The new RIM wireless data PDA-phone at Comdex
Saturday I wrote about Research in Motion's entry into the cellular PDA/phone market. Today RIM announced it will display its new PDA-phone at Comdex/Spring in Chicago. The BlackBerry 5810 is the same form factor as RIM's larger two-way PDA (called the 957 on the Cingular Wireless packet data network and the 857 on the Motient packet data network), except that it has a headset connected to the top of the unit.
The 5810 includes Java 2 Micro Edition as the operating system, which is good news for developers. The 5810 weighs either 4.7 ounces or 4.9 ounces, depending upon whether you read the press release or the specs on RIM's Web site. Regardless, that's not heavy.
More than half a dozen cellular operators around the world will offer RIM's two-way pager/PDA/phone. In the U.S., AT&T Wireless and VoiceStream will offer it later this year.
For e-mail, the 957 is terrific. It's always on, the U.S. packet data networks are reliable and fast enough and the price is about $40 per month for unlimited service. As a phone, however, its ergonomics remain to be seen. I haven't tested it so I can't comment. I don't like being forced to use a headset. I like the option of speaking into any voice unit. Even overseas, where headsets are much more prevalent than in the U.S., I suspect that most people want to be able to speak directly into their phones.
Still, for e-mail-centric users, the 5810 could be a winner. It will, however, face lots of competition from cellular handset vendors and PDA manufacturers. Virtually every handset vendor is offering phones with advanced data capabilities and virtually every PDA vendor is offering PDAs with voice capabilities. Many new data-enabled handsets and voice-enabled PDAs will be launched this year.
RIM will display the 5810 and its other products and services at Comdex at Booth 1603. (For the record, I have no consulting or other relationship with RIM.)
Speaking of Comdex
I'll be at Comdex, moderating "Wireless LANs: A Challenge to 3G Cellular?" on March 6, 1:15 p.m. - 2:30 p.m., room S403A. It will be a great roundtable discussion, with participants who really know their stuff. Participants include Dr. John Rasmus of GRIC Communications, Jim Thompson of Musenki and Dale Coffing of PocketPCPassion.com. Drop by if you're attending Comdex.
10:24:16 AM 
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