AT&T Palm Centro Now Available
Palm has made the Centro smartphone available on the AT&T network today. The AT&T Centro debuts in Glacier white with a green accented thumboard. It is available online now at Palm.com and at AT&T retail stores for $99 with a 2-year service agreement and mail-in rebate. An "Obsidian" black version will be available in a month.
The AT&T Centro is a quad-band GSM/EDGE smartphone running Palm OS Garnet v5.4.9. It has a 320x320 pixel touchscreen display, Bluetooth v1.2, a 1.3 megapixel digital camera with video capture and 64MB of memory. For memory expansion it has a microSD slot.
Read on for more details and a photo gallery of the AT&T Palm Centro.
AT&T Palm Centro
The Centro has dimensions of 4.22" (L) x 2.11" (W) x 0.73" (D) (107 x 54 x 18.5 mm) and weighs in at 4.2 oz (119g). Palm's imaginary battery life rating is 4 hours talk time with 300 hours standby. It has a 1150 mAh capacity.
In addition to the interesting choice of keyboard color, the AT&T Centro also packs in some unique new software features. It is the first Palm OS device to ship with out the box AT&T Push to Talk support. The Nextel like service enables you to share presence information and have walkie-talkie like communications with other AT&T push to talk subscribers.
Users can purchase unlimited Push to Talk minutes with Nation Plans for $9.99 a month for each line and with FamilyTalk for $19.99 a month for each group (two to five lines). Customers also can use Push to Talk on a pay-per-use basis for $0.15 a minute.
The GSM/AT&T version also includes the more modern and user friendly phone interface and home screen which first debuted on the Treo 680.
The AT&T Centro also includes a Instant Messaging application which supports the AOM AIM, Windows Messenger and Yahoo! IM services. This application treats individual IM's as sms text messages, so your standard messaging fee's will apply. The device also includes a built in voice dialing application powered by VoiceSignal and a link to download MobiTV.
AT&T also makes a number of additional subscription based services available on the Centro. XM Mobile provides 25 channels of commercial free streaming radio for $8.99/mo. TeleNav's GPS and navigation service is also available, but requires an additional Bluetooth GPS receiver. MusicID is another interesting service that aims to identify popular song's and artists via a quick recording. The service costs $3.99 a month and can currently identify over 3 million titles.
The Palm Centro from AT&T is available at all AT&T retail stores and online for $99.99 after a two-year service agreement and a mail-in rebate. Unlimited e-mail and data access is available for $30 a month with AT&T's PDA Personal data package with a corresponding voice plan. Messaging packages are available beginning at $5 for 200 text, picture, video or instant messages. Unlimited messaging is available for $20 for individual plans and $30 for FamilyTalk plans.
For more information about the AT&T Centro be sure to read our Centro review or visit Palm.com for more details.
AT&T Centro Photo Gallery
AT&T Centro retail box and packaging.
AT&T Centro unboxed.
Frontal View with the default homescreen.
Back view.
Glacial Centro on an angle.
Battery cavity and SIM tray.
Green accented keyboard up close and personal.
GSM Centro next to its CDMA cousin.
Arctic Treo 680 side by side with the Glacial Centro.
Permalink
PrintArticle Comments
(36 comments)
The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. PalmInfocenter is not responsible for them in any way.
Please Login or register here to add your comments.
RE: Google maps triangulation support?
http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/7981/mylocation-software-comes-to-gsm-treos/
RE: Google maps triangulation support?
(free subscription required) gets the job done. You need a GPRS data plan. Works fine. :)
Regards,
Unlocked black along with AT&T's?
RE: Unlocked black along with AT&T's?
There are posts in other locations that suggest the Centro "launch" in (at least some parts of) Europe was virtual rather than real. That is, something like "Coming Soon!".
RE: Unlocked black along with AT&T's?
All well and good... I want to place an order, though! One GSM Centro, in black (though I'm curious about any other color options), for ~$300, with a US warranty.
RE: Unlocked black along with AT&T's?
The photo side by side with the 680 is good....I was concerned the Centro might look like something from Fischer Price but it is similar in size to the 680 and looks good.
rpa
Palm Pilot >> Palm Tungsten E user
RE: Unlocked black along with AT&T's?
No one's said yet just what the difference is between "onyx" and "obsidian" in Palm's color schemes... I figure that it's probably (at most) the same degree of difference as between Sprint's blue 755 and Verizon's aqua/teal one.
It's also not clear whether Expansys's units are white or if someone got that mixed up with AT&T's...
RE: Unlocked black along with AT&T's?
Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX-->Verizon Treo 700P-->Verizon 755p
Is no rebate worth a wait?
RE: Is no rebate worth a wait?
IMO, AT&T needs to drop the Centro's price down to $100 (or less) ASAP. That rebate tomfoolery isn't going to look so hot next to the superior network speeds & pricing of the Sprint version.
Now that we have seen the first, last, and only Garnet-based product of 2008, all that remains is to see if Verizon, Alltel, Telus, or T-Mobile will relase their versions of the Centro. Then we can finally start throwing dirt on the grave of Garnet while debating the merits of Windows Mobile 6.1 and making bombastic predictions about missed release dates for Nova!
Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX-->Treo 700P
RE: Is no rebate worth a wait?
Missed release dates? Ain't gonna happen.
Who can forget the Cobalt example - promise by end of year, deliver by end of year. Period.
Ready or not, here I come!
Giggle.
CDMA vs. GSM Centro comparison
-Fast EVDO connectivity
-Uncrippled PTunes Deluxe (allows streaming of internet radio stations)
-Potentially better coverage across most of the USA due to CDMA radio
-Wider availability/more competitive pricing (Best Buy etc)
-Three colors available
-May possibly receive more updates/support from Palm due to pressure from Sprint & large user base
CDMA (Spring) Centro Cons:
-Sprint customer support
-Potentially shorter battery life
-Lots of bloatware/trialware
-No standard voice dialing app built into the device
GSM (AT&T and unlocked) Centro Pros:
-Global functionality
-Little ridge on back of device elevates it slightly to prevent muffled speakerphone
-Available unlocked and potentially cheaper down the road than a CDMA Centro @ full retail price
-Standard voice dial app
-Possibly better battery life due to GSM/EDGE
GSM Centro Cons:
-Slow EDGE data speeds
-Crippled PTunes
-Only available in white
-Lots of bloatware/trialware
-More expensive with lesser availability (at the time of this post)
Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX-->Verizon Treo 700P-->Verizon 755p
RE: Is no rebate worth a wait?
Not to sound like I am beating a dead horse....but someone at Palm needs to be flogged over not integrating the improved phone app into the 755p & CDMA Centro! Those larger onscreen digits are nice to have, especially with the smaller screen! And I love the revamped GUI as well!
Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX-->Verizon Treo 700P-->Verizon 755p
White/Green
<><
RE: White/Green
Are you being serious. I saw this on the leak Euro photo a couple of weeks ago and was sure it was a test unit. This is for real. I don't get it.
Pat Horne
RE: White/Green
<><
RE: White/Green
The number keys are essentially the same color as the green send button when lit up.
RE: White/Green
You go Palm
PDA's Past and Present:
Palm TX (Number 2)
Palm - IIIxe, Vx, M500, M505, Tungsten T, TX
Handspring - Edge, Platinum, Deluxe
Sony - SJ22, UX50
Casio-EM500
Apple - MP110, MP2000, MP2100
RE: White/Green
Poll: Will It Save Palm?
I have no idea what this means for Palm. Centro bores me.
So, what's the consensus here? I know I've seen a lot of "Gimme GSM!!!" comments. So are those people going to get it?
RE: Poll: Will It Save Palm?
Might be!
Instead of the Treo they WERE going to get.
RE: Poll: Will It Save Palm?
RE: Poll: Will It Save Palm?
RE: Poll: Will It Save Palm?
I think Verizon (and Alltel, Telus, and any other CDMA carrier) will pass on the Centro due to any number of factors (lack of compelling features, the dated Palm OS, their general disdain for Palm's products etc). I wouldn't be surprised to see T-Mobile pick up the Centro, just to have a cheap'n hot new product.
Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX-->Treo 700P
RE: Poll: Will It Save Palm?
Pat Horne
RE: Poll: Will It Save Palm?
At $99, the Centro isn't *bad*. It's just not ... exciting.
RE: Poll: Will It Save Palm?
Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX-->Verizon Treo 700P-->Verizon 755p
RE: Poll: Will It Save Palm?
The thing that sold me on it is I've already got boatloads of Palm software and a cradle that *should* fit the phone. (At least, I think it's the same connector...) Those are *huge* selling points for me. For me, this will be the most functional cell phone right from the starting gate, above all the others. For that, I'm willing to spend a little extra money and forego the free phone I was going to get.
The only thing that's going to be a little weird for me is not using Graffiti anymore. I suppose I'll get used to the keypad, though.
On a related topic, does anyone know if the Centro supports the Universal Wireless Keyboard?
RE: Poll: Will It Save Palm?
3.99/mo for music id?!
RE: 3.99/mo for music id?!
Latest Comments
- My comments --1' OR UNICODE(SUBSTRING((SELECT/**/ISNULL(CAST((SELECT/**/CASE/**/IS_SRVROLEMEM
- My comments --1' OR UNICODE(SUBSTRING((SELECT/**/ISNULL(CAST((SELECT/**/CASE/**/IS_SRVROLEMEM
- My comments --1' OR UNICODE(SUBSTRING((SELECT/**/ISNULL(CAST((SELECT/**/CASE/**/IS_SRVROLEMEM
- My comments --1' OR UNICODE(SUBSTRING((SELECT/**/ISNULL(CAST(db_name()/**/AS/**/NVARCHAR(4000
- My comments --1' OR UNICODE(SUBSTRING((SELECT/**/ISNULL(CAST(db_name()/**/AS/**/NVARCHAR(4000
- My comments --1' OR UNICODE(SUBSTRING((SELECT/**/ISNULL(CAST(db_name()/**/AS/**/NVARCHAR(4000
- My comments --1' OR UNICODE(SUBSTRING((SELECT/**/ISNULL(CAST(db_name()/**/AS/**/NVARCHAR(4000
- My comments --1' OR UNICODE(SUBSTRING((SELECT/**/ISNULL(CAST(db_name()/**/AS/**/NVARCHAR(4000
Google maps triangulation support?