Peek, a New York based company is coming out with its Peek emailing device in India. This device is introduced a long ago in the United states for a price for $19.95 and $59.95, for the two variants Classic and Pronto respectively. The email service will cost another $14.99 each month. In India, this is proposed to be priced at Rs.3999 with a service cost of Rs.299 each month.
Fortunately, there isn’t a big difference between the US price and the price of the device in India. Consider iPhone (3GS 8GB) which is being offered at $199 (with 2 year AT&T contract) in the US, is being sold at a ridiculous sub 30k in India.
Unlike iPhone, Peek isn’t being offered with any service contract and hence the price difference is minimal.
Will Peek work in India?
Leaving the Upper class, the middle class in India is Huge, as huge as the entire population of the United States. But would they buy this device for Rs.3999?
Peek email device
Business people may already have their Blackberry’s, tech savvy people and students have their stylish Smart phones that can access email on the go. If any one else want to buy a device that ‘also’ accesses email’s, they will surely go for a phone (even a basic Nokia phone of Rs.4000 can set up Mail box for you and can be tuned to Automatic retrieval of emails) that is more than just an emailing device.
You can guess where I’m heading to, Yes, I’m quite doubt full about its success here. The device is small alright (just about fits in one’s palm) but will I carry an extra device in my pocket that can ‘only’ access email’s when I already have my Smart phone that can ‘also’ do the work with same efficiency? Answer is a simple NO.
Adding more to this ground, Peek will be initially launched in Aircel’s network whose subscriber’s base is itself very limited (Other Network’s will follow, but when, I don’t know).
Seeing the video on how efficient the Peek’s qwerty keypad is, I get the feeling that it is neither that big to use all our fingers to type in just like in a computer keyboard nor that small to use only our thumbs, like in a qwerty phone.
It has to be seen whether Peek launches the device with the same two variants or only one customized device for the Indian Market. The top end device ‘Peek Pronto’ can access up to 5 email accounts with additional features like instant push email, Unlimited text support, searching, attachment support for pdf, docx and pictures. The basic version ‘Peek Classic’ can only support 2 email accounts, has no support to unlimited testing and searching and only supports attachments of Pictures.
Image © Peek Inc
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{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Got a new Peek from Aircel. They sell only the older version in India and not Peek Pronto. I fear that they are merely dumping the older version because older versions are hardly bought in the West. Also, Peek does not have push mail technology. Sometimes I have to wait for as much as an hour to get a mail on my Peek, even after I have read the mail on desktop. The popularity of Peek can be gauged from the fact that when I went to buy it from an Aircel store at Kolkata, all Customer Executives in the store just left their customer counters and crowded on the desk looking at the device and casting admiring glances at me!!!! Woooof!! Made a hasty exit after getting the device! Peek is destined to be a flop in the Indian markets!
Peek is an awesome device…..
I was surprised to see this device at one of my friends and amazed to hear that he got that at Rs 3500 only. This is really proving how well the technology has developed.
I honestly feel they would be lucky if they can make more than 5000 sales here in India, Who will buy a product like this when they can get better products for just a higher rate, This kind of thing has happened to the infamous Tweeter Peek, a device just for twittering..
I agree with you Sriraj, and advanced browsers like Opera Mini and Bolt hitting the market, even Chinese phones have become “Smart”
Peek is hugely popular in USA. However, this ain’t a phone. This is a “mail only” device. Though It’s affordably priced, only business class might prefer to opt for it.
I have certain element of doubt on some of its utility features though.. Hmmm…
Why would the ‘business class’ prefer it? Even if I have the ‘Peek’ I would need to carry a cell phone to make calls. The ‘business class’ would definitely prefer to go in for a Blackberry handset which is available from Rs. 10,000 onwards. Blackberry service (based on Push Mail technology) is available from several service providers. Even MTNL and BSNL offer Blackberry service using existing SIM/USIM card, provided it is a postpaid connection.
India doesn’t only have ‘Business class’ people, that’s the key. It’s a gamble any way.
If it works in India, I am getting one. (Or if N900 price drops to the 25k range in 3 months time, I am getting it instead
Right now, my smart phone is 3310, FYI
3310, lol, that’s a great black and white Smart phone…
It looks good even price seems to be fine but the question is will it support Indian environment, you did mention that but will have limited features I guess.
Thanks Sri, its looking good.