Zdnet Article on Microsoft and Palm

09-27-05, 10:30 AM

On ZDNet, there is an interesting article regarding the partnership between Microsoft and Palm, especially concerning the new Windows Mobile Treo.

As Darren writes in his mini commentary:
As far back as February of 2004 the two rivals have been meeting to make plans. Initially those plans were to allow Treos to access information on MS Exchange Servers but at some point discussions turned to Palm becoming a Windows Mobile licensee. Strange bedfellows for sure!

If anything, it shows that a partnership between two rivals may not be such a bad thing – but there may be more under the service than you might think. The again, if Nintendo and Sega can join forces, why couldn’t Microsoft and Palm?

09-27-05, 03:43 PM

I'll put my two cents in on this one...

I work for an IT department and we have many Treo 600's and 650's. The 600's were terrible. All of them were sent back at least once... most 2-3 times. I've not have one problem with any of the 650's.

I'm not really sure what I think about the joining of Palm and Microsoft. In that news article they say Palm convinced Microsoft to build several software hooks into the version of Windows Mobile that the Treo will be running. That made me feel a little better... I don't think Microsoft will be taking over Palm anytime soon. From talking to people and reading lots about this, I've seen a very mixed reaction. The hardcore Windows Mobile people think it is great... the Palm people think it's the end of the world. We will have to see.

Personally, I think I would really like one of the new Treo's. I love Windows Mobile and like the new Treo quite a bit. I hope it will be a good partnership for both companies... and hopefully not an eventual takeover of Palm. A little healthy competition never hurt anyone. (No matter how small the competition might be!).

09-27-05, 04:37 PM

Well, this is certianly something that is good for Microsoft, both practically - because of the new licensee - and figuratively - because it's Palm! ;)

I would have to think that Palm's future is questionable, but not if they continually crank out compelling and useful devices. :)

msliberty · 09-27-05, 11:53 PM

I've always enjoyed the competition, like the feuding couple and then they get together.

Handspring invented it, Palm bought it. Handspring put a camera in, Palm went to Kodak, and then put a camera in, then Palm married Handspring,then MS started marketing ppcs to average folk, promising pc goodies in a small package, falling short somehow, but promising more, while ppc third party software people tried to help match Palm's simple, straightforward OS, and we wait for MS updates that end up being packed into new hardware. It's sort of fun to watch :rolling: Except we are not the ones who make the profits.

Do keep us informed. msliberty

SleepyheadKC · 09-28-05, 11:08 AM

This should certainly be welcome news for Windows Mobile application developers. A Windows-based Treo should significantly increase the customer base for PocketPC applications, utilities and games. And Axim users will reap the benefits of that.