Poor Palm 13th Apr 2010
With recent news that the struggling smartphone maker Palm is reportedly looking for buyers the end of a pioneering journey looms. Where the Apple Newton failed Palm succeeded in bringing the personal digital assistant to the masses.
My own Newton gave way to a black Handspring Deluxe – created by the original inventors of the Palm Pilot who ultimately returned to the fold, merging with Palm in 1998. My next PDA was the Palm Tungsten T3. Sadly it died and was replaced by a Dell Axim x51v, for its WiFi and mixed storage capabilities. I realised my error and went for the a Sony Ericsson K550i and finally settled with Apple's iPhone. Still, my handheld journey has been dominated by my early experiences with Palm.
Many hoped that the much lauded webOS and phones such as the Palm Pre and Palm Pixi would reinvigorate what had once been a successful brand. But it didn't happen and as a result Palm has seen quarter after quarter of losses.
U2's Bono is the unlikeliest winner in the Palm story. His investment vehicle, Elevation Partners with 30 percent of the stock, will turn a profit even with last Friday's, April 9, $5.16 share price. In September 20009 Palm stock had reached its highest point, $17.39, before sliding steeply.
Palm has a rich history but most will agree having a good or great product never guarantees success. The Treo was ahead of its time but the Pre, while it has some amazing features, got the market(ing) wrong. There is no tightly connected, Apple-style, user ecosystem or the critical mass of Google's strength.
The history of innovative products are littered with losers, just ask Sony about the Betamax. Disappointing as it may be, Palm may well only be viable as a patent stable; to be consigned to history as an also ran.