Palm's
new Pre smart phone holds strong potential for robust sales growth, and
may have a major influence on other platforms as well as the technology
supply chain, according to iSuppli Corp.
new Pre smart phone holds strong potential for robust sales growth, and
may have a major influence on other platforms as well as the technology
supply chain, according to iSuppli Corp.
Palm Pre shipments could amount to 1.1 million units in 2009.
However, if Palm quickly introduces a new Pre that supports the 3G GSM
standard, sales could rise to 1.3 million during the year. Furthermore,
if Palm opens up the licensing of its webOS operating system used in
the Pre, the software could have a wider influence beyond the company's
own products.
However, if Palm quickly introduces a new Pre that supports the 3G GSM
standard, sales could rise to 1.3 million during the year. Furthermore,
if Palm opens up the licensing of its webOS operating system used in
the Pre, the software could have a wider influence beyond the company's
own products.
"Palm's webOS appears to be superior to the Mac OS X used in the
iPhone in the crucial area of multitasking capabilities," said Tina
Teng, senior analyst, wireless communications, for iSuppli. "This key
point of differentiation, combined with the product's multi-touch
display, could be enough for Palm to carve out a significant share of
the smart phone market."
iPhone in the crucial area of multitasking capabilities," said Tina
Teng, senior analyst, wireless communications, for iSuppli. "This key
point of differentiation, combined with the product's multi-touch
display, could be enough for Palm to carve out a significant share of
the smart phone market."
Another key allure of webOS is its use of widgets for accessing
data and applications like the iPhone, rather than the folders used in
Microsoft's Windows OS. The consensus among most users appears to be
that widgets provide a more intuitive interface than folders. Because
of this, there may be strong demand for webOS from other smart-phone
makers.
data and applications like the iPhone, rather than the folders used in
Microsoft's Windows OS. The consensus among most users appears to be
that widgets provide a more intuitive interface than folders. Because
of this, there may be strong demand for webOS from other smart-phone
makers.
"If Palm decides to license webOS to other companies, it could
follow in the footsteps of Google's Android operating system, which is
expected to expand its share of global smart phone operating systems to
grow by nearly a factor of 12 from 2008 to 2010 according to our Design Forecast Tool (DFT)™ for Mobile Handsets," Teng added.
follow in the footsteps of Google's Android operating system, which is
expected to expand its share of global smart phone operating systems to
grow by nearly a factor of 12 from 2008 to 2010 according to our Design Forecast Tool (DFT)™ for Mobile Handsets," Teng added.
This could lay the foundation for webOS to challenge Apple's Mac
OS X for leadership in the highly intuitive smart-phone operating
system market.
OS X for leadership in the highly intuitive smart-phone operating
system market.
Minding the Store
Palm could further boost the prospects
of webOS if the company opens an application store that sells programs
that work with the operating system, similar to Apple's App Store.
Palm could further boost the prospects
of webOS if the company opens an application store that sells programs
that work with the operating system, similar to Apple's App Store.
"An application store would make Palm a more complete solution
provider to its end customers, allowing it to provide not only a
hardware platform and operating system but also the programs essential
to take advantage of the capabilities of a smart phone," Teng said.
provider to its end customers, allowing it to provide not only a
hardware platform and operating system but also the programs essential
to take advantage of the capabilities of a smart phone," Teng said.
Teng noted that industry rumors have circulated since the Consumer
Electronics Show (CES) in January that Palm will offer an online
applications catalog. With the arrival of software allowing developers
to produce programs that can be compiled to work on multiple mobile
operating systems, Palm's store likely will grow rapidly to sport a
large number of applications.
Electronics Show (CES) in January that Palm will offer an online
applications catalog. With the arrival of software allowing developers
to produce programs that can be compiled to work on multiple mobile
operating systems, Palm's store likely will grow rapidly to sport a
large number of applications.
Battle of the Applications Processors
The potential
long-term success of the Pre promises to benefit Palm's
applications-processor semiconductor supplier, Texas Instruments Inc.
(TI).
The potential
long-term success of the Pre promises to benefit Palm's
applications-processor semiconductor supplier, Texas Instruments Inc.
(TI).
While TI in 2008 remained the leading supplier of standalone
media/application/graphic processing chips for mobile handsets, No.-2
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. is closing in on the lead, according to
iSuppli's Wireless Competitive Landscaping Tool (CLT).
Samsung's share of global market revenue rose to 16.4 percent in 2008,
up from 10 percent in 2007. In contrast, TI's share declined to 16.8
percent in 2008, down from 23 percent in 2007.
media/application/graphic processing chips for mobile handsets, No.-2
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd. is closing in on the lead, according to
iSuppli's Wireless Competitive Landscaping Tool (CLT).
Samsung's share of global market revenue rose to 16.4 percent in 2008,
up from 10 percent in 2007. In contrast, TI's share declined to 16.8
percent in 2008, down from 23 percent in 2007.
"Owing to rising shipments of the iPhone, which uses Samsung's
media processing silicon, the company is closing the gap," said Francis
Sideco, senior analyst, wireless communications, for iSuppli. "Pre's
success could help TI regain some of that share as Pre sales will help
boost TI's revenue for its OMAP line. It also will validate TI's OMAP
approach by demonstrating the need for powerful standalone applications
processors in high-end smart phone devices."
media processing silicon, the company is closing the gap," said Francis
Sideco, senior analyst, wireless communications, for iSuppli. "Pre's
success could help TI regain some of that share as Pre sales will help
boost TI's revenue for its OMAP line. It also will validate TI's OMAP
approach by demonstrating the need for powerful standalone applications
processors in high-end smart phone devices."
Display Shortage?
The Pre makes use of a Low-Temperature
Polysilicon (LTPS) LCD display, which offers superior picture quality
compared to regular TFT-LCD panels used in most mobile phones.
The Pre makes use of a Low-Temperature
Polysilicon (LTPS) LCD display, which offers superior picture quality
compared to regular TFT-LCD panels used in most mobile phones.
This could put constraints on availability of LTPS supplies, which
is a poular display choice in the growing smart phone maker segment.
is a poular display choice in the growing smart phone maker segment.
"If the Pre is successful and large volumes are shipped in the
coming years, LTPS displays could go into shortage because the supply
is limited to a few suppliers that operate smaller generation fabs
capable of producing them," said Vinita Jakhanwal, principal analyst,
small/medium displays, for iSuppli.
coming years, LTPS displays could go into shortage because the supply
is limited to a few suppliers that operate smaller generation fabs
capable of producing them," said Vinita Jakhanwal, principal analyst,
small/medium displays, for iSuppli.