You can now get an unlocked Palm Centro smartphone (no carrier contract required). The new GSM device, which comes in white and sports grey accents, is available at Palm's online store for $299.
As the summer travel season ramps up, Centro users in the U.S. will also appreciate a new version of Google Mobile Maps (GMM) that includes My Location, which uses cell phone towers to approximate* your location on the map. This makes it even easier to get driving directions, find a nearby coffee shop or check local traffic.
My location is compatible with Palm Centro smartphones running on the AT&T and Verizon Wireless networks. The Sprint Centro will have the My Location feature available through a software update expected this summer. Check out GMM's site for details.
Rob K. - Senior Product Manager, Consumer Smartphones
*Location is an approximation and is not GPS. Within wireless coverage area only. Messaging, email, web require data services from a mobile service provider at an additional cost. Google Maps for Mobile may not be available for certain areas. Please see Google Mobile Maps for more details.
Thanks for the followup, Rob. Can you please explain in a little more detail exactly why it is that Palm and Google have no plans to bring the My Location functionality to the Treo line? In my case, I've got a Treo 755p - a device that is still available from carriers, and which sells for a significant premium over the Centro - that apparently will not benefit from the My Location functionality.
Given that you acknowledge the fact that third-party applications can provide similar functionality on some Treos, it can't be a hardware issue. And since GMM's My Location works on both AT&T and Verizone Wireless Centros, it can't be a CDMA vs. GSM issue.
If Palm and Google have made a decision to not support adding this functionality to Treos, can you please provide some further insight into that decision? There will still be some frustrated customers, but if the point of this blog is to improve communication with the Palm community, then explaining the rationale for a seemingly arbitrary "Centro, yes; Treo, no" decision would at least help those users understand how we ended up where we are.
Posted by: Jeff | July 02, 2008 at 08:22 AM
Dumb question time. If I get an unlocked Centro, when I do choose a service provider, don't they just lock it up again? Will I have to get it unlocked if I decide to use a different provider? Or, can I use it with a pay as you go plan?
I really don't quite get this locked/unlocked concept.... well I understand the unlocked piece so one can keep the phone and use it with another provider...but not the other...isn't it simply a matter of slipping in a new sim card for whatever provider I'm going to use?
Can somebody please explain how this works. Thanks so much!
Posted by: lily | July 02, 2008 at 10:32 PM
Is it possible to make this colour (and maybe other colours) available in Europe?
Posted by: Frits de Vries | July 09, 2008 at 10:36 PM
So I could have this year 2000 technology for $299 or a 16GB iPhone. That's an easy decision.
Posted by: Terry | July 10, 2008 at 09:26 AM
You people sure like to whine, don't you? Constantly complaing about "business users" this and "business users" that and "I want my GPS on my Treo because I spent 500 dollars on it and I'm a BUSINESS USER!"
Here's a bold idea:
LEARN HOW TO READ A MAP!
Posted by: Matt | July 24, 2008 at 12:49 AM
So you make "my location" available to entry level users on the centro but not to your professional users on the treo 755p?
What is WRONG with you folks?! The more expensive flagship treo has fewer capabilities than the cheaper, entry level smartphone. Utterly staggering, palm. Seriously.
Posted by: brian | July 28, 2008 at 06:16 PM
Terry,
Here`s a bold idea:
MORE EXPENSIVE PHONES SHOULD OFFER A GREATER ARRAY OF FEATURES THAN THEIR LESS EXPENSIVE COUNTERPARTS. Was that difficult to understand?
Some smartphone companies are poor strategists when designing and executing their product tiers. This is exhibit A.
GET A CLUE.
Posted by: Brian | July 28, 2008 at 06:29 PM
When will there be a new Treo 755p Update for Sprint to enable My Location?
Posted by: Daniel Zen | August 07, 2008 at 07:56 AM
Just another frustrated Sprint 755p user that has been waiting patiently for "My Location" functionality. I have been with Treo for a very long time and 4 different models. I can tell you one thing, my next phone will not be a palm device. I have finally learned my lesson.
Posted by: Sam | August 08, 2008 at 01:46 PM
i would like to see the white centro with green accents available with sprint, it's the one i had before with at&t. but now i'm with sprint. please make this available.
Posted by: Tommy | September 05, 2008 at 08:27 AM
Definately an excellent product, pretty easy to use and configure its settings. Also, it is very recommendable because of its connection to the Internet. Well done guys!
http://www.magnitiendum.com.mx/palms/palm-treo-680.php
Posted by: Palm Treo Pro, Centro | February 01, 2009 at 03:56 PM