keep my contacts updated if i could just sync the two.

[SWC]

For me size is the issue - I like a small phone but I prefer my PDA to have a reasonable size screen (like my 615). I don't see how they would get a large enough screen on a small enough phone to satisfy me on both counts. So I either compromise or carry two devices.

With the capability of beaming address information between the two, I'll admit that I carry my phone always and my Clie sometimes. When I'm on the go, I'll usually carry my PDA in my briefcase while my phone is on my person.

[eric2002]

Handspring Sucks!!!
I am surprised people like the Treo's.

They are not expandable.
Palm os 3.5!!!
wayyyy tooo expensive.
low-res screens.
Horible support... (remember what they did to all the Visor users...)

In my opinion Handspring should be an example of what not to do. They were like the number 2 Palm OS PDA maker a few years ago, then they abandoned the organizer market and went exclusively into cell phone/PDA combos... ...they went from #2 in the Palm OS world to somewhere near the bottom of the list in the cell phone world.

Sony does make cell-phones, but I would be a bit scared if they started making PDA/cell phones... i would be scared they might abandon us PDA users and focus too heavily on the cell phone side of things?

[Tixx]

Originally posted by VLevyNYC


Thanks for mentioninng that one. I actually never heard of it before. I checked it out (http://www.sonyericsson.com/P800/frameset.htm) and it is not Palm OS. It runs on something called the Symbian OS. But it sure looks nice.

Was mentioned and linked earlier in the thread FYI

I believe it to be a logical progression of this technology and have invested in a few of the companies because of this. I cannot wait for them to finally get on with it, though they do have the Sony Ericsson P800 http://shopwireless.sonyericsson.com/store/handset_P800.asp out which uses the Symbian OS. I want an NX with this feature, thought it would look large as a phone, but if you think about it you are already using it minus a phone, so why not. Another advantage to that form factor would be to avoid the most ridiculous thing I see every day: People moving their cell phones from ear to mouth a hundred times during a conversation because the phones are too short. The NX would be beautiful as it would not have this problem in the least and would be quite comfortable to use in that fashion.:)

[VLevyNYC]

I remember skimming your post but I guess it didn't register. As for the phone, it's ridiculously expensive ($649) and doesn't run on Palm OS.

[Tixx]

Originally posted by VLevyNYC
I remember skimming your post but I guess it didn't register. As for the phone, it's ridiculously expensive ($649) and doesn't run on Palm OS.
I agree.

[skiclie]

In regards to my earlier post about the Treo300 having one major deficiency...

Indeed it does, however I read something this morning that there are rumors flying around that Handspring will be releasing a new device this summer.  Maybe they'll get it right this time around.  Also the rumors of the Tungsten C may prove fruitful, however I think the 'C' will most likely denote a built in camera.  Then there are the rumors of this mysterious 'Panther' showing up as a sku in BestBuys database.  And don't forget that now that the NZ series is available it's certainly just a couple of weeks until sony releases a new 'must have' model.  I guess there's enough ambiguity out there to keep me dangling in wait, hopeful that someone will design and release what I am looking for...

[eric2002]

i wouldn't hold your breath for something exciting coming from Handspring... however I can almost guarantee that Sony will continue to come out with new exciting and innovative PDA's...

[VLevyNYC]

Originally posted by skiclie
In regards to my earlier post about the Treo300 having one major deficiency...

Indeed it does, however I read something this morning that there are rumors flying around that Handspring will be releasing a new device this summer.  Maybe they'll get it right this time around.  ..... I guess there's enough ambiguity out there to keep me dangling in wait, hopeful that someone will design and release what I am looking for...

If the new Handspring is expandable and has MP3, I might be a taker on it. Right now it's the closest of anyone to having everything I need.

The wait continues...

[quiller]

don't get your hopes up for a MP3-capable model from Handspring... most likely it will come from Palm. Of course, with Sony, anything is possible...

[sindu]

Guys, I don't when Sony is going to come up with the smart-phone but this one get me real exicited. Imagine 32mb, OS 5.2, digital camera....This is one the best so far in the market.

http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=5108

[sindu]

guys, more pic. This beast is real awsome...it even has a SD card slot and running 300mhz.

http://www.howardforums.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=836864

[VLevyNYC]

Wow. Thanks for that info. The phone looks great. Seems to have all the Kyocera features, but in a much smaller device. To be fair, the Kyocera does have an MP3 playes and voice recorder. Also, I wasn't sure where the stylus goes. Graffitti 2 still needs a stylus, doesnt it?

I just hope Sony doesn't miss the train on these, and decides asap to enter this market

[Tixx]

Originally posted by sindu
Guys, I don't when Sony is going to come up with the smart-phone but this one get me real exicited. Imagine 32mb, OS 5.2, digital camera....This is one the best so far in the market.

http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=5108

I really like that:)

[-JR-]

Last weekend made switch from Treo 270 to NZ90 + T68i. One day while taking notes at meeting, Treo died -- nothing could revive it. No phone, SMS, or email and lost my meeting notes. Decided that as good it is to carry a singe device, I'd better not put all my eggs in one basket anymore.

IMHO, Treo's form factor is a great compromise. However, I REALLY enjoy NZ90's hi res+ and screen size w/o graffiti area. Bluetooth was the deal maker for me. I rarely have to take the T68i out of my pocket using voice commands & FreeSpeak headset & wireless email/web from NZ90. This combo rocks!

I'm just now appreciating what some of you have been enjoying for some time!

[jlperdue]

Interesting, I was just thinking about a CliePhone. I would like the functionally of having the PDA able to make my calls via cell phone. I was recently speaking with a Verizon rep about when they would get a Bluetooth ready phone and he said they considered that old technology. I thought it was emerging technology.

Is he blowing smoke or am I missing something?
~Jack:D

[Unregistered]

Originally posted by jlperdue
Interesting, I was just thinking about a CliePhone. I would like the functionally of having the PDA able to make my calls via cell phone. I was recently speaking with a Verizon rep about when they would get a Bluetooth ready phone and he said they considered that old technology. I thought it was emerging technology.

Is he blowing smoke or am I missing something?
~Jack:D

Bluetooth is old technology? What does he consider new then?

[case_the_ace]

My bet is that Sony is waiting until it can buy Palm Source or Symbian before anything really inovative comes out combining the best of a PDA and a cell phone together.

[sindu]

Originally posted by case_the_ace
My bet is that Sony is waiting until it can buy Palm Source or Symbian before anything really inovative comes out combining the best of a PDA and a cell phone together.

Not necessary. Sony has to find an answer to Samsung and the fact that Samsung will be a major threat to Sony in consumer electronic.

[Monolith]

I went to CES and saw the sp-330, sp 500, sp700 ( I think)

the sp-500 was the best; clamshell design great colour, small, but I don't know about the mp3 capabiliity the rep was unable to answer me that.
good luck