We recently applauded Verizon (Verizon Wireless Offers palmOne's Treo 600 smartphone With Always-on Wireless Sync, Palm News, July 19, 2004) for their marriage of Palm Treo 600 Technology with Intellisync “always-on” technology to become the only carrier to offer an integrated e-mail solution on the Treo 600 smartphone so that e-mails sent to a customer's PC will be immediately sent to their Treo 600. We noted that The Treo 600 is an ideal device for business executives, seamlessly combining a full-featured mobile phone and a Palm OS(R) organizer with wireless data applications in one compact, powerful device. Recent feedback to that review indicates that a consequence of this move by Verizon is the impact on Verizon’s significant subscriber base comprised of small business users and non-executives. Reports are that these subscribers who would love to upgrade to the Treo platform primarily for the originally intended benefits of the cell phone and PDA combination, must contract with Verizon for their unlimited internet access package in order to use the equipment.

Our understanding is that the marriage of the Treo with Intellisync to provide the always-on capability is a one way-street in that Verizon does not allow the combined technology to be disengaged. The consequence is that a Treo user on Verizion is indeed “always-on” the internet, even if they would prefer not to be. This always-on capability will consume their air-time minutes unless they choose to subscribe to Verizon’s unlimited data package. This internet access, Wireless Sync consumes standard air-time minutes, unless the user subscribes to Verizon’s unlimited internet access package (approx $45/month). Without this package, users potentially incur monthly costs in excess of $1000 for air-time. In their defense, it seems that Verizon may not even be fully up to speed on this issue. Visits to their stores and multiple calls to their customer service and technology departments resulted in varying responses regarding the requirement to subscribe to the data pack or knowledge about the impact of the WirelessSync Capability.

Verizon was slow to offer Treo technology compared to other wireless providers, and only then under considerable pressure from their subscriber base. Considering the delay that Verizon subscribers suffered in waiting for this technology, it is additionally painful now to find out that the equipment is not a economically viable option for the type of user for which the TREO was intended. While we continue to applaud Verizon for their ingenuity in creating the always-on capability around the TREO platform, we wonder at what costs this comes if popular technology such as the Treo is removed from the hands of a large segment of Verizon’s subscribers. We would like to see Verizon make the Treo available with Wireless Sync as an optional as opposed to a standard feature.

Today’s counter commentary was sent in by Charlie Maclay. Thanks Charlie for pointing out some very valid arguments, let see what Verizon has to say.