Treo 700p Volume Production Delayed?

Posted By: Ryan Thursday, August 3, 2006 9:40:51 AM

DigiTimes has a report out that claims Inventec, Palms contracted manufacturer for the 700p, has possibly postponed volume production of the Treo 700p until September. The article also claims the original schedule called for volume production to start at the beginning of the second quarter and cites unspecified software problems for the delay.

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software problems?

EdH @ 8/3/2006 1:35:49 PM # Q
...and cites unspecified software problems for the delay.

Good old frankengarnet is getting crickety in its old age isn't it?

I thought this was interesting, from the same article: "However, High Tech Computer (HTC), rather than Inventec, is currently the major contract maker of PDA phones for Palm, said the sources. HTC began volume shipments of the Treo 700w PDA phones to Palm in the first quarter of this year and is expected to roll out a new Treo handset that supports the WCDMD standard in the second half, the sources noted."

Why didn't HTC do the 700p? Do they just not bother at all with PalmOS? Who does the 650 and devices like the TX? I thought that was HTC. If it is, I wonder why they went with Inventec this time?

RE: software problems?
SeldomVisitor @ 8/3/2006 1:50:03 PM # Q
> ...Why didn't HTC do the 700p?...

Because HTC is too big a competitor to PALM.

RE: software problems?
EdH @ 8/3/2006 1:55:46 PM # Q
But they do the 700w, so they obviously aren't too big of a competitor to Palm. Did you mean to say "They are a pretty big competitor to Palm, but not so big they won't put at least two phones with them - the 700w and the new phone they are working in for Europe - but they are just big enough that they don't want to give them the 700p production too."

If the latter, please substantiate.

WHOSE software problems?
hkklife @ 8/3/2006 2:23:47 PM # Q
Does this mean Palm is working on a 700P ROM update and found something "major" that will necessitate all forthcoming units being pre-patched ala the T3/T5/Treo 650 initial ROM versions?

OR

does this mean that Inventec has bungled something on their end and can have the finger pointed directly at them by Palm?

OR

are 700P sales disappointing and Sprint and/or Verizon are pulling the plug on it prematurely?

OR

is the whole tired 600/650/700 formfactor being shelved and mildly refreshed CDMA (POS & WinMob) versions of the upcoming antenna-less VodaFone GSM Treo (750v?) forthcoming for the new year?


I was honestly under the impression that HTC was the OEM for all of the current Treos. Has anyone been able to discern any noticable build quality differences amongst the Inventec & HTC Treos 700s?

Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX-->Treo 700P

RE: software problems?
cervezas @ 8/3/2006 3:01:28 PM # Q
What SeldomVisitor meant is that HTC has *become* too big a competitor so Palm decided to start transitioning to Inventec a while back. Don't recall exactly when this was announced, but Google is probably your friend. It's a pretty big transition, so I'm not too surprised they are experiencing some hitches.

David Beers
Pikesoft Mobile Computing
www.pikesoft.com/blog
RE: software problems?
cervezas @ 8/3/2006 3:07:11 PM # Q
Here's a link from Engadget about the shift from HTC to Inventec (dated Nov 4, 2005): http://www.engadget.com/2005/11/04/other-deets-on-new-treos-and-htc-surface/

David Beers
Pikesoft Mobile Computing
www.pikesoft.com/blog
RE: Whose software problems?
Libra @ 8/3/2006 4:06:36 PM # Q
"Inventec's strategy of simultaneously developing smartphones based on operating systems from Palm and Microsoft, as well as on Linux, has torn apart the company's resources and jeopardized its product roadmap, including the development of its own-brand smartphones, the source stated."

Looks like ALL of Inventec's production is in trouble, not just Palm's.

Investigate new possibilities...

RE: software problems?
hkklife @ 8/3/2006 4:22:06 PM # Q
Right, but I was just wondering if Palm's constant FrankenGarnet issues were somehow plaguing 700P shipments in addition to Inventec's own internal woes.

Either way, not a good sign at all for all of the parties involved (Palm, Inventec, the dwindling POS faithful).

It might be time for Palm to release a final PDA refresh or two, just to bring some $ in the corporate coffers while they ride out this latest bump in the road.



Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX-->Treo 700P

RE: software problems?
AdamaDBrown @ 8/3/2006 6:45:33 PM # Q
hkklife
is the whole tired 600/650/700 formfactor being shelved and mildly refreshed CDMA (POS & WinMob) versions of the upcoming antenna-less VodaFone GSM Treo (750v?) forthcoming for the new year?

I'd tend to doubt that. Unless you believe the scattered reports of WiFi, the Lennon isn't really anything other than an antennaless GSM 700w. The US CDMA carriers, specifically Verizon, insist on having the antenna, so I doubt it's going away.

I was honestly under the impression that HTC was the OEM for all of the current Treos. Has anyone been able to discern any noticable build quality differences amongst the Inventec & HTC Treos 700s?

Maybe related, maybe not, but I noticed that the d-pad on my 700p was stiff and sort of unyielding compared to my 700w. It struck me as odd, because other than the screen and OS, they were the same hardware.

On SV's point, I have to wonder if HTC isn't taking new non-Windows business. Their other business is booming, and it might not be as practical/profitable for them now to divert resources to handle another OS. Remember, they were much smaller when they took on the 650--now, they're the fastest growing tech company on Earth.


RE: software problems?
fierywater @ 8/4/2006 1:08:06 PM # Q
"The US CDMA carriers, specifically Verizon, insist on having the antenna, so I doubt it's going away."

Verizon may encourage it, but they do not by any means insist on it. As far as regular phones go, the Chocolate, RAZR, "the V" (LG VX9800) and several other phones (both high-end and low-end) on VZW do not have external antennas. And for smartphones, the Motorola Q clearly does not have an external antenna. For the record, the Audiovox XV6600 did not one, either (though its successor does).

The Q is the most significant example that I mentioned, seeing as it is (despite the smartphone WM5 OS) the greatest competitor to the Treo on Verizon (or arguably anywhere), and it's one hell of a lot better-looking partly because of the internal antenna.

RE: software problems?
AdamaDBrown @ 8/4/2006 7:00:44 PM # Q
Most of the devices on Verizon that don't have antennas were originally GSM designs that were later picked up by Verizon: the RAZR, the Moto Q, and the XV6600 all fall into this category.

It's true that Verizon is getting more lenient with non-antenna devices, but they still have a strong pro-antenna leaning.

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right...i'm going to need you to come in on saturday

#*377 @ 8/3/2006 1:48:11 PM # Q
Initech? Maybe they're tied up filling out their TPS reports.

RE: right...i'm going to need you to come in on saturday
grimpeur @ 8/3/2006 2:17:50 PM # Q
Did you get that memo?

RE: right...i'm going to need you to come in on saturday
fishtastic @ 8/3/2006 2:43:21 PM # Q
Excuse me, I believe you have my stapler...
RE: right...i'm going to need you to come in on saturday
joad @ 8/3/2006 6:37:25 PM # Q
ummmm, yeah....

Maybe this is finally an acknowledgement that they messed up on the hardware buttons - not enough flair.

RE: right...i'm going to need you to come in on saturday
joad @ 8/3/2006 6:40:16 PM # Q
http://www.initech.com/ (hey- it's a real site!)

RE: right...i'm going to need you to come in on saturday
EdH @ 8/3/2006 8:16:05 PM # Q
Oh, and next Friday... is Hawaiian shirt day... so, you know, if you want to you can go ahead and wear a Hawaiian shirt and jeans.


RE: right...i'm going to need you to come in on saturday
Wollombi @ 8/5/2006 4:11:09 AM # Q
>>"http://www.initech.com/ (hey- it's a real site!)""<

Hmm...apparently they've never seen Office Space in Korea...

_________________
Sean

There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.

Sounds like someone has a case of the Mondays...
freakout @ 8/5/2006 8:04:40 PM # Q
Just a mo-ment...
Reply to this comment

First PIcs of Nitro/Low Rider?

craigdts @ 8/4/2006 12:11:15 PM # Q
http://www.hi-pda.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=320863

Looks to be palm os GSM treo

RE: First PIcs of Nitro/Low Rider?
hkklife @ 8/4/2006 12:14:44 PM # Q
So is that the SD card on the right-hand side of the unit, covered by a rubber flap? Interesting spot...is that even a full size SD or a mini-SD like Garmin is now trying to push?

It also looks like the info screen is displaying 64mb total memory available instead of the 62.8mb the 700P shows.

I think it's legit. Hard to tell if it's really that much narrower but getting rid of that hideous antenna is a huge step forward. Even if the thing is only made slightly thinner it'll be a nice improvement. The top panel also looks considerably different. Now, if the SD slot has been moved out of the way (presumably the SIM slot stays where it has always been) then why can't they stick a proper headphone jack up top?!?

Now if we can somehow get a slightly larger 320*320 LCD in there.

Good progress all around but still at Palm's usual glacial pace. And it'll be at least another year before the CDMA market sees any of these FF changes...

Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX-->Treo 700P

RE: First PIcs of Nitro/Low Rider?
Ryan @ 8/4/2006 1:09:28 PM # Q
Thanks Craig, just posted an article on them, they seem legitimate.

http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/8871/new-palm-os-treo-nitro-pictures/

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