Sony mylo: What's the market for a $350 IM toy with no phone and wi-fi only Internet?

The buzz today is that Sony is ready to introduce the new $350 mylo (short for my life online), a wi-fi enabled "broadband communicator" that doesn't have a cell phone (hence, no cell carrier Internet access). While the lack of a phone avoids the relatively high monthly data plans from a cell carrier, it would seem to severely limit where you can use this device (and the mobile VOIP), as well as the number of consumers who would be interested in buying it. Also, it is no iPod replacement with only 4GB of storage available with the optional (i.e. additional cost) flash memory. As I have reviewed in prior posts, I have a Cingular 8125 that does everything the $350 mylo will do, plus it is a phone and I can access the Internet via wi-fi or the Cingular wireless network (where I do 99% of my Internet surfing from the device). I guess the target market for the mylo is kids using wi-fi access at home, a wi-fi hot spot (usually for a fee), or school. However, high schools won't likely allow its use, will they? And how many college kids will want to tote around a cell phone, an iPod and the mylo. At $350 a pop and an anchor tying the device to a wi-fi network, I don't see it competing with the other popular IM "communicators" like the Sidekick 3 which doesn't have wi-fi access, but has a cell phone and can access the Internet via the $39 / month (double checked t-mobile website and verified data pricing when purchased with phone package as noted in post in comments - thanks!) $20/ month t-mobile Sidekick unlimited data package.

technorati tags:Sony, mylo, mobile, reviewBlogged

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