Officially Announcing the Treo 500v Smartphone in EMEA

As you have read yesterday (or the day before that or even the day before that), Palm is announcing the Treo 500 smartphone, which is initially available to Vodafone customers throughout EMEA (officially official). Here is a link that contains product details and a list of countries the Treo 500v will be available in.

Product specs and benfits include:

·       Windows Mobile® 6 Standard software

·       Full qwerty keyboard

·       3G/UMTS network

·       Automatic delivery of Hotmail/MSN, Yahoo!, and Gmail, email as it arrives

·       Microsoft® Direct Push technology for delivery of Outlook® email

·       Access to Google Maps and eBay

·       Vodafone live! for news, sports, and entertainment on the go

·       Windows Media® Player Mobile for music and videos

·       2.0 megapixel camera captures video too

·      150MB of memory, expandable with microSD expansion card

Below is another image of the Treo 500v - notice the colors (our personal favorite is the "charcoal grey").

Also, Andrew Carton of Treonauts has wrriten an overview of the announcement in Europe.

-Treo 500v Team

Comments

[RobAnd]

I am so tired of all those Treo with keyboards and small screens. Please palm, give me some hope about the TX + cell radio!!!!!

[GM]

Hey Palm, can´t you realize that a lot of palm users are asking and desperately waiting for a smarthphone with a HUGE 320X480 screen and Wi-Fi?
When are you going to announce the TX2 with cell radio?

[Marc]

Where is the big screen (like TX)?
Where is the wi-fi?
I am waiting two years of my TX replacement and still no hopes:(

TX Phone = IPhone killer!!!!!

[ALZ]

Palm we need a big landscape screen and Palm OS!
I agree with others comments above: We need a TX Phone!

[CES]

I think I will ask Engadget to write another Open Letter to you Palm explaning that a Big Landscape 320x480 screen is a Must Have feature on a new Treo.
How long must I wait to have so obvious device. And of course with Palm OS

[Tam]

It was not difficult to Apple realize, by reading on the Palm forums, that a Big Screen Device without keyboard and with Wi-Fi could be a big success. So The IPhone was born!

Do you know palm how long have we asked for a Smartphone with big screen? I have read about such devices since 2005.

Where is our TX Phone?

[AndAl]

I know that the Smartphones are the way to Go now, but insisting in the same old formfactor is not good palm. A palm OS device with a Gorgeous 320x480 screen + cell radio + wi-fi + GPS could be a Best Seller. We are waiting for this device.

[Alexandre Teotônio]

I am customer from Brazil, it is a long time I use palm. The last palm I had was Zire 71. I tried during two years to buy a new device from Palm, a smartphone, but unfortunately every release, until now, in this category is such disappointement. I will only buy from palm if a smartphone will come with Wifi. I am totally agreed with Andres Jabois, it would be perfect a TX+phone. I waited too long, and I haven't buy the iphone yet because doesn't accept third applications. If Apple changes this little thing I don't have any doubt I sill leave palm. Nevertheless I admit that I would prefer to have a great palm device like TX with phone. It is just simple. Sorry for my English mistakes.

[MaSa]

Have to add one thing: I like the design. :-)

But thing though: Make those "Send/End" + "SoftKeys" smaller and use this space for enlarging the screen.

*running in a circle with sign up and shouting* : "TX plus phone - Palm, and won't leave you alone...."

[Albert Cuesta]

After several hours using the 500v, here's my first take about the device (in Spanish):

http://www.canalpda.com/2007/09/13/4335-palm+treo+500v+primeras+impresiones

[D]

No touch screen? No Palm OS? Why even release this product? And what happened to the new Palm OS you've been working on? What's so different about this device than what's featured on the Dash, Blackjack, etc. (and those phones came out months ago!!!)? Internet Explorer on this thing looks like every other browser in the Windows Mobile world--meaning that normal web pages on your phone won't displayed properly. I really hate Apple, but with releases like this one, the iPhone is looking better and better.

[Andreas]

Waiting with great expectations - and now disappointed. Just another Windows machine. You have a great OS and don´t support it any more?
Why does a smartphone have to have a keyboard? Can´t it be on the touchscreen so you can at least have a screen as big as the TX I´m using (and loving) right now? And WiFi is state of the art.
I´ll give you another try - because I´love the palm device and use ist since the palm V. But if thats all I really have to think about something else - which might rather be apple than microsoft.

[lou]

Congratulations!!! Now where is our fix for our 700P data issues. Its nice that they are making more products and ignoring their userbase. Did my BBB Complaint not get through to guys. Hello?

A great Idea is a bigger screen maybe a 4 inch or a widescreen treo. a widescreen treo would be great. And on the palm os make the colors more like the colors of windows mobile. And release more treo 650 updates.

[Ederic]

Will wait for a Palm version. :)

[Craig Wiseman]

Note to Palm: most folks looking at Palm want PalmOS devices, or something different and BETTER than a Windows-based device.

I'm trying to figure out why I would buy this, even if I actually liked windows mobile. This counts as a "me, too! Only not as many features" release. No WIFI? No 320x320? No real 3G?

I reallly hope you've got better...far better.... up your sleeve. It needs to come soon!

Palm IIIc | Treo 300 | Treo 600 | Treo 680 | looking

[1PTUser]

Does any one posting here realize that this is just an entry level WM Smartphone. Notice the model number, 500. With 150mb of user memory, it's specs compares VERY well with the entry-level, non-touchscreen, WM smartphones on the market. This IS NOT meant to be Palm's flagship product. It's their Toyota Camry, not their Lexus LS. Regardless, I'd love to see them up the ante with their next Lexus level product:
- integrated GPS PLEASE Palm!
- 320 x 480 Resolution, 4+ inch screen
- wifi (The carriers don't like it; but, Palm you must strive to survive.)
- support forHC removable storage
- native syncml support with an included Windows and mac client to allow internet syncing of all PIM data.
- Add SIMPLE integrated media sync functions to the desktop client (or include Real's with a 6mth RhapsodyToGo subscription)
- Add SIMPLE DVD convertion software to the PC client and Core Media Player to the handheld for video viewing.
- Offer a free Slingbox client on the CD.
- 8gb+ SSD drive
- Dump the multimedia desktop extras and include handheld vpn software and a Terminal services client for the Business version.
- Make nice with the folks at LogMeIn and include a 6mth subscription for everybody.

[1PTUser]

NO MUTE BUTTON! Oh no you didn't!

[Sam]

I think it would be good if you followed up on the Guardian article, which mentions a 12-to-18 month timeframe for the Linux Treo. Confirm or clarify, please. Thanks.

[Lin]

I don't understand the point of this phone. It is a Treo in a smaller size. It has no touch screen, no stylus,and no wif. It has that horrible slippery tiny keypad based on the Treos and a miniture screen that is unreadable.

Why can't Palm make a phone based on the TX??

[Mikey B]

I really think this phone has potential. Its not the "high end" model we all want but it shows that progress is being made, imho. On that note... I personally am NOT a fan of the palm OS (I've owned the 650, 700wx, and now the 755p). I am one of the few, it seems, that REALLY like the winmob OS better. That being said...lets get a new winmob treo to the US on Sprint...I am jealous of cingular with the 750 min mob phone with the 755p design ...

[Jerry F. Giardina]

Just saw this comment on the engadget.com

More Delays for the Palm OS,

Palm why don't you ask for outside help and bring your linux Treo to Market. You cannot delay any longer Palm! Every article is hitting you hard! Do something to woo and wow soon please palm. Step up to homeplate and hit a home run!! Why do you neglect your Palm Faithful?

Posted Sep 15th 2007 6:59PM by Joshua Topolsky
Filed under: Cellphones

The hits just don't seem to be stopping for Palm these days. In the last few weeks we've watched the Foleo debacle unravel, seen the underwhelming Treo 500v announcement, and gotten word that the Elevation Partners partial sale has gone through (a small ray of light, really) -- but it appears we're not done yet. According to a scathing report in The Guardian, Palm is now projecting a 12- to 18-month wait on the new, Linux-based version of its OS (Palm OS II to you and me), which is a considerable extension compared to the dates we heard back in July (which, of course, were just more delays in a long line of empty promises), and puts the oft-hindered software closer to a 2009 release. No offense guys, but you've been talking about this OS for about five years, all while Windows Mobile, RIM, and Symbian have lapped you... repeatedly. Maybe you can get the open source community to lend a hand? They're quite crafty.

[Nicola Carrai]

I had Palm III in 1998 then Palm 505 (still using it).
I have also a Nokia.
Both products have great OSs and easy of use.
I would switch to just one device but:
1) iPhone don't have voice dial.
2) I would like to stay with
PalmOs + Palm Desktop.

TX with embedded phone or Treo with WiFi capabilities could be my choice.

I wouldn't leave Palm but if Palm still not listen us, I probably will (sadly) say goodby.

[Andrew Turner]

A UK customer since the original Pilot, I have had a succession of Palm handhelds. I don't need a phone. But, I need to move on from my T2 to an improved TX. Graffiti is a USP and brilliantly successful technology. So when will we get the handheld we need and can use with all our extra applications, and sync-ing properly with Mac OSX? If I have to do without Griffiti, I might as well use an iphone or touch-ipod! What a shame if us loyal Palm users get driven away.

[Andres Jabois]

Ooh, this sucks, it's so hard to stick a big screen (touch screen in fact), Wi-Fi, and a decent battery?

Better look ahead to the new HP line please.

PD: Every other WinMo Standard has this ... and more.