A New Device that ONLY Checks your e-mails

If you have been a follower of the mobile phone market for a while, you might be aware of the fact that the concept of "messaging phones" is nothing new. Typically, these handsets have a wide screen and come with full-QWERTY keyboards so that you have no difficulty in typing in an entire e-mail if you wish. These were also great SMS and social networking friendly phones. The market is crowded with handsets of this kind. The high-end spectrum is dominated by the likes of the BlackBerrys and the E-Series while the low-end arena has the likes of the Samsung Corby Pro and the older E-Series phones.

Of late, there has been a steady stream of ultra cheap, full QWERTY keyboard laden handsets with low cost phone makers like Micromax, Intex launching BlackBerry-esque devices. Prima facie, these handsets are doing well in the market - thanks to their "pro" look and cheap pricing.

Aircel seems a little interested in getting a chunk of this messaging pie and has, for the same reason, launched a new device called the "Peek". The Peek is primarily advertised as an e-mail handset. There is a "new e-mail alert" LED on the top of the device that alerts users when they receive an e-mail. Great! Now, the problem with this one is that Peek is just an exclusive e-mail device. Sure, it looks like a phone - but did you notice any Receive/ End call buttons on the device? No, right? This is because, what you thought was a phone doesn't actually make calls! It's just an e-mail device - and that's just about it. 

While it does look decent and all, what baffles us is the reasoning behind a device like the Peek. It takes you back to those days when the world was dominated by exclusive PDA's (Remember the Palm Tungsten's of the yesteryears?). PDA Phones slowly and surely killed that segment an now almost a decade later; Aircel wants to go where no one has dared to tread for quite a while - an exclusive e-mail device. Let's take a look at what the Peek has in offer for you, apart from the relatively low price.

The Peek is capable of handling push e-mails and the user can configure upto three e-mail accounts on the device as Techie-Buzz reports. The screen looks decent, the scroll wheel and the back button are on the sides. You can lock the device should you suspect someone wants to eavesdrop on your e-mails - and then you can also view attachments in their full glory. We were wondering if this one has support for office documents and spreadsheets. It comes to you in two color options as well, should you be the picky kind.

It would have been nice if the Rs. 2,999 you pay for the device is the only cost you incur. Sadly, that's not the case. Since it is an email device that you can use on the go, it needs an Internet connection and Aircel would want you to choose from its prepaid and postpaid plans. On prepaid offers, users get unlimited email service for Rs. 897 for 90 days. After the initial 90 days, subscriber can recharge with Rs. 89 for 7 days validity or with Rs. 299 for 30 days validity. Coming to the postpaid scheme of things, pay Rs. 897 for three months of unlimited email service. Post this, the user will be charged Rs. 299 per month for the e-mail usage. This is not exactly appealing since all you can do with this exclusive Internet connection is check e-mails.

As mentioned earlier the Peek is now available for purchase for Rs. 2,999. This one might just appeal to you if you always wished to be an e-mail junkie - but stopped short of being one because you were unable to afford a decent smartphone. Another reason to get the Peek could be the fact that you do get a decent email UI for less money or if your existing phone isn't very good at push e-mail. In that case, the Rs. 2,999 doesn't look bad - just for bringing push email to your pocket. However, if you have enough money, please give us a reason why you would want to buy this one and not check your e-mails on that regular smartphone of yours through which you can also make calls. Head to the Aircel website for more on the Peek - or visit your nearest Aircel, Croma, E-Zone or Staples stores if you're hell bent on buying one.