The perils of converged devices

When implementing new technology, there are always two angles: the technical side (i.e. does it work) and the business side (does it do what it's supposed to). My forays into converged devices leave me wondering about the success of the implementation.
Firstly, bloody Active Sync just doesn't work properly. It's different whichever PC I hook up to, and so many things go wrong with it depending on environment. On the laptop I use currently it sometimes works properly, sometimes throws up errors and sometimes just does nothing. What a git.
Secondly, there is an issue over perception. If you sit in a meeting with a PDA and a stylus, people will generally figure you're taking notes (even if you're just doing Sudoku). If you type into what looks like a mobile phone in a meeting, people think you're sending text messages.
Still, the browser's decent.

Cut to the core

I'm not going to be buying one of these, but this another nod to all those Apple-heads who think they're so cutting edge. Competitive advantage is about establishing a product or service that's in demand and difficult to imitate. This is quite hard to achieve when a competitor beats you to it.

You can shove your iPhone up your UMPC

I want one of these.
Ok, so it doesn't appear to have HSDPA -- unlike my current mobile phone -- but it's running a proper OS on a tiny machine that you can then plug into a keyboard, screen, mouse. It's a better spec. than my laptop but would fit in an albeit large pocket.
You'll probably need large pockets to pay for it, as previous models in this range have been c. £1,000, but since Sony have given this UMPC the same model name as a camcorder, it ain't easy to find the price on the web.

Testing 1... 2... 3...

This is my first attempt at posting from on the move, via a 3G connection on my new converged device.
I'm also testing Blogger's mail facility, so if you're my guinea pig now, you should benefit from more posts in future.

Device convergence

I've been considering a converged device for some time now; for so long that they were still referred to as converged devices then, or perhaps smart phones. Now they're just phones for business. The better of these devices are characterised by a number of features:

• email, usually through "push" technologies like Blackberry
• PIM (calendar, tasks, addresses) integration with desktop applications like Outlook
• full web browsing through Wi-Fi, or 3G where no Wi-Fi network is in range
• a range of input methods, usually including some form of QWERTY keyboard
• Microsoft Office tools
• extensibility, both through provision of extra flash memory and through an OS that allows other applications to be run on the device
• a broader aspect screen with sufficient real estate to enable email, Office and browser use

On the market now, or over the next quarter, there are at least four devices with different operating systems that meet these criteria:

• Nokia's Symbian-based E61
• the Windows Mobile 5 HTC TyTN, to be sold as the Vario II by T-Mobile, the SPV M31000 by Orange, or the Vodafone v1605
• Sony M600i, which runs on Sony's Symbian-based UIQ interface
• the Palm Treo 700

So why haven't I bought one of these already? Three answers: cost, form factor and requirement.
If you buy one of these devices under a decent 3G contract, its going to cost in the region of £35 per month, or £420 a year; you could get a PDA with all the features listed above but without the phone for half that price.
The form of these phones has, historically, not been conducive to both data entry and review as well as phone use. Some of the phones above are a bit cleverer, with sliding or tilting keyboards, but fundamentally the screen still needs to be big enough to browse on while the phone is small enough to use regularly.
But most importantly, are all the features that these phones provide really required? I do use the PIM information every day, but that's available on any mobile these days. I also use Word and Excel on the go and want to have other applications I can install. But email and web browsing? Is the always-on wherever-you-are internet really feasible or indeed desirable? Will I still be able to capture a 3G connection while I'm on the train and what advantages does it bring over plucked subscriptions to the sites I read daily? It's pretty rare that I actually need to get online to the latest news or extended link from the news I've downloaded to my PDA.
When I'm sat reading this news or making notes, is usually when I've nothing else to do but commute in an environment with poor network connectivity, so I want to be able to browse off-line. So what do I want my device to do? Would I make use of Wi-Fi and 3G if I had it?
As is often the case with anyone purchasing a new product, some features appear desirable but really won't be used that often even if you have them. So perhaps for the moment I should concentrate on a truly decent mobile computer -- a UMPC perhaps -- and a phone with a good camera and some memory for MP3 playing.

How to replace your PDA

I have for some time been considering a replacement for my three-year-old and now less than reliable PDA. This would, you may assume, be a relatively straigtforward task for someone who advises companies on technology selection. But the lure of market-leading products just around the corner is great, particularly when it comes to always on, available from anywhere internet access.
I had previously allowed myself to be seduced by the iMate Jasjar's monster feature set: wi-fi and 3G bundled with a QWERTY keyboard and VGA screen; no other phone can compete. But it weighs deeply on the pocket both physically and figuratively. May as well buy a laptop.
I was going to comment at some length about the benefits of Wi-Fi vs. 3G vs. GPRS, until I saw this: the ultimate in PIM for today's disposable culture (Flash required).