Tapwave Heading into European Markets

Posted By: Ryan Wednesday, September 1, 2004 11:52:55 AM

Tapwave after seeing strong interest from distributors, customers and the game development community (over 40% of Tapwave's 3000 developers hail from Europe) has led the company to expand into Europe. Starting this holiday season, customers in the UK will be able to purchase and experience the Tapwave Zodiac handheld.

To accelerate expansion, Tapwave is now establishing a legal entity and local presence in the UK and recently hired Andrzej Kasprzyk as the company's Director of European Sales and Roy Parker as Director of International Operations. The company has also retained the services of UK-based PR and Marketing group Barrington Harvey, Herts and will help promote the Zodiac throughout Europe. Tapwave will also start participating in appropriate European events. This week they secured space at EGN (Waterfront Room, Room 17) and ECTS (Exhibit Area, Room 4318). Later in September, Tapwave will be a premiere sponsor of the PalmSource European Developer Conference in Munich.

"Right out of the gate, European interest in the Zodiac has been strong, from consumers and media to distributors and developers," said Byron Connell, co-founder of Tapwave. "The company is now ready to unveil our multimedia console in other markets, starting in the UK and then expanding from there. We are looking forward to starting a relationship with consumers and distributors worldwide."

Beyond being able to purchase the Tapwave Zodiac, consumers will also be able to pick up the latest Zodiac accessories and popular Zodiac game cards, such as id Software's DOOM II, 3D Realms/MachineWorks Northwest's Duke Nukem Mobile, Activision's Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4 and Midway's SpyHunter. Along with premiere titles, Tapwave is also offering two game packs -- Z:Pak: Adventure, which will include Galactic Realms and Legacy; and the Z:Pak: Fun featuring Paintball, MegaBowling and Kickoo's Breakout. Some of the other Zodiac premiere titles for this year will also include Activision's MTX: Mototrax and Street Hoops, Eidos' Tomb Raider and Atari's Neverwinter Nights. Zodiac accessories available at retail will include the Zodiac Sport Case, Zodiac Cradle, a Zodiac Stylus 3-pack and the Zodiac Deluxe Leather Case.

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Woo Dee Hoo

Hal2000 @ 9/1/2004 8:00:14 PM #
Furste poste!

Ich con now buyin mit deine Euros! Auchgesheidneit!
Mit dual slotten!!

Zodiac2/T616
1.128 gigs under the hood.

RE: Woo Dee Hoo
oseiampadu @ 9/2/2004 9:17:04 AM #
^^ What does this post want to tell us?


ozei@osei.de
RE: Woo Dee Hoo
IanJD @ 9/2/2004 12:06:49 PM #
With a .de domain email address you must know. :)

Judging from the prevalence of exclamation marks, I think he's happy. I guess there must be folk here in Europe eager to play with a Zodiac, and six months ago I might have been one, too.

It's potentially a nice machine with a tablet screen, the biggest memory, dual slots, bluetooth and good battery life, if they've worked the bugs out of it; but I think they're going to have to target the gameplayers in Europe rather than the PDA geeks, 'cos we're all waiting for something newer.

RE: Woo Dee Hoo
ocspub @ 9/2/2004 12:34:45 PM #
> Ich con now buyin mit deine Euros! Auchgesheidneit!

Well, actually, the United Kingdom still uses pounds, not Euros. Also, you seem to have difficulties distinguishing "mein" and "dein" ;-)

Oliver

Work Smarter, Play Harder. Visit http://www.tapland.com for the latest Zodiac information.

RE: Woo Dee Hoo
Pathdoc @ 9/4/2004 10:00:02 AM #
Also, if I remember my German from undergrade, "con" is not corret. It is kanne.

Zodiac v Tungsten T5

High John @ 9/2/2004 11:46:47 AM #
6 months ago I would have been very interested in buying a Zodiac here in England.

But by the time it is released over here, I will be able to buy a Palm Tungsten T5 with a 320x480 screen, running OS6.

No competition surely?

RE: Zodiac v Tungsten T5
Wolfgard @ 9/2/2004 4:59:19 PM #
If it ever comes to Asia, I really wouldn't mind selling off my zire 72 and get the Zodiac. Honestly, I'd rather get the zodiac than the T5. PalmOne's PDA quality has dropped like a rock lately. T3 digitizer issues, T|E construction problems, Zire 72's peeling paint, that pretty much discouraged me from buying any other palmOne device. From what I heard, the Zodiac is one sturdy device:)

pen & paper -> m515 -> Zire72
RE: Zodiac v Tungsten T5
ardiri @ 9/3/2004 4:35:25 AM #
    But by the time it is released over here, I will be able to buy a Palm Tungsten T5 with a 320x480 screen, running OS6.

one flaw in that logic. there is no OS6 device planned right now.

---
Aaron Ardiri
PalmOS Certified Developer
aaron_ardiri@mobilewizardry.com
http://www.mobilewizardry.com/members/aaron_ardiri.php
RE: Zodiac v Tungsten T5
High John @ 9/3/2004 8:30:17 AM #
Aaron - although admittedly the actual T5 is merely speculation, surely you agree that OS6 devices are currently being developed and will be available before the end of the year?

RE: Zodiac v Tungsten T5
JonathanChoo @ 9/3/2004 11:04:43 AM #
For the Zodiac to be taken seriously as a portable console, the OS must be consistent. That is why I seriously doubt that OS6 would ever come to Zodiac as it might interfere with some of the games currently on sale.

Consoles also always use the same processor speed so I doubt the next generation of Zodiacs would ever use a different more powerful processor.

--
Generic PDA > 5mx > Vx > m505 > N770C > T625C > NR70V > e310 > m550 > h2210 > T/T3 & h4150
StarTac > T28m > T39m > T68m > T610 > T630 > K700i (nxt week)

RE: Zodiac v Tungsten T5
hussain @ 9/3/2004 11:06:39 AM #
Palm Tungsten T5 with a 320x480 screen

The tapwave is that resolution, so having that screen size isn't an argument and don't forgot the tapwave, it has a video card in it (8MB) and they say 200Mhz but when its actually tested it has a speed 297Mhz

RE: Zodiac v Tungsten T5
skeezix @ 9/3/2004 11:59:20 AM #
Naturally of course, only the Zodiac has a set of controls useful for gaming. As every PDA owners, games essentially suck to play unless they're touchscreen based... except on the Zodiac :)

jeff

The Shadow knows!

RE: Zodiac v Tungsten T5
Wolfgard @ 9/3/2004 1:28:46 PM #
I wonder if it'll come to South East Asia. There's a very strong demand here for mobile games. In fact, the NGAGE is selling pretty well here. If the zodiac is available, I seriously think people would prefer the zodiac to the NGAGE.

pen & paper -> m515 -> Zire72
RE: Zodiac v Tungsten T5
Hal2000 @ 9/3/2004 9:36:27 PM #
Yes, it runs @297 mhz, and it is fast enough for anything that I throw at it. Why wait for a (T5?) Sorry but you just don't know.
Specs are not everything. Build quality feels like a solid piece of aluminum, and there are NO bugs. 2 slots, 128 internal, great screen, and thin. Bluetooth for the longest web experience,and batteries to match. You will end up doing everything in landscape.(check the T3's poor performance #'s in landscape mode)
I manage a 200 million dollar construction project on Broadway.It is Jostled 11hrs a day, from ANY temp. extreme, And has been set in front of billionaires(my bosses) My point is you can have this now,
so just get it and be blown away, palmone users.

Zodiac2/T616
1.128 gigs under the hood.
RE: Zodiac v Tungsten T5
hussain @ 9/3/2004 11:25:32 PM #
Some of the T5 specs seem so much like the Zodiac

RE: Zodiac v Tungsten T5
Strider_mt2k @ 9/4/2004 10:34:51 AM #
I'm keeping an eye on Tapwave too.

As for the T5, what T5?
You mean the rumored, doesn't exist yet T5?

I will be VERY suprised if it approaches the Zodiac.

P1 just doesn't have it in 'em do do more than incremental development. Plain and simple.

UK availability

ardiri @ 9/3/2004 4:36:45 AM #
you have already been able to purchase the zodiac console in the UK - there was a HUGE demand for this (hell, even zodiacgamer.com is UK based) :P you can order zodiacs NOW from the following site:

http://www.gbax.com/new/zodiac.html

basically, they buy em - then, ship em out to you individually :) consider them middlemen - so far, i haven't seen anyone complain about this service.

as for actually buying software? the zodiac store is still, in the best of my knowledge locked to using USA based credit cards only - so, you should also request to developers to provide a non tapwave optimized version for use on the zodiac.

we did this with pocket mini golf - you can order the tapwave optimized version; or, buy a standard OS5 version that can be used on your tapwave (still at 480x320). we managed to pick up a lot more tapwave sales that way (mainly UK, europe).

it is nice to see some official plans to release in europe - but, it shouldn't be restricted to the UK. the german market is specifically much larger than the UK market when it comes to handhelds; it needs to be euro based :)

---
Aaron Ardiri
PalmOS Certified Developer
aaron_ardiri@mobilewizardry.com
http://www.mobilewizardry.com/members/aaron_ardiri.php

RE: UK availability
Hal2000 @ 9/4/2004 10:09:50 AM #
Mini Golf is great, Aaron.

Zodiac2/T616
1.128 gigs under the hood.

The true north, strong and free...

MTM @ 9/4/2004 1:00:48 AM #
...So what are we in Canada, Tapwave? Chopped liver?

Mike
_____

My HandEra 330 is not going to last much longer.

great hardware, but didn't buy

tompi @ 9/5/2004 4:09:47 AM #
I was faced with buying a new Palm recently. The Tapwave hardware looks and feels great, but I still ended up buying a Zire 72. Why? All the non-Palm PalmOS devices I have owned (quite a few) have had significant problems with compatibility, and I expect the Tapwave to be the same. Its non-standard screen layout (landscape default), non-standard launcher, and non-standard buttons alone spell trouble.

RE: great hardware, but didn't buy
Strider_mt2k @ 9/5/2004 7:53:54 AM #
No problem there. Sony folks have been dealing with that stuff for years now!

A little research would tell you if your expectations are justified.

RE: great hardware, but didn't buy
tfftruoa @ 9/5/2004 12:42:25 PM #
Ihave a TT3 and kove it, but to be quite honest, I should have gotten a Zodiac2. Double the RAM, two slots, and a larger battery for the same price. The only things I'd really miss would be the flip cover, slider, and stylus.

As for zodiac incompatability, I'm no expert, but the only one I've heard of is with MMPlayer, and even that is being worked out. If you're uncomfortable with the launcher, install zlauncher and customize to your hearts content.

Sharp Wizard-->Handspring Visor "Deluxe"-->Sony Clie SJ30-->Palm Tungsten T3 w/ SE T68i

RE: great hardware, but didn't buy
tompi @ 9/6/2004 8:52:03 PM #
No problem there. Sony folks have been dealing with that stuff for years now!

Yes, and Sony is a good illustration of how incompatible third party PalmOS devices are. For example, the Clies had their own, incompatible audio and HiRes+ APIs. They have their own WiFi and Bluetooth management (less functional and less reliable than Palm's). They had their own desktop app, which is based on, but different from, Palm's. The way they used flash memory differed. Sony, of course, isn't shipping Palm-based devices anymore at all.

My recommendation: if you are going to buy a Palm, buy it from PalmOne--you'll save yourself a lot of trouble.

RE: great hardware, but didn't buy
Strider_mt2k @ 9/7/2004 8:57:46 AM #
Good work!
Way to get the point!

RE: great hardware, but didn't buy
Hal2000 @ 9/8/2004 9:59:34 PM #
What Point? Yes my Sony's had those problems, no the tapwave doesn't.
*with 110+ programs* Sorry, wrong.


Zodiac2/T616
1.128 gigs under the hood.

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