Palm and Sprint have released the latest in the lineage of Treo Smartphones with the Treo 800w. This unit is a bit different from its predecessors in a good way - loaded with Windows Mobile 6.1, a built-in GPS, Ev-DO Rev. A, and Wifi it looks like they listened to their customers needs and seemed to satisfy them. They also did away with the proprietary connector that plagued many previous Treo users and went with microUSB. Some nice things they kept were IR port, which is rare in newer devices, the stylus in the same location as well as the lovable one-handed form factor.
From the Press Release:
The Treo 800w is Palm's most business-friendly phone yet. IT departments can simplify infrastructure and lower costs with a direct connection to Microsoft Exchange Server, giving users up-to-date email, contacts, calendars and access to other productivity applications. Palm designed the Treo 800w for easy-to-use mobility with a full QWERTY keyboard, five-way navigation and one-touch buttons to the most-used applications, making it a smartphone people want to use...
The Sprint Mobile Broadband Network (inclusive of data roaming) reaches more than 246 million people, 16,022 cities and 1,506 airports and brings customers instant gratification so they can work fast and on the go. With EV-DO Rev. A, peak network download data rates increase to 3.1 Mbps and peak upload data rates increase to 1.8 Mbps; average download speeds improve to 600 kbps to 1.4 mbps and average uplink speeds increase to 350-500 kbps.
Palm's WiFi hardware and software innovations make it easy to get online fast and manage network connections and power usage. The one-touch WiFi button provides a clean, uncluttered WiFi experience that gets Treo 800w users rapidly connected at home, in the office or in WiFi hotspots. It includes 802.11b/g WiFi and built-in Internet Explorer Mobile, which means faster, more secure access to web-based data.
With integrated GPS and Palm software enhancements, the Treo 800w smartphone offers maps, point-to-point directions and point-of-interest (POI) searches for locations such as restaurants or stores.(3) POI search is available directly from the Today Screen and is integrated with contacts, giving customers one-touch access to the places they want to go. Treo 800w also supports Sprint Navigation for turn-by-turn directions as well as other popular third-party location-based services applications.
The Treo 800w is compatible with Microsoft's System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008, which delivers increased security and easier smartphone management as well as access to information on the corporate network via mobile VPN. IT professionals can confidently manage large Treo 800w deployments the same way they would expect to manage PCs with a low-cost, reliable solution that fits seamlessly with their existing IT infrastructures.
The Palm Experience on Windows Mobile 6.1
"Palm is adding a unique stamp to the Windows Mobile experience with the Treo 800w," said Stephane Maes, vice president, product marketing, Palm, Inc. "It's an easy-to-use feature-packed smartphone that will keep users happy, empowered and productive."
In addition to Palm's WiFi and GPS enhancements, Palm innovations on top of Windows Mobile include:
-- Today Screen enhancements -- call, text, email, perform a web search and map a contact's address, all directly from the Today Screen;(5)
-- Dial from the Today Screen -- enter the contact name, select the number and dial. Add text or picture speed dials for one-touch calls to family and friends, or use the physical or touch screen number keys to dial the number directly;
-- Voicemail controls -- VCR-like icons, such as rewind, delete and fast-forward, for easy navigation;
-- Ignore with text -- ignore a call quickly by sending a text message, such as "In a meeting" or "Can't talk right now";
-- Superior phone and call management -- dedicated mute, speakerphone, conference calling icons, or dial any number in an email or webpage, all with just one touch; and
-- Palm ease-of-use features -- hard buttons for email and calendar, a five-way navigation button and on/off ringer switch.
Exclusive Sprint Content and Services
"Sprint recognizes that businesses must stay productive and competitive with quick, always-accessible information and assistance for their own customers," said Michael Hahn, vice president of device operations for Sprint. "With instant access to email, messaging services and the web on the nation's largest Mobile Broadband Network, Sprint provides its customers the mobile tools they need to increase productivity and improve competitiveness now."
In addition to the valuable business-friendly features delivered through Palm and Windows Mobile 6.1, new business applications are being created through Sprint's newly launched Professional Developer Program and with tools such as the Titan platform for Windows Mobile 6.1 devices. A growing community of application developers who may previously have focused on desktop services are now finding it easier to generate services that can perform on both the desktop and mobile devices.
Pricing and Availability
The Treo 800w is available today for consumers and businesses at Sprint Stores, online at www.sprint.com or www.palm.com, and through Sprint or Palm's B2B sales organizations. It will be available for $249.99 after discounts and rebates with a two-year contract.
Dimensions: 4.4" x 2.3" x 0.7"
Weight: 5.0 oz
Battery Information: 1150 mAh standard
Included Accessories:
Standard Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) Battery Battery Door AC Charger with Adapter MicroUSB Sync Cable Stereo Headset User Guide is available here.
Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Software
Windows Mobile 6.1 provides features allowing you to stay connected to your business and personal data on the go. Windows Mobile 6.1 supports many forms of email including HTML mobile. Edit documents using Microsoft Mobile applications. Easily transfer your digital multimedia from your Windows-based PC to your device.
GPS Capable
Autonomous and simultaneous GPS using Sprint Navigation for turn by turn directions, and points of interest searches.
Wireless Email-Corporate & Personal
Outlook email with Microsoft Direct Push Technology and HTML support. Send and receive email from multiple corporate and personal email accounts. Also, get wireless email access to popular commercial POP3 and IMAP accounts like AOL, Gmail, Earthlink, and Yahoo!
Stereo Bluetooth® Wireless Technology
Enjoy the convenience of hands-free communication by using headsets, car-kits and other Bluetooth-compatible devices.* Stereo Bluetooth lets you listen to your music on the go or listen to your music using compatible accessories without wires. *Bluetooth wireless accessories are sold separately.
Embedded Wi-Fi
Instant-on short-cut button for Wi-Fi access where Sprint's Mobile Broadband Network is unavailable.
Attachment Viewing and Editing
Edit Microsoft® Excel® and Word®. View PowerPoint®, PDF Mobile documents and more.
2.0 Megapixel camera/camcorder
Shoot high-resolution digital images or videos. Capable of 2X Zoom. Build and customize your favorite photos into your very own slide show on this powerful device. Send your photos using Outlook Mobile.
Micro SD Expansion Card Slot
Capable of a 8GB Micro SD Card - Add memory and selected peripherals, transfer music, photos, and video from your desktop, or load additional games and applications.
Sprint TV® Enabled
Watch live TV and video-on-demand with full-motion video and vivid sound. Catch the latest news, sports, weather, entertainment and movie trailers on the go.
Built-in media player
See and hear your favorite news, sports, and other fun content in real-time streaming video and audio, all at broadband speeds.
Easy Navigation
Touch-screen and integrated, backlit QWERTY keyboard makes sending email and editing documents fast and familiar. Central five-way navigation button provides easy access to menus and dramatically improves one-handed operation.
Speakerphone
Hands-free operation of your phone is made easy with the built-in speakerphone allowing you to take a conference call virtually anywhere!
Customize to suit your style
Make the Palm Treo 800W exclusively yours by adding applications which can also be found on www.palm.com among games and downloads found on www.sprint.com.
Brilliant Color display
Vibrant TFT display with 65K colors and 320 x 320 resolution
Memory
256MB user memory and 128MB of program memory offers plenty of room to carry everything you need.
Data Transfer Mode (DTM)
Set in the default position allowing users in an active data session to be notified of incoming voice calls, rather than having them go automatically to voicemail.
Voice Memo/Recorder
Record your brilliant ideas with the built-in voice recorder.
Customizable picture Caller ID
Know who's calling you by linking downloaded images and photos to specific contacts in your internal phone book.
Phone as Modem:
Take advantage of Sprint Mobile Broadband on your laptop by using your smart device as a wireless modem (USB cable included). Requires appropriate service plan.
TTY Compatible
This phone connects to a TTY device, allowing anyone who is visually- or hearing-impaired the ability to communicate.
Hearing Aid Compatible (HAC)
This handset has been certified as Hearing Aid Compatible in accordance with applicable industry standards. This handset has a HAC rating of M3 for hearing aids operating in the acoustic mode. This handset has a HAC rating of T3 for hearing aids operating in the telecoil mode.