 |
    Palm Announces the Treo ProPosted By: Ryan Kairer on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 9:10:33 AM
The official announcement matches up with most of the previously leaked information. The Treo Pro will be available from Vodafone and O2 in Europe(from free to EUR 399 with contract) and from Telstra in Australia (from free with contract), also will be available in an unlocked version in the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific. Palm says the unlocked version will be made available in the US this fall from its online store for $549. Additional Treo Pro availability is scheduled to follow worldwide.
"Businesses want the control and savings that Windows Mobile affords, in an innovative and elegant package that keeps their users happy. That's where Palm comes in," said Ed Colligan, president and chief executive officer, Palm, Inc. "Everything about Treo Pro - from the hardware design to the packaging and accessories - embodies the elegant and simplified end-to-end experience that our customers expect from Palm."
Treo Pro SpecificationsThe Treo Pro is a a Quad-Band GSM phone (850/900/1800/1900MHz) with Tri-Band 3G HSDPA/UMTS (850/1900/2100MHz) support. It runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional Edition on a 400 MHz Qualcomm MSM7201 processor with a 320x320 pixel flush touchscreen, 256MB memory (100MB user available), microSD expansion (up to 32GB supported), built in Wi-Fi (802.11b/g with WPA, WPA2, and 801.1x authentication), Bluetooth 2.0 and GPS. A removable, rechargeable 1500mAh lithium-ion battery is included for an imaginary 5.0 hours talk time and up to 250 hours standby time. A microUSB 2.0 port is included for synchronization and charging and in a long, long overdue first for a Palm smartphone a 3.5mm stereo headset jack is built in so customers can use standard headphones. SIze wise the Treo Pro has dimensions of Length: 4.49", Width: 2.36", Depth: 0.53" (114 x 60 x 13.5mm), and weighs in at 4.69 oz (133g). The device includes the usual Palm's customizations on top of Windows Mobile including the enhanced today screen, time and notification screen saver and dialing shortcuts. The Treo Pro also features a new voicemail indicator, where the center button will flash to let a user know a new voicemail is waiting. It also features the standard Palm ringer switch and the Wi-Fi shortcut button which debuted on the Treo 800w. Embedded below is a short video clip of three Palm Exec's, Stephane Maes (VP of product marketing), Peter Skillman (VP of design), and John Moses (VP of customer relations), talking about the Treo Pro features and new design aspects. The video also shows the Pro in action along with a shot of its new packaging design.
More Stories Like This...  Palm.com Gets Overhauled Palm Featured on Modern Marvels TV Show Elevation Injects $100 Million Into Palm Colligan: No New Palm Handhelds Palm Reports Q2 FY09 Results Palm Earnings Preview at CNBC More articles about Palm
Article Comments
56 total comments The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. PIC is not responsible for them in any way. login or register for free in order to post comments.
 RE: Still might be too little, too late but at least it's a start...SeldomVisitor @ 8/20/2008 12:33:16 PM #
HTC designed the Treo Pro. It looks like an HTC phone. They do good work with many of their designs. Where do you see a non-HTC influence in the design of the Treo Pro? RE: Still might be too little, too late but at least it's a start...
If HTC designed this they must have designed the 500 and the centro. Palm design, HTC build. pilot 5000 >Palm V > m505 >Tungsten T >A bad win mo 5 pda >Clie Peg ux50 > Tungsten t3 >Treo 680 >Centro RE: Still might be too little, too late but at least it's a start...SeldomVisitor @ 8/21/2008 4:38:02 AM #
I believe ASUS designed the 500 (could be wrong about that). I don't know who designed the Centro but, for some un-easily-verifiable reason, think Palm did. Palm, BTW in case you don't follow their business side like conference calls and SEC filings, has outright repeatedly said that Windows Mobile devices in particular are designed by ODMs (Original =Design= Manufacturers) from specifications that Palm gives them (that is, Palm comes up with thoughts on what they want (like front-facing QWERTY, touchscreen, etc) and gives those thoughts to the ODM who comes up with the device; there undoubtedly is considerable back-n-forth for decision-making). There is nothing WRONG with doing that, of course - outsourcing often can be strong money savers for companies - with Windows Mobile, of course, fairly significant savings can result JUST from the labor costs not internal to one's own company. RE: Still might be too little, too late but at least it's a start...SeldomVisitor @ 8/21/2008 4:51:59 AM #
> I believe ASUS designed the 500 (could be wrong about that)... Here's verification of the Asus/500V link: - http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2007/09/16/palm-treo-500v-hits-fcc-via-asus/ RE: Still might be too little, too late but at least it's a start...SeldomVisitor @ 8/21/2008 6:11:20 AM #
> HTC designed the Treo Pro... I can't find official verification of this, just articles that note different HTC pieces of software (GPS, memory manager) that come in the Pro as well as articles outright stating it is an HTC phone, so insert "probably" up there - it could be an Inventec or Compal device (no, it's HIGHLY LIKELY an HTC device, IMHO, but absolute correctness of wording is something I strive for...how about you?). everything else posted in this thread remains unambiguously valid and verifiable. RE: Still might be too little, too late but at least it's a start...SeldomVisitor @ 8/22/2008 10:55:40 AM #
This is not an official verification, however it's froma site that sometimes gets things right (and sometimes gets things wrong!): == "...Taiwan-based High Tech Computer (HTC) has been chosen to manufacture - http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20080821PD208.html Unfortunately, the web page "gets restricted" after a couple days so that's why I copy-n-pasted text from it. RE: Still might be too little, too late but at least it's a start...SeldomVisitor @ 8/23/2008 3:54:26 AM #
Palm says the Treo Pro is "inspired and designed in California". Without further clarification of what that means we have to assume then that the design is, at the least, significantly Palm's. If so, this is an about-face from what Colligan said about use of ODMs for Windows phones. [no, maybe it's not a "Palm" design; it IS a "California" design", though] RE: Still might be too little, too late but at least it's a start...SeldomVisitor @ 12/3/2008 5:55:55 AM #
As noted, maybe it was just a California design since Palm did not explicitly say "Designed by Palm" like Apple said of the iPhone "Designed by Apple" - HTC just bought the Calfornia firm that designed the Touch Diamond - it is not a strong leap of logic to suggest that firm, or one very similar to it, designed the Treo Pro as well.
 No US Carrier?
Ok, so in the US, NO Carrier is willing to touch this? Not even T-Mobile? Good luck with that. RE: No US Carrier? How many high-end phones does AT&T need?SeldomVisitor @ 8/29/2008 10:28:54 AM #
And...
I think we are getting our no-Treo-Pro-for-AT&T explanation...
I said 24 hrs yesterday
Here:
http://www.palminfocenter.com/comments/9650/#144811 Palm, my consluting [sic] bill will be in email. I take PayPal. But I want you to pay me in Euros.
This looks like nice hardware, FWIW.JonAcheson @ 8/20/2008 11:40:04 AM #
Wifi, big battery, and a normal headphone jack. About time! I don't like the OS, of course, but at least the hardware end of things is coming around. RE: This looks like nice hardware, FWIW.
Yep, I agree. It looks nice and good hardware, but I have zero interest in Windows Mobile. Hopefully by the time my iPhone contract ends, Palm will have a nice device with a new OS. RE: This looks like nice hardware, FWIW.
I think Palm went ahead and splashed out some real time, effort & $$$ for this sucker because it's not destined to just be a "Treo Pro and done" one-off. There will likely be the inevitable CDMA version (Verizon's notable ignorance of the 800w speaks volumes about SOMETHING), a followup GSM version AND a Nova version. That is, of course, if Nova ever makes it to market.
RE: This looks like nice hardware, FWIW.BaalthazaaR @ 8/20/2008 3:10:01 PM #
It runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional Edition on a 400 MHz Qualcomm MSM7201 processor I guess that means no POS version since this doesn't look like a standard ARM processor and might require some kernel work. RE: This looks like nice hardware, FWIW.AdamaDBrown @ 8/20/2008 7:14:39 PM #
The Qualcomm CPU is indeed a standard ARM processor. However, there still won't be a Garnet version, if for no reason other than the fact that they'd need to rip out the WiFi and 3G in order to make it work. RE: This looks like nice hardware, FWIW.
Take the current Centro. Give it the slightly larger keyboard, LCD, & battery from the Pro and throw in the 3.5m headphone jack, 2mp camera, and microUSB connector for good measure. CPU-wise, go with whatever is cheapest/easiest to squeeze in under Garnet. BINGO! You've got your new send-off device for Garnet that's clearly a step any other OS5 smartphones. I'd gladly pay $150-$200 for such a beast since it'd be a nice boost over the current Centro without being encumbered by any of FrankenGarnet's shortcomings.
RE: This looks like nice hardware, FWIW.
Yep, I agree. It looks nice and good hardware, but I have zero interest in Windows Mobile. Hopefully by the time my iPhone contract ends, Palm will have a nice device with a new OS. Agreed. At this rate, my next PDA will be an iPhone since Palm can't get its act together. RE: This looks like nice hardware, FWIW.
Ooh, I know the feeling. If the Apple software list becomes robust, then Palm better deliver or I may be gone too. I'll probably have to turn out the lights too. Seriously, if Nova crashes and burns, and I have no tangible reason to believe that it are about as reliable as John Edwards on relationship issues. I would love to see Palm deliver, because I'm a fan. But, "even the most loyal spouse hasta go if they keep getting beat up enough". Hopefully my tired torn and tattered 680 can hold on that long. RE: This looks like nice hardware, FWIW.
Tried the iPhone 3G. It is not for power use. For starters, if a person wanted to make a series of four errands in their vehicle, they wouldn't want to have to return home before making each stop. It is wasted effort and time. But that is how the iPhone operates. RE: This looks like nice hardware, FWIW.
no surprise that you poo-poo it. but 14+ million iphone buyers disagree with you. RE: This looks like nice hardware, FWIW.
Not bashing the iPhone. It is what it is. I believe it just lacks the efficient productivity of a Treo. RE: This looks like nice hardware, FWIW.
"Not bashing the iPhone. It is what it is. I believe it just lacks the efficient productivity of a Treo."
Windows Mobile is not particularly productive, whether it's on Treo hardware or not.
Happy to be in the uk
Im really excited about getting one of these. If I was in the States id be a bit annoyed about not getting one with contract. How do Americans feel about that? pilot 5000 >Palm V > m505 >Tungsten T >A bad win mo 5 pda >Clie Peg ux50 > Tungsten t3 >Treo 680 >Centro RE: Happy to be in the ukAdamaDBrown @ 8/20/2008 7:15:59 PM #
I'm rather surprised, actually. I'd think AT&T would have jumped on this given how antiquated the 750 is. Maybe they're afraid it'll compete too exactly with the Samsung Blackjack III coming out later this year: same feature set basically, albeit with a smaller battery. RE: Happy to be in the uk
>I'm rather surprised, actually. I'd think AT&T would have jumped on this given how >antiquated the 750 is. Maybe they're afraid it'll compete too exactly with the >Samsung Blackjack III coming out later this year: same feature set basically, albeit >with a smaller battery. - Really? AT&T already has a smartphone that blows away this latest "effort" by Palm. It's called the iPhone. You might have heard of it, it's been in a few of the papers. I mean, come on. How is this Treo Pro really anything more than a warmed up version of the last Winmob machine from Palm? Wow, a whole 256MB of memory. Cool. RE: Happy to be in the uk
John, You might be surprised, but more than a few folks like to open attached spreadsheets, edit them and send them back. And a host of other examples. The enterprise world does not rotate around the latest Hanna Montana soundtrack on iTunes and the latest Youtube vids. Pat Horne RE: Happy to be in the ukSeldomVisitor @ 8/21/2008 4:27:50 AM #
> ...I'm rather surprised, actually. I'd think AT&T would have > jumped on this given how antiquated the 750 is. Maybe they're > afraid it'll compete too exactly with the Samsung Blackjack III > coming out later this year: same feature set basically, albeit > with a smaller battery... I commented on this elsewhere here: - http://www.palminfocenter.com/comments/9651/#144875 As the author of that link's link's post notes, maybe the Pro is more expensive for comparable features. RE: Happy to be in the uk
personally, i'm happy to be in the US - with good food, hot chicks, and good teeth.
Why no Palm os sandbox?
I dont get it. they bought a perpetual license to the palm os so why dont they build a palm os VM/emulator into their windows mobile phones? We have an enormous palm app that we are slowly porting but could really use something like this. RE: Why no Palm os sandbox?
Exactly!! I have a Treo 680 with ATT and would like to have a 3G, GPS, GSM/GPRS Treo. All their new phones are Windows Mobile. Won't buy it. Not now, not never. I need a better phone and am tired of waiting. Unless I hear something definite in the next month or so about a new Palm OS phone for ATT, I go iPhone and look for third-party apps that replicate the Memos feature. RE: Why no Palm os sandbox?
errr we have 4000 palms deployed. we aint paying $50 a pop for styletap. did you really believe i didnt know about this option?
Only the first 40 comments are displayed with the article.
|
Special Deals
Shop at Amazon and help support PalmInfocenter
|
||||
PalmInfocenter.com is not affiliated with or endorsed by Palm Inc, Access or PalmSource in any way.
Any use of the word Palm is for discussion purposes and is a registered trademark of Palm Inc.
Unauthorized reproduction of content is strictly forbidden.
© MobileInfocenter.com, all rights reserved.
1. New packaging style from Palm beginning with the Pro. Funny how no one ever touted the old small square cardboard boxes (note that I consider expensive/fancy packaging materials ala Apple to usually be wasteful fluff. I'd rather see ALL available $ put into product R&D, quality control, and post-sale support (firmware updates etc).
2.Elegant & simplified? I guess that years of dealing with broken 2.5mm headset ports and kludgy 2.5mm to 3.5mm stereo headphone adapters was a wonderfully enlightening experience I somehow was unaware of?
3. While I'd rather see Palm leave the lame headphones out of the box, it's obvious they are trying to mimic Apple and include iconic white 'buds in the package.
I'm just SO thrilled (seriously) to see a decent capacity battery AND a 3.5mm jack standard on a Palm device-it's been almost THREE years since we last saw a Palm product (TX) with a "normak" stereo headphone jack. Wow!
4. On a semi-unrelated note: it's staggering to me how many people biotch & moan about their iPod/mp3 player sound quality yet refuse to upgrade past the lame earphones included with their devices.
Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p