Palm Goes Consumer With Treo 500v

Written by Adam Gosling

Thursday, 13 September 2007

Commentators are positioning the Palm Treo 500v as Palms first real foray into the consumer smartphone market, thanks to its good looks and attractive price. Vodafone customers in Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, the UK and Vodacom customers in South Africa (sorry no Australia announcement) will get their hands on new Treo 500v starting next month (October 2007). Rerports suggest other territories could come in three months time. It's not only the pricing that makes this Treo look destined for non-business users. Features such as built in access to popular websites such as MySpace, YouTube and eBay as well as a new user interface make the new Palm suitable for the growing number of consumers interested in advanced features like push email - which of course the Treo 500v provides thanks to its Windows ability to connect to Outlook. Vodafone in Europe will also offer users it's own email service as an option. In its European configuration, the 3G smartphone runs on a Windows Mobile 6 and UMTS data has a full QWERTY keyboard, large (?) screen, video streaming capability and a comprehensive multi-messaging functionality covering Instant Messaging, SMS, email and phone and personal information management software in a new design. John Hartnett, Senior Vice President, Global Markets and Windows Business Unit, Palm Inc, said, "The Treo 500v is priced to enable a broader audience to experience the internet and email on the go. Today's generation has really embraced the internet as a way of keeping in touch with friends and family, seeking out entertainment and managing their day to day lives. We can offer users the choice to do what they want, how they want, when they want." "The new Treo 500v adds a third internet ready Vodafone live! and Microsoft Windows Mobile device to our recently announced Global Handset range," said Jens Schulte-Bockum, Global Terminals Director, Vodafone Group. "When combined with our high-speed 3G/UMTS network and fast access to the internet, along with great browsing and messaging support, we are confident the Palm Treo 500v will appeal to the growing group of consumers looking for the same functionality and ease of use our business customers continue to enjoy from this type of premium device." With the Palm Treo 500v smartphone customers can also manage documents using mobile versions of familiar Microsoft applications like Outlook, Office, and Windows Live for Windows Mobile. In addition users can share the Treo 500v smartphone's data access with a laptop, so they can stay connected anywhere within wireless coverage. "With the launch of the Treo 500v smartphone, Palm is delivering the benefits of Windows Mobile 6 to an increasingly broad range of users across Europe, providing them with access to important information and personal applications, such as Windows Live, to help them manage work and life on the move," said Tony Mestres, General Manager, Microsoft Mobile Communications Business. "This latest phone is another example of our joint commitment to extend the range and choice of Windows Mobile phones on the market for users." The Treo 500 will initially be available in two colours: glacier white and charcoal grey (see below). Treo 500v Features and Benefits All-in-one smartphone with messaging, email and web Full keyboard for fast and easy typing Automatic delivery of Hotmail/MSN, Yahoo!, and Gmail, email as it arrives Large, high-resolution screen Internet Explorer Mobile full-featured browser Access to Google Maps and eBay Vodafone live! for news, sports, and entertainment on the go 3G/UMTS network Planner with address book, calendar, to-do lists, and more View Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe PDF files Windows Media Player Mobile for music and videos 2.0 megapixel camera captures video too 150MB of memory, expandable with microSD expansion card Windows Mobile 6 Standard software Microsoft Direct Push technology for delivery of Outlook email Bluetooth wireless technology Colours: glacier white and charcoal grey www.palm.com Related news items Tiny Rugged UMPC WIth Vista -10/10/2007 Consumers Want FMC: Companies Don't See The Benefit -02/10/2007 Nokia Buys Map Company For US$8 Billion -02/10/2007 Seven In Unwired Takeover Bid -26/09/2007 Ultra-Mobile Sales Ready To Rocket -16/09/2007 Newer news items The Poor Man's Palm -02/10/2007 Armani, Prada, Labels Get Mobile -26/09/2007 Next-Gen 3G RAZR DownUnder -24/09/2007 Nokia E51: Smarter Than It Looks -19/09/2007 New Pearl Colours Coming -18/09/2007 Older news items First Windows 6 Palm In Australia -12/09/2007 HP Goes iPaq Mad -06/09/2007 Optus, Vodafone Adopt A New Windows Smartphone -08/08/2007 NASA Says No iPhones, But BlackBerry Okay -31/07/2007 iPhone Proving Tough Nut To Crack -18/07/2007 Tag This Now: