Forbes has an interesting article on the pda/’phone combination I have been talking about recently. The article is basically saying that consumers need to be familiar with the tool so they can use it. Previous attempts to merge the two devices failed, it suggests, because often the ‘phone element was not good enough.

I think this is very clear reasoning indeed. The Treo 600 seems to come closest to that. My problem, however, is that I am looking for a small, powerful tool to do a number of items and, really, the market has not grasped this.

For starters, why am I looking to spend money on a new ‘phone and/or pda? My ‘phone is boxy but relatively new (although I, luckily, paid nothing for it). It’s a perfectly serviceable Nokia ‘phone with a built in camera that I occasionally use – primarily for images on my blog.

The trouble started when I realised the Nokia included basic pda functionality – calendar, phonebook etc. This saves me carrying my trusty Palm Vx everywhere and means I can make notes and check my diary. This is great in principal but in practice is sucks.

At work I use Microsoft Outlook and my pda synchronizes with that. I don’t consider myself an power user of Outlook but I do attempt to use some of its many features. Over the years I have adapted my use of Outlook/Palm combination to ensure the best synchronization of the data I need and it works very, very well. Add the Nokia 7650 into the mix and it all goes wrong. Primarily, the Nokia doesn’t understand Outlook’s sub-folders in contacts so I have to have a special ‘phone folder. In turn I am forced to have more than one entry in my Outlook for an individual and, at this point, the whole point of the synchronization fails.

Of course, I am now hooked on the concept of my ‘phone being as up-to-date with contacts as my pda. I want full Palm functionality in a ‘phone. Of course I am now thinking the camera is a gimmick but a gimmick I don’t want to lose. Hence the thoughts of the Treo from Orange.

I also carry a mini mp3 player around with me. Small, battery powered but great if you get stuck at the station or at an airport. Treo has an mp3 player but, as I’ve noted previously, all my music is encoded a WMA files and I don’t want to spend the time re-burning my CDs. So, come on Real, WMA the mobile device.

Of course I have another demand. My old Nokia 8310 had a radio – which was also great when stuck on trains or when I just wanted to hear the news. It wasn’t fancy or powerful but in central London I got great reception of all the main stations. So, ideally, I want a radio in the package.

And my demands do not stop there. I would like it to run the Palm software I use on my pda now. I would like it to have the advanced Outlook synchronization features of newer Palms. The list goes on. But essentially I want it all in one, familiar package. At heart, I know this to be unrealistic but there’s a geek in me trying to get out!

I wonder if some developer will read this and see that I want it all?

On this day…

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