price points aside, methinks its not too intelligent for a technology company trying to break new ground in our connected little island to irk the people that will be advising their friends on their next gadget buy. O2 was already making people look away when they released the IIs at $1488 - and this is a company with enough products in the market for people to recognise their name, and a telco to back them up and provide brand knowledge.

my 2cents about dopod's activities of late:

- NO announcement of product in local press, leaving people to waste countless electrons in putting up rumours... which isn't such a bad thing, but SOME news would be nice, in HWM or Stuff even. and what's with the si beh late release?

- Pricing a bit salah (especially in the international context)... unless they want the kind of business person client who demands excellence because they work 101% of their life, which is not really true if their support policy is anything to go by, but true of their free gifts (cmon which upgrader wouldnt have a decent sized SD and BT headset?). and a last minute pricing change UPWARDS didnt help the matter much

- pretty uninspiring presentation at the gathering, IMHO i was more impressed with the QOOL people who despite obvious reservations at public speaking i felt basically tried harder

so lets see if their strategy will pay off - will a couple of hundred picky highflying corporate people (who don't have the time to figure out how to change their backlight intensity) per phone for the next 3Q be enough to keep them alive? i think they're going to need some serious marketing to promote their phones (its not like they have the chio factor. cmon, put the 838 next to a V3 or a 8800...), which i doubt they have time for.

it'd be nice to start with seeing how much a PPCSG MO would knock the price down. personally i don't think they would differ from their retailer pricing very much, but hey we'll see.

at least i'm not waiting with bated breath anymore :) sorry about the long post, had to rant.

judging from the rant .

guess our forummers were not impressed with the dopod's presentation at the gathering @ microsoft ?

pity, missed the gathering, due some last min work.

got the same feeling, "take it or leave it" marketing strategy??

tks for the info.. will decide soon

bro Ming... too bad was looking fwd to meeting you at the gathering :)

after all this, my impression of O2 went up, actually. "we have to sell it at HOW much? erm. its ok, let someone else distribute." :)

Wow...so much ranting in one morning?

$1,888 for the grey/silver DOH-Pod 900?? Hahahahaha....they can keep it!! I'm personally going the way of an O2 Exec imported from the UK. Its gonna cost me about 500 bucks or so less....and thats including a very generous offer to pay my friend for the a year's tarriff just so she could get me the phone

You gotta do what you gotta do.... I was still a bit apprehensive at first about the loss of local warranty, and service from Dopod (which we all hoped was going to be better than O2's), but after this pricing move, I'll have to admit, I don't have much faith in how good their service will be.... Maybe i'm wrong...but at least I'll be wrong with an extra 500+ dollars in my pocket. True, I don't get any bluetooth earpiece (which I don't need) or a 1GB SD (I wouldn't mind, but not at the cost of the 500 dollar price differential).... but the psychic benefit of having a black device, to me at least, makes up for it...

So, tata Dopod.... you can KEEP your Dopod 900!!

Its simply to EX!

I was actually looking forward to this phone and now they increased the price even before its on the streets!

I guess I'll just have to wait for 2006 for more PDA phones. Actually looking forward to Motorola's Q.

Yeah, everyone sat up when DOPOD presented. However, we all went into "sticker shock" when we heard that the price of the individual devices inflated overnight.

Sentiments after presentation = Unimpressed

The marketers around must be scracthing their heads wondering what the fellas at Dopod are trying to do. It might end up as a good example to do your staff training.

I am looking to replace my 3G phone, mini and blackberry into one device. The sweet spot for me was about $1500. Phew, the current price of $1900 is too big a pill to swallow, even at $1800 it's a no sell. (I read the $88 as $100 to prevent myself being fooled by cheap psychological tricks.)

From the reports of pricing in this forum. It appears Singapore is the most expensive at the moment. Unless there is a whole army of suckers to sustain such a pricing. The price will drop very significantly through face saving 'promotions' or straightfoward pricecuts. They will do good by learning from HP on this subject matter. I will sit back and wait till that time arrives.

Hopefully, Dopod will just exit the SEA market due to weak demand for overpriced sophisticated devices. I am starting to feel nostalgic about the O2 days already.

The big question now is, will PPCSG be able to do a MO for the Dopod 900 since their marketing department has a "yaya" attitude ? Want to buy, buy, don't want to buy, never mind as my product can sell by itself.

Looks like their S**t don't stink here.

if everything goes smoothly, i'm gonna get mine from UK. my friend has agreed to get it for me.

Dopod 900 S$1 888 with or without GST.

Dear all,

Looks like many people aint too impressed with the newly revised Dopod pricings of a Dopod 900 (@ S$1,888.00) and a Dopod 838 (@ S$1,488.00). From a marketing prospective, one diplomatic word is "Ambitious". However, for paying customers like us, we probably have 2 vastly different words more suited to describe these new-fangled prices, i.e. "Disappointing" and "Depressing".

Disappointing because the retail prices of the Dopod 900 and Dopod 838 are certainly way overpriced.

Depressing because it now indicates that many will not be able (or will henceforth become unwilling) to buy these products and would rather wait it out for newer/other PPC variants instead.

I had my eye on the Dopod 900 only after much fighting with my own demons about its size and the then already hefty expected retail price. My story goes like this :
1) Falling in love with a “fat” pen-pal = Falling in love with a big HTC Universal.

2) Through long correspondence and knowing more about her, u start to think that she has great inner beauty = HTC Universal packed with features like WM5.0, 3G, 520MHz processor, super 3.6” ‘swirl-able’ VGA screen, QWERTY keyboard, etc.

3) U wake up one day and mysteriously think that she isn’t really that big and appearance isn’t all that important = U slowly come to terms with the HTC Universal’s size.

4) Strangely, u begin to yearn for her and wait excitedly just to see her pictures she sent u = U feel extremely elated and excited to see a HTC Universal whether in the flesh or just pictures.

5) U decide that u need her in your life and u can't wait to own/possess her = U decide can't wait to get your hands on a HTC Universal.

6) U finally receive news that she will be coming to town = PPCSG reveals news that HTC Universal is coming to Singapore.

7) U are saddened to hear that she has contracted skin disease, which has somewhat lightened her skin colour= Dopod’s version of the HTC Universal comes only in gun-metal grey instead of O2’s full black on its O2 Exec.

8) U are surprised to learn that she is coming by EVA Air (Taiwanese Airline) instead of British Airways (UK Airline) = HTC Universal will be carried in SEA by Dopod (Taiwan-based) instead of O2 (UK-based).

9) U graciously offer to pay for her airfare to Singapore, though it is almost beyond your means (would have to live on plain bread for many meals) = U are finally mentally prepared to fork out S$1,500.00 to S$1,700.00 for the Dopod 900, though u feel a prang of guilt for such extravagance.

10) However, Hurricanes like Katrina and Rita increase oil/fuel prices and in turn raises the air fares = PPCSG and other media disclose expected retail prices of Dopod 900 at S$1,788.00 and Dopod 838 at S$1,288.00.

11) However, she asks u to help her pay the airport tax as well = Dopod representative announces latest price revisions for Dopod 900 at S$1,888.00 and Dopod 838 at S$1,488.00 at PPCSG Gathering on 04/11/05.

12) U begin to revert to your initial thinking that she is both “fat” and that u probably do not love her that much = U begin to think that owning or upgrading to a Dopod 900 is completely unnecessary.

Foreign pen-pals, anyone?

I feel dopod is just out to make a quick buck off a bunch of suckers like us. I mean if you think about the Universal objectively, what's the big hype? 3G? Sure, but then your mobile phone bill is gonna go through the roof (for those of us who do not have the benefit of company sponsored contracts).

The keyboard is cool, but I don't think it can replace a full size keyboard, and since we still have to touch type, there are a lot of pocket pc phones with thumb boards which though are smaller, I feel might be faster to type with since we don't have to 'move so much to cover a greater area'.

I think Dopod is overpricing their products. Regardless of whether it's $1788 or $1888 for the universal. It is BLOODY FRIGGIN EXPENSIVE. I say this as a user of Pocket PCs for several years and I think the price is FRIGGIN RIDICULOUS.

I think they are really out to con us in Singapore (and Malaysia). I mean, if anybody out there has been following Pocket PCs for as I have (or other electronics for that matter), I think most of us would note that such devices have always been cheaper in Singapore as compared to European countries. Have there been some new tax laws on import of DOPOD products that I'm not aware of?

A brand new unlocked O2 Exec can be purchased from UK for around GBP550. That's about SGD$1650. And I'm talking about a NEW set. Not some E-bay 're-sale' set.

[attachmentid=3947] [attachmentid=3948]
www.expansys.com.sg which most of us would say is notorious for overpricing Pocket PCs and other such devices is advertising the Qtek 9000, which is the Qtek equivalent of the universal at SGD1634.95

The Wizard equivalent used to be SGD126X.XX but it seems the price has gone up. Still it is cheaper than the new SGD1488 price tag dopod intends to charge us.


I won't pay $1788 for a Pocket PC let alone $1888. It's FRIGGIN RIDICULOUS. Must as well keep an eye out for a used Tablet PC. If you think the Dopod is great, go look for something like the OQO, because if you tell me the Dopod is gonna be $1788/ $1888, then Dopod can keep their sets because for SGD800 more, I would rather purchase something like the OQO which is REALLY a POCKET PC.

I always believe this quote "You pay peanuts and you'll get monkeys!!!!!"

BUT!!!! For Dopod........ "You pay Premium....... YOU STILL GET MONKEYS!!!!!!!!"

Last night at Microsoft Gathering when one brother complain to the SiS Rep and Dopod Rep about the servicing time both gave us crap excuse....... I pay a so call "Premium" price I expect Fast and Efficient Service and not 3 Days to 3 weeks! The Best part of it ..... when we complained about Semitech Servicing time was far to long ...... The reply was..... "they are still very new in servicing "HTC" device as compare to Accord...." WE EXPECT PROFESSIONAL TO SERVICE OUR PHONE AND NOT MONKEYS! When Dopod said they will be giving Semitech to Service their Dopod 900 I immediately "Erased" Dopod 900 from my mind.... $1888 I "Formatted" it from my Heart!

>>hahahha don't think u are the only one who felt that :)

>>hahahhaha this is really so kwel, love your penpal story especially the part about the skin diease ;p In fact, I feel almost similar too. I thot I could look into the inner beauty of dopod for it performance instead of colour, but after last night dopod *arrogant* (?) presentation, I feel and confirmed that dropping dopod900 totally is a very wise decision I have made :) my pockets are still fat with $1888

Keep on talking about the Dopod 900 pricing is not going to change anything.

I believe the EXEC commands more followers, a better pricing and look than the Dopod 900.


And since many of us are unhappy with the Dopod 900 pricing why not we gather and think of some way to MO the EXEC. With enough of sets I don't believe the vendor over the other side is not keen to make business.

THERE IS NOTHING UNDER THE SUN THAT CANNOT BE ACHIEVED IF WE PUT OUR HEARTS AND MINDS TOGETHER AND MAKE SOME COMPROMISES.

WE Sim,
If you want to pull off such a stint, please make sure you adhere to our MO regulations. Now, back to topic.

Unless its MO here then board rules will apply.

Of course, if MO is done outside then participants will bear all responsibility. How to get it organised, the financial management aspects and to appoint responsible persons to handle the MO will be addressed.

My feeling is that many here will still get the Dopod 900. With trade in and telco discount, I have this feeling that many who complain here will still go ahead.
Me? No way, I stay out of PPC phone convergent devices. I keep my phone and PDA separate. Anything above $600/- is too much for me, let alone above 1K.

May i know how much does your phone and PPC adds up?

If the tariff plan is a 'Pay Monthly' one from O2, it would be good to look at Clause 13 of the contract with regard to phone locking.

Do make sure that the phone is unlocked. :-)

Do you guys remember the projected sales of Dopod here in Singapore, 46 000 units, the biggest in South East Asia.

http://www.ppcsg.com/http://www.ppcsg.com/index.php?showtopic=62358&hl=indonesia

haha
I say only 460
haha

o2 is selling them unlocked here in uk......

looks like i gonna get an o2 exec export set regardless of no warrenty, it surely beats the price and the design! black is beautiful, the dopod's name sounded so.. cheap.

It was quite interesting when he asked "Do you have WM5 on your XDA2?"
Well... WM5 is available for XDA2, XDA2s. I do know it is illegal It seems that
he does not really have that great a bacground of PPC's. It also seems that
he has not visited xda-developers ever. If he has, he would know that it is possible.
He could have phrased it in many different ways.

Also, the way he was criticising O2 was not right. Imagine what would have happened
if a O2 rep. did actually come for the talk....... He is also not up to date. As the SP2 has
been launched quite some time, he did not en know that it has already launched.

There should have been someone from the marketting dept to come down to advertise their products like what qool did. That was more professional than Dopod.


My 2 cents

Berzerky,

That's the kind of AAR that I want to read about the recent PPCSG meeting.

Yes, Qool is a competitor to Dopod.

I'm not sure who are the people that are in the marketing department of Dopod. But it looks like they did not really do their market research and homework and comes out very unprofessional and arrogant.

I was actually very much interested in getting the HTC Universal especially
the Black one which is called the O2 Exec. Especially in this thread. After getting to know that the price was about the $2K range, i totally dropped the idea. After all the excitement of the research. Yes, the specs are great. 3G and VGA screen. The size of it really did not bother me.

I then sold off my IIs and split my device not too long ago and got the Dell Axim X51V during the promo price and a phone. Yes, i am carrying 2 devices but, it is half the price of dopod and the speed is higher so is the ROM. As for 3g, the prices in
singapore are kinda steep and not really worthit to use 3g in singapore. This is what i feel. If utterly necessarry, i can connect my phone to gprs and bt my pda over and u could do when i need to .


Cheers,
Rick

well guys, i think i may have a solution for you..

as far as i know, all the xda exec's o2 has been selling (see xda developers and modaco forums) have not been locked.

now, go to t mobile or o2 or orange Web site, look at the service plans and cost of device...

for purposes of this calculation i willl use the o2 tarriff

16.50 pounds a month , for 12 months and you get the xda exec for 136 pounds.

now if u cancel your contract, you will be required to pay off the 16.50x12

so 16.50x12 + 136= 336 pounds

you can get this device right now for 336 pounds, all you have to do is find someone in the UK who can make this purchase for you. Another option is to get that person to buy it under a business contract or something, where he can get multiple handsets. But a mass order is nessecary for this. my advice is to run a mass order for a month, then get someone in the UK to carry out this purchase. im not sure what the import taxes are like in SG, but it can't be too horrible..

but don't get too excited about the universal.....its not without its (sometimes very irritating flaws)
its still very early days, and this is the first wm5 device to market. not many people have it, and hardly any apps run properly with it. using third party apps designed for wm2k3se can result in MAJOR slowdowns (e.g. resume from standby almost 10 seconds, screen flip 20 secs and start menu loading 6 secs)
see my post on my first day with it
http://forum.xda-developers.com/viewtopic.php?t=32140

and these are my results of the battery torture test:
2hours 40mins total uptime, after which it switched itself off, refused to connect to Wi-Fi or cellular network
that was how long the M5000 survived.
Conditions of test:
streaming London's Heart 106.2 over Wi-Fi, access point in the same room, wireless settings at max power save
the phone was on, and the display was at max brightness
out of the time, 18 mins was spent talking over UMTS on speakerphone under max brightness
during the test, some activity was also done...tapping, opening menus...etc

observations: during the test, all connectivity failed at one point, (usual bug with this thing.....loses Wi-Fi, can't connect to mobile network unless flight mode is cycled or phone is reset)
if im not mistaken this happened about 40 mins into the test

oh btw the orange SPV M5000 comes with 2 batteries, but no sd card

My 2 cents following reading the thread..

1. For those who are still wondering whether the price includes GST or not, it does, I distinctly heard the marketing guy mention that, albeit quickly. This means that Dopod 900 is $1799 BEFORE GST. So does this mean that Dopod's press conference price was wrong?

I can't explain for the the $200 includes in the 838 though ...


2. My sentiments are the same as most other bros in this thread. No THANKS Dopod!

- didn't like the form factor of the Dopod 900. It's not that fantastic a product. Camera still not up to par. Keyboard too big for a thumbpad, too small for use with 2 hands.

- didn't like the way the marketing guy talked. Conversely I liked Qool - they were not so fancy at marketing, but were at least more sincerely. My heart went out to Qool and Spb when the first thing the Dopod marketing guy said was "I'm not going to BORE you with more charts". Too arrogant! (Not that I liked the O2 marketing guy too, but that's purely my personal opinion).

bro, is the set simlocked if i sign up a 12mths plan?

no......if u look at the other popular forums (modaco, xda dev) all the people with xda exec say its unlocked......pity orange and t mob don't sell unlocked
but if u follow the method i listed, they will unlock for free anyway when you buy out the contract, so this is a alternative method of getting a cheap universal

>>hahhaa I felt the same. I wonder how Qoo and sbp feel when he said that, adding with "I'm not going to Bore you with more powerpoints ..." its quite shocking the 1st second I heard it. Then every device and company infos he will asked us to surf the net, all the informations are there. pengzz

1888 for Dopod 900 .. with that price tag i won't be getting it ... way too expensive ... i rather stay with Mini ...

Rick,
Did you even bother to do your research before making the above statement? The data tariffs for 3G data do not cost more than GPRS. In fact, to entice consumers, some telcos are pricing it lower than GPRS data rates with free video calling and video streaming thrown in. For SingTel, 3G Hi-Speed Data is charged at 0.37¢ / KB while GPRS costs more at 0.53¢ / KB.

Just found out that Rivaldo's member number is the same price for the Dopod 900, pure coincident ?

Member No.: 1,888

Hi Cheewee,

Yes, i have done my research. If someone were to use 3g quite often for surfing and video calls, i don't think he/she would just use the "pay as u use" the 3g plan is much more worthwhile. I have done comparison to other countries and have concluded that its quite on a high side over here. I have done a comparison
with m1 and o2(uk). O2 price their video calls the same price as phone calls and they charge £3 UK/MB for data. It comes up to be less than SGD$9. Well, IMO 3G network is not very stable at the moment. I do have some friends with 3g phones and do have quite bad connectivity at times. Just gotta give it time to mature.

Rick,
Your analysis is obviously flawed. Please compare apples to apples.

Toether they cost $658. My phone is free from the telco. The rest is what I paid for the Axim X50v.

Cheewee,

I am comparing the same factor which is 3G just that i am comparing it with
other countries.

Rick,
By comparing it with other countries, your comparison is flawed. Your comparison should be between 3G and GPRS data tariffs locally as the original intent of your post is that you use that as a basis to not get onto the 3G bandwagon here. I was merely correcting your inaccuracy on the pricing so people aren't misled by it.

Now, let's get back to topic. If you want to discuss about the difference in 3G pricing between Singapore and other countries, please start a new thread in the appropriate forum.

Why do you want to compare with other countries? Shouldn't a better guage is to compare the price of all the options at hand unless you are using the 3G service from other country ?

Cheers
John

Actually, 3G is almost the same as GPRS in terms of pricing. the bottom line is kbps. 3G will be faster than GPRS, that's all..

Guys, please keep to topic. Thank you.

looks like the price for asia are the same. one bro just feedback that the price in HK also SGD1888 for WWE version. chinese version =1788

I just wondering would there be so many angers point toward Dopod if they had release the price of 900 @$1888 right in the first place instead of $1788 and then changed to $1888 over the night? Reading through many thread talking about this PPCPE, seem that every one hold their breath and expecing for something at that high price.

Also, even if they announce the price @$1888, I believe the actual price you get will be cheaper as this is public list price. Am I correct?

i don't think there will be much diff, because the price for PPCPE is normally control ...