JDPFu.com 2025

There’s a new competitor to Blackberry, Windows Mobile and Smartphones available, the Peek Pronto.

It looks like the RIM 957 with color. No phone or web browser, just email and texting. This is great for companies that want their people connected, but not with a cell phone ripe for abuse.

I’m concerned when an email-only device doesn’t clearly state the security features. A lack of network and data encryption and remote wiping is discouraging. At a minimum, HTTPS and IMAPS and POP3S need to be clearly supported. A device password lock with encrypted file system would be easy to add, IME. In that way, even if the device were lost, the data on it would be protected provided the password wasn’t hacked. Of course, real security goes beyond a “password” and complex passwords, autolocking, mandatory change periods, no password reuse, etc. are needed too.

But keeping it simple is a good thing. The Pronto seems to do this.

• email (5 acnts),
• texting,
• view images,
• view DOCs and PDFs.
• No web.
• No cell phone.

4/2009

• $80 for the device.
• $20/month for nationwide GSM service

There is an older device that is cheaper, has the same monthly plan costs, but doesn’t support text or anything other than email.

Blackberry Still Wins

Blackberry security still beats all the hand held devices, that hasn’t changed. Windows Mobile devices win on flexibility. Both cost significantly more than the Peek-Pronto.

Netbooks are becoming more and more viable to replace all these devices for those who need to get work done while on the road, not just check email.

Nokia Internet Tablets

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love the Nokia N800/N810 Internet Tablets. These devices should be on any list that a Peek Pronto is on and any list that an iTouch, WM6, Blackberry or Netbook is on too. Both the N800 and iTouch use WiFi and Bluetooth for connectivity – no data plan is required, therefore, no monthly data plan is required. This is a major plus.

Summary

The Peek Pronto is a low end email device that requires a monthly data plan to be useful. Security may or may not meet your requirements. We can’t tell based on the advertising.

This page was written without actually touching or seeing the device ourselves. It is based on what the getpeek website says (and doesn’t say). Without touching the device, it is impossible to determine whether the keyboard feel is good or not. That can be a critical decision factor for hand held devices.