By Simon Hodgson
Psion Plc, the handheld computing partner in the Symbian EPOC operating system joint venture, has upped the ante in the internet device market with a pocket-sized personal digital assistant that offers email read and write facilities, coupled to internet access via infra-red links to mobile phones. The new Revo PDA will link with mobiles from Siemens, as well as from fellow Symbian members, Nokia, Motorola, and Ericsson.
For London-based Psion, Revo represents a shift in emphasis from targeting largely professional users, to a new approach embracing what it says is a younger, hipper generation of internet users. To this end it has added a touch-sensitive screen interface to its existing keyboard-based approach, plus wizards to make it easier for users to establish internet connection.
In a wider context, Revo demonstrates an attempt to use Symbian’s strength in the mobile world to attack the powers of 3Com and Windows CE. To be a world player, Psion needs to build critical mass in the US, something it has manifestly failed to do. Only 20% of Psion’s 1.5 million users are based in the US, compared to 70% in Europe, and 10% in the Asia/Pacific region. Compare that to 3Com’s four million users, and it is clear that Psion has some ground to make up. The company plans a big US sales drive in 2000, and Revo and Psion’s new portable 56kps GSM modem will be at the vanguard of that drive.
Revo will not receive marketing support from Psion’s Symbian partners, but the UK company hopes its new product will prove an attractive target for the more than 1,000 application developers which the group claims are committed to supporting its EPOC operating systems environment. Even then, however, Psion will be lucky to match the range of products which are likely to issue from 20,000 developers 3Com claims are behind its PalmOS.
Revo runs on a 36 MHz ARM processor, has 8 Mb RAM, 14 hour-life batteries that recharge automatically in the docking station and is available in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Dutch before the end of October. Revo costs 300 pounds ($497) and the modem is priced at 176 pounds ($291).
