Vendors do not think about Russia

On the PDA market in Russia, about how personal digital assistants (PDAs) will evolve in the future and the problems that arise with them in Russia, we talk to the director of "MakTsentr Dmitry Havzhu. Yuri Sakun: What is the structure of sales of pocket PCs in Russia? Dmitry Havzhu: Our findings are as follows: PalmOS - 65%, PocketPC - 22%, WindowsCE - 3%, Psion - 10%. Structure of sales of handhelds in Russia is very similar to the average picture, which shows the IDC, however, there are some differences. Firstly, the share of Palm OS in Russia a little less European and American. Although I do not believe those figures in sales Palm, which lead to the U.S. - 75-80%. This estimate seems very high. The second difference is the Russian market - the structure of niches PocketPC, besklaviaturny PC. In fact, in America, pretty much sold iPaq Pocket PC company Compaq - their sales significantly overlap the sale of Cassiopeia. Noticeable Hewlett Packard with its Jornada 545/548. In Russia the opposite situation - iPaq computers sold very little, HP is not at all. The fact that Compaq officially imported to Russia, only one batch of these devices, about twenty pieces. Everything else - is "gray" delivery. But dealers are not interested, because the supply of "gray" channels too small, the conditions - not interesting, there are problems with maintaining the equipment. Unlike Casio Compaq position is quite active. The company has representation, which also deals with handheld computers, and therefore Casio PDA for sale in Russia quite a lot. JS: By the way, on the iPaq: I saw an example in which almost the entire Russian representative office of one of the firms was equipped iPaq ... DH: I do not know any other company in Russia, except for Microsoft, which would have worked on the iPaq. JS: A demand for iPaq is? DH: Yes, quite high. Despite the fact that the iPaq (Model 3630 and 3650) - pretty whimsical and often break the machine. The failure rate - 27%, ie more than every fourth owner of the PDA iPaq appealed to the service. JS: And what's the problem? JH: Problems of three. First, sometimes the iPaq comes off the inner loop, because of what the image on the screen becomes a mirror. The second problem relates to the design of the screen: the iPaq matrix is ​​separated from the shield thin air layer, which sometimes hits the dust. Mote looks like a broken pixel. Pull the speck out impossible, Compaq also has not yet figured out how to solve this problem. And when the user accesses this problem in the service, he usually says that did not need to use a computer in a dusty room. Other problems - with buttons and snaps the stylus (if you accidentally insert the stylus is not so, as expected, then the stylus latch is broken). In general, the demand for iPaq is, even despite the fact that today it is - the most problematic car. YS: How Well then demand? DH: First of all, the iPaq screen is totally unique: it has only a PDA, which can operate in direct sunlight. On the screens of other computers with nothing to be seen. Secondly, Compaq - a brand that is appreciated by many. JS: In your opinion, what is now the most successful model of the PDA market? DH: It depends on what class of devices considered. If we talk about the Pocket PC, the most successful, in my view, the model - Cassiopeia E-125 and more stylish, EM-500. They are in sufficient quantity supplied to Russia, and they are quite popular. Unfortunately, according to unofficial information, Casio is going to curtail the production of E-125. This affects the supply in Russia: an application in March-May for the supply of PDA from Russian suppliers have been satisfied with just 10 percent. JS: If we talk not about the absolute figures of sales of pocket PCs, and on the dynamics, then how big the increase in the PDA market? DH: The market is very dynamic. Sales volumes are growing at 80-90% per year. Although it is clear that this dynamics is only possible when initially small volumes of sales and eventually sales growth rates drop.JS: Who is the buyer of handheld computers? DH: We ourselves are very interesting. From time to time we conduct a study to clarify this issue. Typically, handheld computers are not buying as much for themselves, "how much for a business to use them in their work. But users are buying them for ourselves, not by companies. Corporate buyers slightly, the share of corporate sales do not exceed 10%. If you look at this issue from the perspective of sex buyers, the buyers are more men than women. JS: Can we now create a PDA-based mobile office? DH: It depends on what to keep in mind a mobile office. If you invest in this concept is the possibility of normal operation with the text and table documents, databases and presentations, the ability to connect to the LAN, then, in my opinion, better focus not on the handheld computer and a laptop. PDAs more convenient to use as an adjunct to a desktop or laptop computer for quick access and editing of information transferred there, as well as for solving a class of other special tasks in this example is clearly visible difference in the approaches vendor to the creation of handheld computers. One professed manufacturers of devices such as Palm, another - manufacturers of PDAs based on Windows CE. The former believe that the CPC needs only the simplest and most necessary human services: address-phone book, notepad, email etc., but they should work flawlessly. What makes Microsoft a part of Pocket PC, differs fundamentally from this approach: the Pocket PC is literally all that there is a "big" computers, all that is needed for "cruising" the business. These computers, in theory, should be totally replaced by a man and a laptop in part - a desktop computer. In fact, the PDA is not always a good thing. But many buyers believe that this approach is better - if the device offers more services and greater opportunities, so it is better. Often, however, many experienced users, having worked for some time with the Pocket PC, go back to Palm: they understand that more important - comfortable work and quality execution of multiple services. JS: And what is the idea, in your opinion, is more promising? Which of them as a result will win? DH: I think they will live together. But I am closer to the idea of ​​Palm, PDA focused when only the most necessary functions, everything else handed to other devices. The most beautiful, this idea will be implemented shortly, will come when Palm'y with an expansion slot where you can insert anything you want: the MP-player, and a modem and other devices. YS: What is missing from modern PDA? DH: Of course, modern PDAs are not enough modules exchange information with each other by radio. Bluetooth or something like that. If this option appears, it will transfer all of the platforms to a new level. And of course, virtually all manufacturers of PDAs are working on implementing a wireless network access. The one who can do it better and faster, can count on the leadership. JS: In the future there will be several platforms for PDA or will a single standard? DH: I think there will be several platforms. Only the distribution between them in the market change. Proportion of Pocket PC will increase, and Palm - reduced, albeit marginally, PalmOS in the foreseeable future will dominate. As regards the distribution between vendors Palm OS devices, now working here are basically three companies: Palm, Handspring and Sony. In Palm now - about 75% of the market, but the intention is to oust klonmeykerov Palm. The situation in Russia with Handspring is not entirely clear, but Sony has even officially in Russia does not supply its handheld computers (and other computer products). And in Europe, Sony officially announced its PDAs. YS: The Russification no problem? DH: The main problem is that no one vendor does not take into account in their designs that they will use in Russia. In connection with these developers Russifiers have to spend quite a lot of effort to ensure that Russify PDA coming to Russia. This area of ​​development has become quite competitive and is now on every platform there is some good quality software localization.YS: Softonic sold separately? If I had brought some PDAs, say, from the U.S., what should I do? DH: For the Palm and other PalmOS devices can purchase from us for $ 30 package "Russian Palm", which includes the crack and a set of akssessuarov to facilitate the life of Russian users: a table with "graffiti" sticker on a keyboard with Russian letters and Silky Board - an original development of the Russian firm SoftAVA, virtual keyboard, which is glued not to the working of the screen, Palm, and the one where the icons are placed, causing a variety of programs. In addition, the disk placed over a dozen other useful programs. This package - our breakthrough, it significantly helps us in promoting the platform. As for other platforms of Russification, the situation was. For EPOC32, there are two good commercial localization: "Elbrus" - our development, and "Everest" from Paragon. Our name has appeared before, but in the "Paragon" decided that their crack should be addressed to a high mountain and named it "Mount Everest". These products, according to independent experts, are very similar in function, serious arguments in favor of this or not, moreover, that our support normal printing on all popular printers. Approximately the same situation with the Russification of Pocket PC, there are competing programs from the company - "Paragon" and "FizTehSoft. We distribute both. The authors, translation: