Palm
The news follows up from last month's announcement of a deal with Britain's VodafoneGroup
Good timing, too. Palm should be able to get its newest Treo into the hands of interested resellers before the all-important holiday shopping season heats up. But will they be interested? Probably on some level, though rivals have earned plenty of momentum. Consider Motorola
Nevertheless, the new Treo could be competitive. Press reports suggest that Palm's latest, which is expected to be once again based on Microsoft's
Just don't expect a "catch-up" release to generate much enthusiasm. It won't, because it shouldn't. Palm has the unfortunate distinction of being in a market that's measured by features and functions. Users check the checklists, and buy the coolest devices. Carriers such as Deutsche Telekom's
It's been too long since the Treo was a "must-have" among phoneaphiles. Management must a find a way to restore Treo's premium rep if investors have any hope of reaping meaningful long-term gains from the stock. So, make September 12 special, Palm. Don't just play catch-up; surprise us.
Dial 'F' for related Foolishness:
- Palm could be the unlikeliest value play.
- But it'll need some help on the earnings front first.
- An iPhone is probably the least of Palm's current worries.
Palm is a Motley Fool Stock Advisor selection. Ask for us anall-access passand you'll get a backstage look at all of the stocks that are helping David and Tom Gardner beat the S&P 500 by roughly 37% as of this writing. It's free for 30 days. All you have to lose is the prospect of a richer portfolio.
Microsoft and Vodafone Group are Motley Fool Inside Value picks.
Fool contributor Tim Beyers still owns a Treo 650, which he beats up every day. Tim owns shares in Nokia. Get the skinny on all the stocks he owns by checking Tim's Fool profile . The Motley Fool's disclosure policy is never on hold.