Sprint Officially Offers Camera-less Treo 600

Posted By: Ryan Tuesday, June 8, 2004 10:13:37 AM

Sprint today announced nationwide availability of a non-camera version of the Sprint PCS Vision Treo 600 by palmOne. Available today, only from Sprint, this non-camera version was designed to address corporate security concerns raised by camera phones and incorporates all the other same timesaving and user-friendly features as the original Treo 600.

The Treo 600 is now available at a suggested retail price of $599.99 through Sprint business channels including the PCS direct sales force and the Sprint PCS Business Solutions(SM) Program. Sprint will continue to carry the original Treo 600 with the embedded camera in all sales channels including business channels, Sprint Stores and online.

"Camera phones can bring a great advantage to many industries, especially real estate and insurance, but some companies have credible concerns about the devices being used to copy sensitive information. Sprint continues to demonstrate its leadership by providing an innovative portfolio of wireless productivity devices that help our customers meet challenges within the business environment," said Phil Bowman, vice president of Integrated Solutions, Sprint Business Solutions. "This additional version of the Treo 600 gives mobile professionals a way to utilize the high-speed data capabilities of the enhanced Sprint Nationwide PCS Network and remain productive without worry of violating any company restrictions when they are visiting clients or back in their own offices."

Sprint provides various options for Treo 600 users who want to check email while away from the office. Sprint PCS Business Connection Enterprise and Personal editions interface seamlessly with Microsoft Exchange 2000 and Lotus Domino data and offer the ability to access multiple inboxes including one corporate and up to two Internet mailboxes, open and view attachments and access contacts and calendar information. Available to Sprint Treo 600 users through the Sprint PCS Business Solutions Program, GoodLink provides real-time access to Microsoft Outlook applications and Web-enabled enterprise systems with continuous, two-way real-time synchronization.

"The Treo 600 continues to attract a larger audience of corporate customers looking to provide their employees with an all-in-one communication solution," said Tim Roper, senior director of wireless sales, palmOne. "By offering the non-camera Treo 600, we believe we can meet the needs of more security-conscious customers, expand our available market and still offer all the features the Treo 600 is known for, including a great email experience."

"The U.S. market for converged mobile devices, or "smartphones," will more than double in 2004 to 4.5 million units, driven in part by an increasing number of enterprises investigating the viability of mobility," said David Linsalata, research analyst with IDC. "Because mobility policies vary between enterprises, the ability to offer a range of devices and device capabilities, such as Sprint's camera and non-camera Treo 600s, will be critical for the continued growth of this market."

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It IS official after all!

hkklife @ 6/8/2004 10:28:48 AM #
Here's a good thread going at TreoCentral with a few pictures of the actual camera housing, the box, and the phone screen in the Photos app. It's the same price as the camera version.

http://discussion.treocentral.com/showthread.php?t=51904

However, this looks like it was really a cheap change done on the fly, as there is an error message displayed by Photos and the new rear plastic housing looks kinda cheap. Not even as polished looking as the NR/NX60 Clies that didn't have a camera in the spot where the NR/NX70Vs did.

I'd anticipate the next Treo to be available from the get-go in both configurations and be a little more polished throughout. This is also the "C" revision of the Treo 600, which makes sense A=Handspring-branded 600s with good screen. B=PalmOne branded units w/ camera and bad screen C=Camera-less PalmOne models.

RE: It IS official after all!
hkklife @ 6/8/2004 10:33:01 AM #
Whoops, I forgot to mention that the 1.2 update is pre-loaded as well. This should help ease some support calls to PalmOne & Sprint support.

Ugh. Hate it when products are priced for corporate markets.

dennya @ 6/8/2004 12:59:02 PM #
$599's a bit crazy for the equivalent of a $149 phone and a $149 Zire 31. Double the price for integration... If it had Bluetooth or Wi-Fi as well, maybe. But this doesn't really offer me anything over my Kyocera 7135 other than the faster CPU and a non-removable battery.

RE: Ugh. Hate it when products are priced for corporate mark
feranick @ 6/8/2004 1:12:17 PM #
This phone should cost 200USD. It would be a killer.

Nick

RE: Ugh. Hate it when products are priced for corporate mark
HandyMan @ 6/8/2004 1:35:57 PM #
They're not going to sell it at 200usd. They can't make enough to fill the demand as it is.


RE: Ugh. Hate it when products are priced for corporate markets.
Token User @ 6/8/2004 3:51:54 PM #
Its all about supply and demand ... and the cost point the market will sustain.

$599 is expensive, unless you a user that has wanted a unified PDA/Cellphone running OS5 that didn't have a camera. Targetting corporate/government markets is a smart move ... consumers want everything they can get .

Now that you have the option of with or without a camera for the same price what would you choose? I have a Clie NX70V, and rarely use the crappy camera, BUT it is great to take a photo of a whiteboard during a meeting as a record.

Really sounds like a stop gap measure until the rumoured 610 (700?) type model arrives

~ "Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed." - DV ~

RE: Ugh. Hate it when products are priced for corporate markets.
Galley_SimRacer @ 6/9/2004 1:35:54 AM #
You can get these for $399 at Best Buy with a 2-year agreement.

--
"I'm not a cool person in real life, but I play one on the Internet".
Galley
RE: Ugh. Hate it when products are priced for corporate mark
elo @ 6/9/2004 1:50:30 PM #
And you are out $150 if you break the agreement. Thus, the contract deal is the way to go even if you don't want to be locked into a contract.

I agree that these phones are *way* overpriced, though. If I could get it at $199 with a contract, I'd be all over it.

elo

What companies demand, manufacturers listen

vesther @ 6/11/2004 8:06:47 AM #
This is probably something good to hear--now if all major carriers--including Nextel and Verizon will implement the Camera-less version of the Treo 600.....

I hope palmOne obtains an iDEN license from Motorola soon--Nextel needs a Palm-Powered device sooner or later....

A Palm-Powered Handheld is the bread and butter for many people. Without a Palm-Powered Handheld, your progress is all for naught.

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