The Peek unlimited email PDA gets text messaging, image support

Posted by John Brownlee, November 19, 2008 1:23 AM | permalink

Most reviews of the Peek were content to review it based on things it had no interest in doing, but Beschizza really liked the tiny pocket email client, describing it as "the perfect simplifier, but only if you're a Peek kind of person."

Peek doesn't seem to be content to rest on its laurels, though. The latest firmware update not only adds unlimited text messaging to the mix, but also the ability to view image files: .JPG, .PNG, .GIF, .BMP. If you've got a smartphone, that's still not going to make this compelling — most of us aren't going to be Peek kinds of person — but image support makes it a better bet than ever for grandmothers and relatives you want to send pictures of the kids to.

Peek e-mail device gains unlimited texts, image viewing [JKontherun]

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Discussion

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#1 posted by Halloween Jack , November 19, 2008 6:53 AM

This is the sort of thing that my ex would like. Not a criticism of either it or her, just an observation.

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#2 posted by Ryan Waddell

, November 19, 2008 8:11 AM

Kinda cool. I wonder who the text messages appear to arrive from.

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#3 posted by Mike , November 19, 2008 9:55 AM

I'm a Peek kind of person. I'm also a gadget geek. Impossible? I submit that it is not. You see, I'm also a grad student and paying $100+ per month for voice+data plans for me and my wife is pretty hard to justify. I picked up a Peek this week. It gives me the benefits of cellular connectivity without the insane expense. And since it picks up my school email I don't have to be chained to my desk. Improving SMS functionally is icing on the cake!

My only issue with the Peek is that email isn't really suited for rapid-fire, IM-style communcation like SMS is. It's not bad - email's much faster than it used to be - but if I have a question for my wife while I'm at the grocery store I'd rather not have to wait a couple minutes for the response.

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#4 posted by Mike , November 19, 2008 10:08 AM

@Ryan Waddell: The message comes from "####### " where #### is the mobile number. So if you replied to the message, it would by default go to the phone's SMS email address (e.g. 2125551212@message.alltel.com). You could of course always send SMS messages that way. The firmware update spares you from having to know what carrier your friend is on and their specific email suffix. So you can just send an email to "2125551212" and know it will find its way. Pretty nifty feature.

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#5 posted by Mike , November 19, 2008 10:28 AM

Oops. I forgot angle brackets would be interpreted as a tag. Make that: The message comes from "####### [#######@mobile.carrier.net]"...

That's what I get for not previewing my posts.

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#6 posted by Ryan Waddell

, November 20, 2008 8:58 AM

@Mike: So the peek has a mobile number? I'm not sure if I was clear, I was wondering who the messages would appear from on the phone receiving the texts, not on the Peek itself.

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#7 posted by kiloseven , November 23, 2008 1:38 PM

Yes, Peeks have an e-mail address of:
phonenumber@cell.getpeek.net

http://sms.mwweekend.org provides more info on e-mailSMS/text messaging