Handspring SWOT Analysis :: Business

Handspring SWOT AnalysisStrengths1. Strong Board of Directors. Jeff Harkins, Donna Dubinsky, and Ed Colligan are considered application leaders. In fact they had been credited with reviving the handheld figure industry. The touch Pilot which they developed was the most successful product launch in computing history.2. Good brand identity, strong reputation. By the summer of 2000, Handspring had a 40% market share. There was a four month backlog in orders when Handspring setoff entered market.3. Integration of hardware and package for ease of character. Handspring had a license for the deal operating system. Hawkins created what he called a virtual company to bring hardware institution and manufacturing companies together to bring the product to market. Also unlike wield, Handspring had their hardware and software developer working together to develop a communicator that addressed how people actually use their wireless devices. In developing the Treo, Handspring employed ethnographer who observed how people utilise their cell retrieves and PDAs.4. A company with focused products. The Visor line was continued to deplete a large market share in the PDA substance abuser market. The Treo line was to focus on the increasing functionality by combine PDAs with Cell phone technology to become a communicator.5. Convenience seen in all in one Treo product. Phone + organizer + e-mail + Web Weaknesses1. Inability to differentiate from competitors. The Palm OS had been licensed to many companies and made up the lions share of the PDA business. All of the major competitors earn the same OS.2. Low expertness in other areas and functionality. A Strand Consulting report stated that handspring would have difficulty surviving the smart phone market because the lack experience in the mobile phone market.3. Profit margins are shrinking despite an 18% increase in sales. This was a result of downward pricing pressures from an increasin g measuring of competitors. 4. Divided focus of Harkins. Harkins had recently formed the non-profit Redwood Neuroscience Institute to chase after his lifelong passion for brain research. This of course meant that he no longer cytosine% focus on Handspring. Opportunities1. The handheld industry is still changing and currently no company is standing on stable ground.Handspring SWOT Analysis Business Handspring SWOT AnalysisStrengths1. Strong Board of Directors. Jeff Harkins, Donna Dubinsky, and Ed Colligan are considered industry leaders. In fact they had been credited with reviving the handheld computing industry. The Palm Pilot which they developed was the most successful product launch in computing history.2. Good brand identity, strong reputation. By the summer of 2000, Handspring had a 40% market share. There was a four month backlog in orders when Handspring first entered market.3. Integration of hardware and software for ease of use. Handspring had a license for the Palm operating system. Hawkins created what he called a virtual company to bring hardware design and manufacturing companies together to bring the product to market. Also unlike Palm, Handspring had their hardware and software developer working together to develop a communicator that addressed how people actually use their wireless devices. In developing the Treo, Handspring employed ethnographer who observed how people used their cell phones and PDAs.4. A company with focused products. The Visor line was continued to have a large market share in the PDA user market. The Treo line was to focus on the increasing functionality by combine PDAs with Cell phone technology to become a communicator.5. Convenience seen in all in one Treo product. Phone + organizer + e-mail + Web Weaknesses1. Inability to differentiate from competitors. The Palm OS had been licensed to many companies and made up the lions share of the PDA business. All of the major competitors have the same OS.2. Low expertise in other areas and functionality. A Strand Consulting report stated that handspring would have difficulty surviving the smart phone market because the lack experience in the mobile phone market.3. Profit margins are shrinking despite an 18% increase in sales. This was a result of downward pricing pressures from an increasing amount of competitors. 4. Divided focus of Harkins. Harkins had recently formed the non-profit Redwood Neuroscience Institute to pursue his lifelong passion for brain research. This of course meant that he no longer 100% focus on Handspring. Opportunities1. The handheld industry is still changing and currently no company is standing on stable ground.