Dear Palm CEO: Here's What It Would Take to Get Me to Switch

Now that you have the Mobile OS down and your first product launched. Here is what it will take to get me to switch.

First of all I should say I really wanted to switch from my iPhone (AAPL) when I tried the device out. Any even casual reader of my blog has noticed I am not a fan of AT&T's (T) oligarchic type behavior calling them the telecom version of the old Soviet Politburo. The device while awesome was not quite enough to get me to throw in the towel.

I've made a list of things Sprint (S) and Palm (PALM) could do to make me switch. I really just need the first two and I'd jump all over the new device:

• Larger OLED Screen at least 3.5 inches in size. The bigger the better. I'm not sure we are going to get a foldable OLED that spreads out into 8.5 by 11 but at the least the lower power consumption and better quality launched in January or so will steal a lot of Apple iPhone lovers.
• Better battery life. The OLED screen will help with that.
• Better rate plans and more carrier choices. Sprint's data network is a bit under rated but more choices here is better.
• Right now the carriers are using the hot PDAs to try and lock people in to much higher rate plans. Before the trend had been declining ARPUs for several years. With plenty of iPhone and Blackberry (RIMM) competition the trend should start to reverse.
• Do a "wireless data" only device that can go on any carrier and can use VOIP for its voice plan. Say 50 bucks a month for non tethered data. Voice calls take no bandwidth. Tough to get past the carriers but someone is bound to let you slide by. A democratic FCC might help you here.

I've played with the Palm. It's really a pretty solid offering. If I just got those first two elements-- a 3.5 inch or greater OLED screen and improved battery life--I'd be in right now.

Disclosure: None

Comments

[Aryamehr:]

No matter how good the phone ends up to be you will never be satisfied. The fact is the Pre is still a better phone than the iPhone 3GS. If the screen was any larger it wouldn't have the same snug feeling in the average persons hand. One must remember the primary reason we buy Smart phones for is Voice and not surfng the the internet. When I surf the internet for any note worthy length of time I use my Sony Viao laptop and you can rest assured no smart phone will ever replace the primary role of a laptop. The Nokia N97 has a 5 Megapixel camera, the Sony-Ericson has a 12 Megapixel camera, that does translate into a better phone. Apple's video addition and optional memory does little in its efforts to catch up with the Pre. It still can't multi-task, it still lacks a qwerty keyboard and you can't change its battery. To make matters worse is that it will cost $1,200 more over the term of its contract with ATT.

Jun 21 03:56 AM

[mollytjm:]

if you mostly use a smartphone as a phone, then a phone is a cheaper choice! a lot of us with iPhones use the apps for games and other things. no one buys an iPhone because they need a phone...they buy it for everything else. As i tell people, 'the iPhone is wonderful...oh, and you can make calls on it too'.
Mostly i'm surfing the web and playing games or reading a book on it. I have 4 computers, 3 laptops...and i still end up doing more on my iPhone than on my computer these days. Wait...the iPhone is a computer with an OS. You can buy a tiny battery extender that instantly plugs into the phone and you can use the phone while it's charging...for $9.99. No need to have an expensive other battery to fumble in and out.
The Pre only connects to the iTunes store by pretending to be an iPhone (lawsuit's in the wings) but not to the app store. Palm has a real uphill battle on it's hands. And having to go to the Sprint store for tech help won't help.

Jun 21 08:33 AM

[vassar:]

I like the idea of making the Pre screen bigger. It is bearly readable at the current size and the screen buttons are too small and hard to hit. The keyboard is too small too. A bigger Pre (the Post?) could solve many problems - bigger screen easier to read and operate, bigger keyboard faster to type and why not a bigger battery. Now you have solved three major problems with the Pre.

(PS: I am a happy iPhone user who loves the on screen keyboard.)

Jun 21 08:36 AM

[winindthedust:]

Competition is always good.

@Aryamehr: since you haven't actually used either phone, your comments are complete rubbish & without merit.

Those that have used either phone, say quite the contrary. Further, the satisfaction rates on the iPhone are nothing short of phenomenal.

How can you say the Pre is "better" the the 3G S? What is your empirical data? What is your comparison? Seems like pure speculative opinion to me.

Yes, they are quite 'different phones', and I believe they will each fit different users needs quite well. Want a physical keyboard? Get a Pre. Want to type in Chinese or some other language? We can make a lot of comparisons, but saying one is 'better' then the other, when you haven't even used it, is quite moronic (not that I'm calling you a moron, mind you)

You can make two comparisons, maybe three. 1) Hardware (initial speed tests say iPhone is the speed champ) 2) Software (Pre, though slick, is a web OS, and will be limited) 3) Overall user experience (which also includes Customer service, etc.)

As this is a trading site, I must give you a gentle recommendation- get out of stocks and the market... if you trade on speculative opinion the same as you comment here, your trade is no better then the flip of a coin.

People today look at specs, and forget this is meaningless if not implemented as a useable function. As an example, there are 5 MP cameras out there, that take much better pictures then the higher 12 MP cameras... why? Because the 12 MP manufacturer pooped out a bunch of "superior" specs just for the sake of sales bullets, but none of them are usable. The 5 MP manufacturer made sure that all features were for the primary goal of making it easy for the user to take great pictures. It's the sum of the whole and how well it's put together to achieve it's purpose that makes a superior and usable product.... not specs analyzed by themselves with no experience to their usability & implementation.

Jun 21 09:53 AM

[winindthedust:]

www.appleinsider.com/a...

Jun 21 09:58 AM

[another.ana...:]

I have read Aryamehr's ad nauseum stupidity regarding the iPhone over the weeks. But this one:

"One must remember the primary reason we buy Smart phones for is Voice and not surfng the the internet."

proves what a worthless nitwit he/her is. The bard said it best these trivial blatherings are "tales told by an idiot. Full of sound & fury. Signifying nothing."

Ayuh

Jun 21 10:18 AM

[Maruf Mahmud:]

Choosing Sprint was a bad decision by Palm. I was on a waiting list to receive a Pre at a Sprint store at Woodbridge, Virginia. When I called the store they asked me to come in and pickup my Pre. I was all excited and went to the store and they told me that I wont be able to buy the Pre since it was a miscommunication!!! I was very upset and promised to get a different phone. I have been using Palm devices for over 10 years. Now I will look for a different pda.

Jun 21 10:34 AM

[GSlusher:]

A question: does one have to have internet access to use Pre apps? Would one be able to use them in situations where the phone radio must be turned off?

Jun 21 02:14 PM

[jmmx:]

On Jun 21 03:56 AM Aryamehr wrote:
> One must remember the primary reason
> we buy Smart phones for is Voice and not surfng the the internet.

The Sale of some 20 million (or whatever) iPod Touches shows that you are wrong here. These people were willing to pay cash for an iPhone without the phone. So obviously you are wrong.

I don't mind you saying that you prefer the Pre, but on what grounds can you say it is definitely better? So many people in these blogs are like children - They think "everybody has to think like me."

Why can't you just post your opinion, and allow others to have their own? (Although I will grant you that a lot of Apple fans are a lot like you.)

Enjoy your Pre. I am glad it serves you well.

Jun 21 02:27 PM

[sethmcs:]

I am BC (before cellphones) and hate them all.

Jun 21 03:38 PM

[Geddy:]

I believe he/she is a Sprextel employee which explains all the "pro-pre" diatribes from him/her on the blogs.


On Jun 21 10:18 AM another.anal.ist wrote:

> I have read Aryamehr's ad nauseum stupidity regarding the iPhone
> over the weeks. But this one:
>
> "One must remember the primary reason we buy Smart phones for is
> Voice and not surfng the the internet."
>
> proves what a worthless nitwit he/her is. The bard said it best these
> trivial blatherings are "tales told by an idiot. Full of sound &
> fury. Signifying nothing."
>
> Ayuh

Jun 21 03:57 PM

[JimboJ:]

I personally do not like the I-Phone, but that is my opinion. In my personal opinion ( and it is my opinion) if you buy a phone why not get what you personally need? I am not a gamer, I use my phone for work and emails mainly and of course phone calls. I do not see buying a phone just because of the brand name. I buy for ease of doing what I need in the fastest time I can get it done. Just becasue a phone is not goo for me does not mean that other people will not like it. I stopped listening to most of these analyst a long time ago, this recession proves more and more that 99% have no clue of what is really going on.

Jun 22 11:12 AM

[Elmodelo:]

Well as a Pre and Iphone User I will say Both are good phones. It all depend what are you willing to pay for service. I live in a Major City where all 4 major Cell Companies have good Service (I had all 4 ATT, T-mobile,Verizon and Sprint). Only thing im going to say is that im Saving over 200 bucks a year with sprint for more service than I a with ATT. But the point is Iphone is a good phone but the Network ATT is too expensive and it lags more here than the next 3 companies i mention. If Iphone was with all 4 networks I bet Sprint would have a competitive advantage in this city with price. Also would like to mention ever since Metro PCS came here they signed up nearly a million people in this town due to price advantage it has and many people don't travel outside the city so it wont be a problem for its customers not getting signal outside the area. But lets give the Palm OS (its just a infant) a chance after a year, then we can compare.

Jun 22 12:56 PM

[Elmodelo:]

I agree with the Guy above this post (User43501). Not sure if were from the same city (which i also live on a major US city). If Iphone was at all 4 carrier Which I believe one day it will (Maybe after 2012 which by that time a Iphone killer may be out). I guess Sprint, T-mobile and Verizon will have a competitive advantage in this town (Which are the Dominant Carriers) over ATT. ATT everyone hates them here and More than 1/2 of my Iphone friends have it (Iphone) on T-mobile network (Reason att too expensive).

Jun 22 01:10 PM