Palm, Inc. today announced the Palm Treo 750 Windows Mobile Pocket PC Phone Edition,
previously available as Palm 750v (see
my review here) on Vodafone's 3G/UMTS network since September 2006 in the UK
and across much of Western Europe, will be made SIM free and unlocked generally
available across Europe via
Palm's online store and from retail outlets beginning Feb. 6. This move
broadens the customer base that will be able to benefit from the Palm experience
on Microsoft's Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system and adds HSDPA capability,
underlining Palm's commitment to its European customers.
The Treo 750 combines the hallmark Palm experience of a multifeatured mobile
phone with E-Mail, messaging, web browsing and organization software all in a
compact design. Among the software on the Treo 750 smartphone will be
Microsoft's Pocket MSN, giving users access to MSN services, such as instant
messaging and support for MSN Hotmail accounts within Outlook Mobile. The device
will be compatible with 3G UMTS/HSDPA networks.
"The Treo 750 smartphone - made available first with Vodafone in Europe
and recently announced with Cingular Wireless in the United States -
continues to expand our customer reach globally," said Roy Bedlow, vice
president, Palm EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa). "There are over 5
million Treo smartphones sold globally to date, and continuing to expand the
Treo footprint is a key focus for Palm. The addition of HSDPA is just one of
the great benefits the new Treo 750 smartphone has to offer professionals
who want a strong mobile computing experience."
The Treo 750 smartphone runs Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC Phone Edition,
offering users access to Outlook applications as well as the ability to view and
edit Microsoft Word and Excel files and view PowerPoint and PDF files. The touch
screen makes surfing websites, gathering data and navigating forms and
applications much easier.
The Messaging and Security Feature Pack (MSFP) is available out of the box with
the Treo 750 and includes Direct Push Technology, which gives users connected to
a Microsoft Exchange Server fast, automatic wireless updates of their E-Mail,
calendar items, contacts and tasks. It provides added security features for IT
administrators, such as over-the-air password policy enforcement and remote wipe
for lost or stolen devices. MSFP also gives users over-the-air lookup of a
company's Global Address List (GAL), providing employees with quick access to
colleagues' E-Mail and contact information. The Treo 750 offers mobile
professionals other corporate E-Mail options, including streamlined access to
Microsoft Exchange.
Unique to the Treo smartphone on Windows Mobile 5.0 is a suite of software
enhancements developed by Palm that underscores its brand promise of fast
access, ease of use and simplicity. Examples include the following:
- Threaded chat view for text and MMS messages
- Today Screen enhancements, which feature the ability to "dial by name"
with a few keystrokes on the keyboard, perform a web search directly from
the Today Screen and perform one-touch dialing with personalized photo speed
dials
- Ability to manage a call directly from the Today Screen and stay on top
of voicE-Mail with on-screen, VCR-like icons, such as rewind, delete and
fast-forward controls for easy navigation
- Capability to ignore a call and quickly send a text message such as "In
a meeting" or "Can't talk right now" by selecting the "Ignore with text"
option from the incoming call screen.
Further information on the Palm Treo 750 are
available online now.
UPDATE: Without a contract, the Palm Treo 750 will retail for around 649 Euro.
Cheers ~ Arne
