Palm Takes on the iPhone

Why not? Spring break is here and what better way to start then to bring back our old friend into the discussion–Mr. iPhone.

Smartphone manufacturer Palm did not care too much for Apple’s jump into the mobile phone industry. It came out of nowhere and provided a reality check for every other mobile phone big-whig. Now, a few months later, Palm has acquired some ammo to go up against Steve Jobs.

Palm announced a few days ago that they have hired ex-Apple designer/computer engineer Paul Mercer. The hefty paycheck that he will be receiving is right fully justified as his resume is quite impressive. He was the lead designer on the finder team for Mac OS 7, worked on the Samsung’s “slick” Z5 Range, and founded Pixo (Harper). So, this guy Mercer is a nice investment on behalf of Palm.

Why is he the guy to take on the iPhone?

Because, he knows his stuff. His company, Pixo, provided many of the necessary tools that made up the original iPod’s user interface. I say again, he knows his stuff. With this knowledge, Mercer can help Palm develop a mobile phone user interface that is beyond that which the iPhone has. Palm, has no choice but to move ahead and keep up with Apple. In any event that they don’t, it’s doom.

Mercer can definitely lead Palm in the right direction but in order for Palm to see return on their investment they must not solely depend on him. Palm must not try to create a user interface as good or better than the iPhone, rather, they must let Mercer do his own thing while focusing attention on creating new features!

Paul Mercer knows the “inner working’s” of Apple. He is familiar in how they think (no, there is no divine intervention at Apple). He is aware that once Apple has its loyal iPhone customers that they will do nothing but grow and grow and grow in numbers. Apple will be ruthless in this venture and so must the teamwork between Mercer and Palm. Together, they can be a legitimate competitor of the iPhone and change what many think will be Apple on top once again.

The not-so friends of Apple are hoping that Steve Jobs has heard this Mercer news and is worried. But then again, when has he ever been worried? I hope that Palm is working through nights/weekends/holidays/weddings and child births so that they have every minute they will need to be a worthy opponent.

For the sake and sanity of my slight vacation, I will end here, for I don’t work for Palm.



Palm Official Website
http://www.palm.com/

Engadget-Palm hires ex-Apple designer, puts iPhone in its sights By Conrad Quilty-Harper
http://www.engadget.com/category/cellphones/