Palm i705 Approved by FCC

Posted By: Ed Tuesday, August 28, 2001 1:15:40 PM

Palm has received approval from the Federal Communications Commission to make a new wireless handheld model, the Palm i705. In order to get permission, the company had to give the FCC details on the device, which are now available.

The image which was leaked a few months ago of the device turns to be what it really looks like. It will have a built-in antenna and an SD slot. Of course, it will also use Palm's Universal Connector that appears on the m500 series.

Wireless Access
Palm has been saying for months that it will be releasing before the end of the year a replacement for the aging VII series that will have "always-on" wireless access. The i705 fulfils this promise. It has the ability to check for e-mail even when the handheld itself is off.

The i705 allows the user to control when the antenna is active. This can be set manually or on a pre-set schedule. Whenever the antenna is active, the i705 will check for new mail. The radio will automatically shut itself down when the battery gets low.

It comes MultiMail Deluxe, which is the application needed to both send and retrieve mail. It also comes with a desktop mail forwarder so mail sent to the users' PC can be automatically copied to the handheld.

The i705 uses Web Clipping. It is also tied directly to the MyPalm portal, which has a function that allows users to surf to any Web site.

The To-Do List and Memo Pad buttons have been replaced with Wireless and MultiMail Deluxe ones. The Wireless button launches an app that controls when the antenna is on and gives a status report on the signal strength. The MultiMail Deluxe button launches that application.

There are small indicator lights on the top of the device to show whether the radio is on and if the user is within range of a transmitter.

The i705's screen is monochrome. Pricing is not yet available.

FCC Filing
The information submitted by Palm is quite extensive. It includes the external photos that are shown in this article and even some internal ones. (Photo 1 and Photo 2). Unfortunately, they have all been taken from PDF files so the image quality isn't very good.

It also includes a user's manual. A complete listing of the documents submitted to the FCC is also available.

Rumors
Months ago, some images were leaked to PalmStation (front and back) that have now been confirmed by the information from the FCC.

According to info that was leaked to PIC a few weeks ago, this device will be announced at PalmSource in October and be available in November. However, the source for this was off a bit on the product name, saying that it would be called the m700.

Thanks to Mike for the tip. -Ed

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Excellent

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/28/2001 1:24:13 PM #
Before all the trolls start complaining about how the device looks, or that doesn't have color, let me say that I think this thing looks cool. I know that it doesn't have a m500 form factor, but lets not forget that this is an always on wireless PDA. It certainly looks a lot cooler than any other wireless PDA's out there. It's cooler than a blackberry, cooler than an iPaq with a big old sleeve and a pcmcia card with an antenna sticking out the back. I have a Palm Vx and I will be upgrading to this for sure.

RE: Excellent
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/28/2001 1:36:42 PM #
I am a happy user of Palm VIIx. I will upgrade too.

RE: Excellent
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/28/2001 4:56:56 PM #
So anyone who doesn't agree with you is a troll? How sad that you are so insecure.

RE: Excellent
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/28/2001 6:02:04 PM #
People have right to express their feeling , they are not necessary to be a troll if they have different opinion from yours

RE: Excellent
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/28/2001 8:37:05 PM #
Ok, so Im a troll. WE WANT COLOR...why would you create such a device without color? Hell, there is a Samsung PHONE that has color.

RE: Excellent
I.M. Anonymous @ 4/8/2002 11:16:14 AM #
Why not use colour.......for a start it makes it heavier PLUS it zaps the power much quicker.

Damn you're fast...

Flash @ 8/28/2001 1:29:45 PM #
I just saw the article on CNET and was about to come here and let you know. The article was just published 1/2 an hour ago...way to go Ed.

**Flash**
--Martin Sheen is my President.--
www.votescount2002.com

Color highly doubted

Moosecat @ 8/28/2001 1:31:45 PM #
The fact that it ends in 5 doesn't mean much about the color of its screen (see m105, m125). Maybe they'll introduce a color one later, but I doubt we'll see it now. (Especially given that its target audience -- people who currently purchase Blackberries -- is not accustomed to color, and none of the i705's direct competitors (um... Blackberry) have color.)

RE: Color highly doubted
Ed @ 8/28/2001 1:40:38 PM #
I agree with you. The fact that there is a contrast icon on the image strongly suggests it will be monochrome, as the m505 lacks this. I guess I'm confused why they would make an i705 without an i700. I thought their numbering scheme might be more like the m500 series, but maybe not. I wasn't thinking about the m100 and m105, where the m105 is an improved version of the m100, but not with a better screen.

I'm still left wondering, is there going to be an i700?

---
News Editor

RE: Color highly doubted
AriB @ 8/29/2001 3:38:14 AM #
yeah there will be a i700 and it will have color :)

RE: Color highly doubted
I.M. Anonymous @ 1/24/2002 7:53:30 PM #
To tell the truth, I carry both a BlackBerry, and a M505 ALWAYS... I hate the blackberry's calendar, taskpad, well everything except the always on email linked to my at work exchange server address.... if I could get a palm, even a monochrome one with the always on email, and the functionality of the Palm, I'd be in techie heaven... and several of the lawyers I work with (I'm not a lawyer myself) that have switched from palm to blackberry, wished palm had a wireless email version... I think this could be big..

GPRS?

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/28/2001 1:44:55 PM #
Is the wireless connection going to be GPRS? If not, what?

RE: GPRS?
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/28/2001 4:56:57 PM #
Chances are it will be Palm.net proprietary network.

RE: GPRS?
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/29/2001 6:49:26 AM #
I think that it will be GPRS. The infrastructure is here in Europe.

FCC link

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/28/2001 1:54:16 PM #
Anybody got the link to the FCC filing?

RE: FCC link
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/28/2001 2:10:24 PM #
Go to:

http://www.fcc.gov/oet/fccid/

Type 03W as the Grantee Code, I70500 as the product code (optionally, if you don't, you get the Palm VII also). When the results come up, hit Display Exhibits.

It has a bunch of pictures of the outside and innards. Looks like (from the identical frequency range as the VII) that it is using Mobitex as well.

RE: FCC link
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/28/2001 2:19:19 PM #
0 Matches Found For:
GRANTEE CODE = 03W

Query Results:
There are no records matching your query.


RE: FCC link
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/28/2001 2:20:44 PM #
O as in the letter O, not zero.

RE: FCC link
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/28/2001 2:30:04 PM #
Here's the URL for the FCC link to the new Palm m705 photos. Once you're there, click on Exhibit 3 - External Photos.

** I'm sorry, this link was so long it was throwing off the formatting for the whole page. I have replaced it with this shorter version that goes to the same place:
http://makeashorterlink.com/index.php?V21323C0
-Ed **

RE: FCC link
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/28/2001 2:34:36 PM #
Just to add that the pictures are in a Acrobat PDF file.

RE: FCC link
Ed @ 8/28/2001 2:44:29 PM #
Sorry about having to remove the link. I'm adding the photos from the FCC filing to the article right now.

---
News Editor

Please Share Your Experience with Palm VII Web Services

robrecht @ 8/28/2001 2:23:58 PM #
I would be very grateful if some Palm VII users could comment on any dissatisfaction with the limited web browsing capability currently available with the VII.

Is it possible to use the a more "traditional" type of web browser, ie, something like Handsprings "Blazer"?

What is the coverage like?

What data transfer speeds should we expect?

I hope this will help many people evaluate the details on the i705 as they become available.

Thanks, Rob

RE: Please Share Your Experience with Palm VII Web Services
alex_mathews @ 8/28/2001 2:33:36 PM #
Looking at the user manual included with the FCC filing it looks like you should be able to do normal internet browsing with a web clipping application. Don't know if that includes using non Web Clipping applications for email and internet browsing though.

RE: Please Share Your Experience with Palm VII Web Services
sford @ 8/28/2001 2:38:15 PM #
I've used both full wireless web using a connector kit and my IIIc, and I've also used web clipping on a VIIx, and I very much prefer the clipping...just wish I could get it in color. :) Surfing the web on a Palm-sized screen just never appealed to me, especially since most sites didn't fully work that way (links, etc, did nothing). If I need to get to the internet on my Palm (on the road, etc.), I need specific information, and that's what web clipping is all about: targeted information retrieval. It was a little slow at times, and I did need to walk over to a window on a few occasions, but since it's not charged by minute, I was fine with that.

I do hope this puppy has a follow up color big brother soon after! Still waiting for Samsung's contribution....

RE: Please Share Your Experience with Palm VII Web Services
bcombee @ 8/28/2001 4:29:46 PM #
I would add that Palm really improved the web surfing experience on the VII/VIIx back in February when they moved to their new proxies. These ones do a much better job of reformatting sites than the original Palm.net proxy. I can pretty much find anything I want by using iKnapsack to launch any URL. Google on the Palm VII also works very well.

The speed is a bit slow, but that would be my only complaint.

RE: Please Share Your Experience with Palm VII Web Services
madhatter @ 8/28/2001 5:35:12 PM #
I have been using my Palm VII and VIIx since both first hit the market. At first I thought it would be novelty which would wear off. My wife thought so as well.

Now it has become a daily item to search the net for directions, telephone numbers, addresses, check my bank balance before going grocery shopping, e-mails, and text paging some of my employees while on the road Recently I have even been able to access my business files and home files and forward them to a fax machine or e-mail address when I have forgotten them...

Adding always on ability is a great feature, as long as it does not dramatically alter the battery life. I expect to upgrade as soon as it hits the shelves. Previous comments about slow downloads are sometimes true, but the ability to access what you need "right now" offsets the slowness.

A Palm in hand is worth two in your pocket.

RE: Please Share Your Experience with Palm VII Web Services
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/28/2001 6:10:54 PM #
You are obviously a Palm god!

How do you access business files and home files and forward them to a fax machine or e-mail address?

Please use small words; I am not a techie.

Thanks!

RE: Please Share Your Experience with Palm VII Web Services
madhatter @ 8/28/2001 8:42:54 PM #
Go to www.Vvault.com. It requires an "always on" connections, such as DSL or Cable Modem. Even if you do not have an always on, you can store files on Vvault server and then fax or e-mail them directly from your Palm VIIx. The new service is just getting started, and so far is working extremely well.

I was storing all the files I use for training, or copies of stuff I need instant access to on their server, but this new service is even better. Best of all it appears to work right though my firewall... ( after I give it permission that is...)

Vvault has made it real easy to get files to their server. You get an email address, and a fax number. You can email with attachments or fax the document. If the attachment is a simple text file, you can even view it on your Palm wirelessly.

Hope this helps



RE: Please Share Your Experience with Palm VII Web Services
madhatter @ 8/28/2001 8:50:54 PM #
Sorry.. the previous post was from me.. just forgot to login.


A Palm in hand is worth two in your pocket.

RE: Please Share Your Experience with Palm VII Web Services
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/29/2001 8:57:10 AM #
I would have to agree with some of the comments above. I never wanted to surf the internet on what is essentially a 2x2 inch screen. If I want to surf, I do it at home or work. If I'm on the road, I need quick access to news, maps, e-mail, etc. My VIIx does the job perfectly.

RE: Please Share Your Experience with Palm VII Web Services
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/29/2001 11:49:54 AM #
I've had a Palm VIIx since the prices came down, and I gotta tell you, the only thing that sucks about it is the drain on the batteries. I was a very happy MONTH out of my Palm III, but if you use the online functions of the VIIx, you're lucky to get 2 weeks. I pray that the m700 will be rechargable...

i705 definetely NOT color screen

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/28/2001 2:35:11 PM #
I have just read the manual. The only time color is mentioned is when talking about what PC you should use to sync it with...

And all the photos of the screen in the manual are black/white.

Too bad. Thats what I wanted anyway. Color and wireless.

RE: i705 definetely NOT color screen
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/28/2001 2:42:30 PM #
Why not get a Prism & springboard module? What would be lost with this kind of arrangement, perhaps the always on capability?

RE: i705 definetely NOT color screen
robrecht @ 8/28/2001 3:34:18 PM #
Free VisorPhone with the purchase of any Handspring Visor and activation of service plan.

RE: i705 definetely NOT color screen
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/28/2001 3:59:23 PM #
Can a Visor Prism with the CDMA Sprint VisorPhone do everything a Palm VII can do? I know it can supposedly do "more" with Blazer but are there any drawbacks (other than price). Can the Handspring arrangement access the same web-clipping sites just as well as the Palm or is some of this stuff proprietary with Palm?

Thanks for any info!

RE: i705 definetely NOT color screen
alex_mathews @ 8/28/2001 5:09:25 PM #
I currently use a Palm IIIxe connected to a Qualcomm 2760 thin phone. I have web clipping and use a browser for web browsing. I did need have to go through a Palm OS backdoor to set the Web Clipping Proxy server address and I had to get the libraries. All this is explained on various websites. Though this was before the web kit was available from Palm.

The experience should be no different with the CDMA springboard, because I'm sure it will dial into Sprints Quick Network Connect (QNC) dial-in. That's the one nice thing about Sprint, you don't need an ISP to get an internet connection. Though, it won't be the always on type connection like the i705.

Owner's Manual

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/28/2001 2:48:30 PM #
Lots of questions can be answered by downloading the user's manual.
It's freely available at:

** I'm sorry, this link was so long it was throwing off the formatting for the whole page. I have replaced it with this shorter version that goes to the same place:
http://makeashorterlink.com/index.php?V21323C0
-Ed **

Just go to the bottom of the page and you'll see the user's manual. It's big but has lots of info....


Does anybody know....

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/28/2001 2:52:36 PM #
Palm and Sprint mentioned a collaboration a few months back. Is the 705 going to use this, instead of the bi-directional pager technology that the VII uses? If they got FCC approval, it must be on record somewhere.

RE: Does anybody know....
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/28/2001 4:23:01 PM #
It uses Mobitex. See the comment below for more info.

Linking

Ed @ 8/28/2001 1:16:17 PM #
Please don't post direct links to any of the FCC pages. These links are extremely long and will distort the formatting of this page, making it difficult for everyone to read. There is a link to the document download page at the end of the article.

Ryan is working on a method that will allow you to post links of any length without this problem but in the mean time, please follow this rule from the instructions: "Please try keep URL's small and all on one line"

Thanks.

---
News Editor

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