Peek Pronto brings push e-mail, texting
updated 08:05 am EDT, Tue March 24, 2009
Peek Pronto
Peek on Tuesday followed up its teasers with the launch of the Peek Pronto, its second-generation messaging-only device. The hardware earns its name through an emphasis on speed and adds support for push e-mail that arrives almost as quickly as it's sent; this includes new Microsoft Exchange support for business users. The interface is also roughly 50 percent faster and now supports SMS text messaging, letting users talk directly to other cellphone users for the first time.
As before, the Pronto continues to run on T-Mobile USA's EDGE data network for the bulk of its messaging and supports as many as five e-mail accounts. Its emphasis on text also helps give it a battery life of between two and three days despite a 2.5-inch color display. Peek is selling the device today for $80 when attached to a $20 per month, contract-free plan that provides both unlimited e-mail and texting; Amazon gets a two-week exclusive but will be followed in April by retail sales at Radio Shack.
