A New Device that ONLY Checks your e-mails

@peek company My thoughts on peek: 1) I would like the device to have Instant Messenger support also. The standard ones like Yahoo/MSN/GTalk have to be supported. 2) It would be useful if Internet browsing is also supported!! 3) Rs300 pm = Rs10/day seems more from individual perspective. There needs to be an introductory offer where first 1000 bookings or so get 6 months free access.Once the tipping point is achieved, then probably things MAY pickup 4) More than the IT companies, this device might probably suit well for other sectors like manufacturing/banking/sales 5) This device MAY not really appeal to college/school crowd (until IMs are enabled) Regards, Satish

@Anil - attachments on a Peek are processed on a server and sent to the device in a format that it can handle. All the software that is needed to show the attachment on a Peek is already built into the product and comes packaged with the device ("free").

its definitely a great device for corporates where blackberries are issued to employees with everything except email disabled - would be so much more economical to get a PEEK device. but don't see the usefulness in buying this for personal use

it would have been nice if it offers full internet services.......not only checking e-mails.

@Zarin, your passion surprises me. All I can say is thanks in return. Peek is not a pager. Pagers were more of SMS only devices. In fact BBY started as a 2 way pager. Peek handles sophisticated protocols like HTTP (works over that), it can show images, have color display, can process and show attachments and a bunch of others things that pagers weren't built for.

@S Thomas, please be aware of my bias as a Peek employee. You do bring up one interesting observation. Peek v/s netbooks. Netbooks are expensive. The have a lid that needs to be opened up on the go, and maybe even a need to come out of hibernate. They are quite expensive. So on these three fronts Peek works out a lot better as an additional device. It is cheap, does its job, and will fit into my shirt pocket rather well :)

I work as a software developer for Peek. I surely do have a bias in seeing the product succeed. With that said I will try to help out in any way I can in addressing concerns and answering questions. @Sasi, could you share more insights in why you believe the product will flop. What would be the 3 things that I/we can do to at least make your reconsider looking at it as a flop? I will immensely value your feedback on this.

nice device... clean to check mails... no need to pull out the laptop, or unnecessarily purchase a smart phone... but Aircell should come with a cheaper access plan as the unlimited net can only be used for accessing mails

This will work wonders for me. I bought Micromax QWERTY few months ago and all I can do is talk and SMS on it. Very difficult to do mail (still unable to set it up) and definitely does not do PUSH mail. I like the voice and battery life. But what i also need is real push email which is offered only by BBY and they are beyond my budget. I am looking out for a job and need to get updates from Naukri and other sites. At 2999 there is not too much concern on the cost and if I get real PUSH mail at 299 a month, I am ready to buy this.

I don't understand why people make such comments without even thinking about the market or doing any sort of research. Sasi - you say this product will be a big flop. Why do you say so? What handset do you currently use? Are you aware of the corporate sector where companies currently have to issue laptops and data cards to their employees just so they can check their emails? Do you know the running costs of giving out a laptop and data card? Do you know the time and inconvenience it causes if you need to just check an email and reply if you're travelling in the METRO? So please think before you post such baseless comments. I'm not in love with Peek and i don't work for the company, but let's try and act like an evolved society. Not just some hyper active people making such comments because it doesn't have a touchscreen or camera or mp3. Aircel is a way bigger entity than you and me combined. They are not fools to be spending crores of rupees bringing something to the market. So please think first. Thomas - You talk about Micromax. Have you ever tried a Micromax mobile? Do you own one with a 3G connection from MTNL? Well, i'd like to let you know that I DO. And there's nothing worse than trying to set up email on a micromax. Forget the 3G video calls that sound very exciting with their cheesy radio ads and deepika padukone. Bottom line is that the device is substandard. It hardly does what it's supposed to do. You guys are not comparing apples with apples. In which case, Peek has nothing on the market to compare it with. And that is what makes this a truly innovative device and service.

This product is gonna be a big flop.Wy they r thinking in this manner. Bad thinking...

The Aircel 'Peek' device may have a larger screen and a QWERTY keypad but the upfront cost is Rs 2,999 + Rs. 897 (ie., handset cost and cost of email access for 90 days, respectively). MTNL has a bundled package - 3G Jadoo services along with a Micromax H360 (2.4 inches, 240 x 320 pixels, 113 x 49.8 x 13mm). This handset comes pre-loaded with proprietory applications, which enables video calls, mobile TV, NimBuzz, downloads, etc. Price: Rs. 5,499. (Note: the NimBuzz supports email as well as access Facebook and Orkut.) MTNL's monthly charge for 3G is far cheaper than Aircel's charge of Rs. 299. MTNL's '3G Advantage' offer is aimed at giving the first experience of 3G - the next generation mobile service Free of Cost. Since the Peek can't be used to make calls, would I want to carry this gadget just to check my mail? Definitely NO. If one is prepared to carry another gadget in addition to the cell phone, there is the option of a 3G enabled netbook - available from both HCL and Olive Telecom (a mobile handset maker). Dell also plans to offer notebooks with 3G support. For the business class who would prefer a compact device need to check their mail and receive/make calls, there is the Blackberry. In short, the 'Peek' is a misfit in any segment.

The Aircel 'Peek' device may have a larger screen and a QWERTY keypad but the upfront cost is Rs 2,999 + Rs. 897 (ie., handset cost and cost of email access for 90 days, respectively). MTNL has a bundled package - 3G Jadoo services along with a Micromax H360 (2.4 inches, 240 x 320 pixels, 113 x 49.8 x 13mm). This handset comes pre-loaded with proprietory applications, which enables video calls, mobile TV, NimBuzz, downloads, etc. Price: Rs. 5,499. (Note: the NimBuzz supports email as well as access Facebook and Orkut.) MTNL's monthly charge for 3G is far cheaper than Aircel's charge of Rs. 299. MTNL's '3G Advantage' offer is aimed at giving the first experience of 3G - the next generation mobile service Free of Cost. Since the Peek can't be used to make calls, would I want to carry this gadget just to check my mail? Definitely NO. If one is prepared to carry another gadget in addition to the cell phone the option is a 3G enabled netbook - available from both HCL and Olive Telecom (a mobile handset maker). Dell also plans to offer notebooks with 3G support. For the business class who would prefer a compact device need to check their mail and receive/make calls, there is the Blackberry. In short, the 'Peek' is a misfit in any segment.

What's wrong with some of the people on tis thread? I heard one of you comparing this to a pager. Are you ok? Do you actually know what a pager can/cannot do!!! Anyway, this device does email and i think this thread is full of people who are tech yuppies. In which case, it's better if you go out and buy an iphone or a nokia. Some of us actually want a no nonsense device that connects me to my emails all the time. For you that may not be the case, but for me it is. At the price this comes at, we need to appreciate that a premium device hasn't existed. I"ve done some homework and the device is not some chinese made 3rd grade material stuff. It's been designed by IDEO in New York. The same company that has done industrial design for Apple and Microsoft among others. SO let's be very clear about the market this is targeting. Among corporates, there is a dire need for people who just wanna be connected to their mails, and the blackberry in no way, shape or form can compete with this offering on that front.

If the device is given free bundled with atleast an year contract, I guess then it would take off. Or else really doubt how many out there are interested in a device just for emials.

It is great for organisations as an alternative to blackberry for their employees, will save a ton of money. The device is already a hit overseas (US & Canada) where better and cheaper smartphone options are available; there must be a market for it, seems like not much research has gone in to this article and just bashing the device is the aim. Push email alternative is only BB and not micromax etc., BB service and devices cost many times over this.

Bibin is absolutely right. This reminds one of a pager. And the best price for this device is FREE. It has to be given free with an year's contract or something and maybe corporates will get them for their support staff

I don't think this is goin to bring any success to Aircel. Instead of the future, we're actually moving back to the past by introducing such devices. Well, a standalone music player or a standalone e-mail reader is always a good thing when compared to everything cluttered together into a smartphone. But imagine the case, how many devices are you goin to carry? U can't avoid a cellphone because u got an e-mail reader. So u r goin to take ur phone too.. And does PEEK support 3G browsing at least? If no, then it surely doesn't meet the point. Does someone need a device for cheking mails alone when they already do it on smartfones and netbooks (with other features inbuilt). For the price of Rs. 2999, sure, it sounds reasonably good & affordable for such a device even if u dont' use it. But then the rental plans r the ones that should make the change. But here, it doesn't attract anyone & its really bad - why do u want to pay rs. 300 or 400 per month for e-mails? That would bring in the scenario where everyone likes the device but does not want it. Anyhow, I would not want to say this is a device of the future or even the present. These will go obsolete like the 'pagers' in the late 90s.

Could you please email details ?

The Peek is ACTUALLY a great little device for email & its a moderate hit in the western markets. Primary reason being that the device is sold for with lifetime service for $299.Had aircel offered the device with lifetime service for 2999/- then it would have been a better deal but unlimited usage for the 1st 3 months alone just doesn't cut it!Sorry but this device with this service is an EPIC FAIL

how the attachment will open without the istalled software as all attachment dose not come with software to open the document.

Its just like having a dedicated I-Pod instead of a nice music series phone.... Such an approach is very peiceful and sothing.... But the success of it would be short-lived if it just allows emails and no net surfing....

this will definately work if it sopports some java (to do chat) and is cheaper then GPRS. I will definately buy one