Essential Information on the Windows Mobile-based Treo

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.windowsmobile.com/' target='_blank'>http://www.windowsmobile.com/</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Announcing an alliance you thought you'd never see - Palm and Windows Mobile 5.0. Now you don't have to choose - you can get the best from two pioneers in mobile devices, in addition to a high-speed network from Verizon. The new Treo, available in early 2006, offers Broadband Access, a QWERTY keyboard, and familiar Outlook Mobile applications for easy e-mail access."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050927-WMTreo.jpg" /><br /><br />It happened in the blink of an eye. Palm fans cried. Windows Mobile fans cheered. Questions were asked. They were responded. If you missed out on all the action, you'll find a plethora of links below to get you up to speed on the Palm and Microsoft partnership for the Windows Mobile-based Treo. <!><br /><br />• <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/5/palm.mspx">Palm Treo at the Windows Mobile website</a><br />• <a href="http://www.palm.com/us/company/?intcmp=HmPg_Windows_20050926">Palm Treo at the Palm website</a><br /><br />• <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2005/sep05/09-26MobilityPR.mspx">Official Press Release by Microsoft</a><br />• <a href="http://www.palm.com/us/company/pr/news_feed_story.epl?reqid=760974">Official Press Release by Palm</a><br /><br />• <a href="http://metahost.savvislive.com/microsoft/20050926/sfo_press_conference_20050926_56.asx">56kbps Webcast</a><br />• <a href="http://metahost.savvislive.com/microsoft/20050926/sfo_press_conference_20050926_100.asx">100kbps Webcast</a><br />• <a href="http://metahost.savvislive.com/microsoft/20050926/sfo_press_conference_20050926_300.asx">300kbps Webcast</a><br />• <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/billgates/speeches/2005/09-26Mobility.asp">News Conference Transcript</a><br />• <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/winme/0509/25267/SFO_Press_Conference.xml">Podcast Feed</a><br /><br />• <a href="http://blogs.msdn.com/mikehall/archive/2005/09/26/474250.aspx">Mike Hall's Embedded Weblog</a> also contains some additional links that are worth checking out.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050927-WMTreo2.jpg" /><br /><br />Over the next day or two, we'll be posting on the industry's response to the Windows Mobile-based Treo, and what it means for the future. Palm CEO, Ed Colligan, stressed that the partnership between Microsoft and Palm was about "growth", and not about shutting off other things (e.g. Palm OS). Really? Time will tell... ;)

[carphead]

What partnership? 8O :wink:

[ctmagnus]

Dumb question: is Verizon GSM or CDMA?

I hope it's GSM but if it is, it'll take forever for Rogers to pick it up. :(

[ADBrown]

Dumb question: is Verizon GSM or CDMA?

I hope it's GSM but if it is, it'll take forever for Rogers to pick it up. :(

Verizon is CDMA, so a GSM version of the 700w will probably take an additional 6 months.

[tal]

Over the next day or two, we'll be posting on the industry's response to the Windows Mobile-based Treo, and what it means for the future. Palm CEO, Ed Colligan, stressed that the partnership between Microsoft and Palm was about "growth", and not about shutting off other things (e.g. Palm OS).
I really wonder if the Windows Mobil Treo would have seen the light of day if Palm(One) hadn't been outbit on PalmSource.

At least it is a strange coincidence that this announcement follows that short after the PalmSource acquisition.

Thorsten

[inteller]

Dumb question: is Verizon GSM or CDMA?

I hope it's GSM but if it is, it'll take forever for Rogers to pick it up. :(

Verizon is CDMA, so a GSM version of the 700w will probably take an additional 6 months.

you wouldnt want GSM anyways, this was designed for high speed data, which no GSM carrier in the US has.....please dont even say EDGE, it pales in comparison to EV-DO.

[jpjehu]

Did anyone catch the fact that Bill Gate's cel phone number was on display for 15 seconds or so? I think I saw his work number, too!

[bnycastro]

Dumb question: is Verizon GSM or CDMA?

I hope it's GSM but if it is, it'll take forever for Rogers to pick it up. :(

Verizon is CDMA, so a GSM version of the 700w will probably take an additional 6 months.

you wouldnt want GSM anyways, this was designed for high speed data, which no GSM carrier in the US has.....please dont even say EDGE, it pales in comparison to EV-DO.I'd like to see a GSM version [my country doesn't have EV-DO nor does it have EDGE]

[Raphael Salgado]

Monthly data prices (based on NY Metro market, 09-2005)

Verizon Broadband Access, EV-DO ready
unlimited, $49.99* with no voice plan
unlimited, $44.99* with voice plan
10MB, $24.99*
* "tethering not allowed" - The Unlimited plans cannot be used: (1) for any applications that tether the device to laptops, PCs, or other equipment for any purpose...

Sprint PCS Vision, EV-DO ready
unlimited plus Picture Mail, $15*
unlimited, $10*
* "tethering not allowed" - Sprint PCS Vision Packs are not available with Sprint PCS Connection Cards™, Sprint PCS Connection Kits™ or other devices that can be used as a modem

Cingular Data Connect for PDAs, EDGE ready
unlimited, $39.99 with voice plan

Cingular MEdia Net, EDGE ready
unlimited, $19.99 with voice plan
10MB, $14.99 with voice plan

T-Mobile Internet Plan, EDGE ready where available
unlimited, $29.99 with no voice plan
unlimited, $19.99++ with voice plan
++ could not be verified on website, but was told this is the plan that can be used on PDA/phones

T-Mobile T-MobileWeb, EDGE ready where available
unlimited, $5.99 with voice plan

GSM with EDGE, although slower, is still much more palatable, when you consider the freedom in switching devices as easy as buying them and swapping in your SIM card. Verizon and Sprint are very locked-down networks, giving no support or access to non-Verizon/Sprint-branded phones on their network.

[boldbidder]

Dumb question: is Verizon GSM or CDMA?

I hope it's GSM but if it is, it'll take forever for Rogers to pick it up. :(

Verizon is CDMA, so a GSM version of the 700w will probably take an additional 6 months.

you wouldnt want GSM anyways, this was designed for high speed data, which no GSM carrier in the US has.....please dont even say EDGE, it pales in comparison to EV-DO.

Cingular will be firing up HSPDA on their network in November. Then it will be EV-DO paling in comparison....... :wink:

[dazz]

A bit more interesting news. Palm is planning on future versions of the Treo running Windows Mobile. I posted about this here:

http://smartmobileassets.com/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl/Blah.pl?,v=display,b=news,m=1127789497

I based it on an article Tech News did about how Palm and MS have been meeting secretly since as far back as Feb 2004. 8O

Palm also says that they will have tweaks and software that will set the Treo 700w apart from the rest of the crowd. Hmmm, sound interesting.

Oh, and Palm does not have any plans to use another OS.

[dorelse]

you wouldnt want GSM anyways, this was designed for high speed data, which no GSM carrier in the US has.....please dont even say EDGE, it pales in comparison to EV-DO.


Umm....gee, thanks for deciding for the rest of the world what we want in a cellphone.

Somehow, though, I think I'll manage to struggle through life making my own decisions.

Its amazing, but this Treo 650 (GSM) that I use on a daily basis, seems to work every time I need it.

So...yes, actually, I would want a GSM Treo 700w. (Here's the thing, some of us don't need to surf the web all day long...I actually use it to get work done.)

[alabij]

Sure! this is a good device. But will it sell. Palm users bought it because it worked well with a palm OS. The question is will it work well with a Windows Mobile device. It's a gamble.

Palm is known for its simplicity. Windows isn't, though it is more functional. Remember the form factor was designed with Palm in mind. Thats what made it work. WM5 is a whole different ball game.

[AZMark]

You can't go talking up EDGE or GSM when Verizon is a 1/3 partner in this presentation. I'm sure GSM versions will follow and they'll be a great thing in that presentation.

But if you haven't tried a EVDO device, give it a shot. Latency and speed really do blow away EDGE.

[dorelse]

My point is that for someone (like me) who doesn't use Mobile Internet browsing, my data connection speed really isn't a factor. Heck, I don't even have a data plan on my Treo. I want the Treo form, running WM 2005, saying that I don't want a product because it doesn't fit your needs does fly....my priorities are completely different.

[huangzhinong]

My point is that for someone (like me) who doesn't use Mobile Internet browsing, my data connection speed really isn't a factor. Heck, I don't even have a data plan on my Treo. I want the Treo form, running WM 2005, saying that I don't want a product because it doesn't fit your needs does fly....my priorities are completely different.

Me either, can't even afford the $19.99 T-mobile plan, let alone brandband. Plus, there is no cell phone signal in my office building at all.

[Ardfry]

Dumb question: is Verizon GSM or CDMA?

I hope it's GSM but if it is, it'll take forever for Rogers to pick it up. :(

Verizon is CDMA, so a GSM version of the 700w will probably take an additional 6 months.

you wouldnt want GSM anyways, this was designed for high speed data, which no GSM carrier in the US has.....please dont even say EDGE, it pales in comparison to EV-DO.

This is only 1/2 true. Cingular has offered UMTS for quite some time (several years), only it hasn't been marketed to consumers, and it is very expensive.

http://www.cingular.com/midtolarge/umts

[whydidnt]

This is only 1/2 true. Cingular has offered UMTS for quite some time (several years), only it hasn't been marketed to consumers, and it is very expensive.

http://www.cingular.com/midtolarge/umts

Yes, but it's only available in 6 markets. If you travel outside of one of these markets, you will be back at EDGE or GPRS speeds. EV-DO is finally avaialble in enough metropolitan places that it can be called a national service. For those of who travel that's a huge plus. Plus, I'm not aware of any PPCPE device that supports Cingular's version of UMTS, are you?

However, I agree that there are plenty of people that EDGE is plenty fast enough for.

[eagle63]

Cingular will be firing up HSPDA on their network in November. Then it will be EV-DO paling in comparison.......


HSDPA is an add-on to UMTS, and is probably a few years off. By the time Cingular gets around to getting UMTS rolling nationwide, the CDMA carriers should have EV-DO release-A going, which I think averages around 2 - 4 mbps.

The CDMA goup has been and will continue to be (for the near-term at least) one step ahead of GSM in the data-speed race.

[gohtor]

When I first heard about the accidental prototype being exhibited i was at disbelief. now I see the Advertisements... Worlds are colliding here folks! run!

[inteller]

Cingular will be firing up HSPDA on their network in November. Then it will be EV-DO paling in comparison.......


HSDPA is an add-on to UMTS, and is probably a few years off. By the time Cingular gets around to getting UMTS rolling nationwide, the CDMA carriers should have EV-DO release-A going, which I think averages around 2 - 4 mbps.

The CDMA goup has been and will continue to be (for the near-term at least) one step ahead of GSM in the data-speed race.

yep thats right, until we all converge on WCDMA.....then all of this talk won't matter....except for the fact that CDMA as a technology won.

[Ardfry]

This is only 1/2 true. Cingular has offered UMTS for quite some time (several years), only it hasn't been marketed to consumers, and it is very expensive.

http://www.cingular.com/midtolarge/umts

Yes, but it's only available in 6 markets. If you travel outside of one of these markets, you will be back at EDGE or GPRS speeds. EV-DO is finally avaialble in enough metropolitan places that it can be called a national service. For those of who travel that's a huge plus. Plus, I'm not aware of any PPCPE device that supports Cingular's version of UMTS, are you?

However, I agree that there are plenty of people that EDGE is plenty fast enough for.

Yes, these points are true, but your original statement was stronger than it should have been. I live in a UMTS market, and even if it did work with a device I wouldn't pay the $99 a month, which was the last price I saw posted when I looked into it.

[Jason Dunn]

The CDMA goup has been and will continue to be (for the near-term at least) one step ahead of GSM in the data-speed race.

True, but:

1) There are hardly any devices
2) They only work in carrier-supported markets. i.e.: my CDMA carriers up here refuse to activate unlocked CDMA devices, so I can't use them unless THEY release them

CDMA/EVDO rocks for speed, no doubt, but the stars have to align in order for you to get the device you want on the carrier you want. Not all of us are so lucky, so we put up with the crappy speeds of GSM because it lets use chose from many more devices, in many more countries around the world.