Meet the Treo Pro Smartphone

 

The new Treo Pro, announced today, packs a host of features like Wi-Fi and GPS into a sleek and elegant smartphone. (Wi-Fi and GPS fees depend on your coverage and data plan - click here for details.) Running Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, this world phone aims to keep the IT department and end users equally happy and productive.

Get a closer look in this video featuring three of the Treo Pro's very proud parents -- Stephane Maes (VP of product marketing), Peter Skillman (VP of design), and John Moses (VP of customer relations) - discussing the Treo Pro's thoughtful balance of powerful business-friendly features and surprisingly simple design.

Mike A. - Senior Product Manager

Comments

[teiluj]

Why have the last two palm Treos come out with Windows? What's going on?!?! Palm, at least let your devoted fans know what's coming down the pipeline. Promise us a new Palm OS soon, and a device even better than the Treo Pro. But promise it before 2012. I want it by Christmas... :)

[Ken]

This looks great but I cannot buy it. If it only had the Palm OS. Windows products are so glitchy. In addition, I have a lot of 3rd party Palm apps which I presume I would have to either abandon or repurchase for the Windows new based Treo Pro.

To repeat a prior comment, I would race to be the first to buy one with a Palm OS. Without it, I'm probably headed to the iPhone even though it isn't the full function smart phone that the Treo is. I presently have a 700p and have been waiting anxiously for a year for an upgrade announcement. I was very disappointed to see the OS on the Treo Pro.

[ahem]

I am close to getting something new. I have had Treos for 5 years, but do not use Windows--I am a Mac and Palm user, which means I will likely be getting the next gen of iPhone.

[Polu]

Is this a global (i.e. both GSM and GPRS) phone or only for the US market?

[Dave N.]

Broken record here. I'm a Realtor and I have a 700p, would survive without it. Works better than my peers who have windows. They keep telling me they got a patch, not working so well. If this new Pro Treo is as small as the Cento I won't use it. The screen has to be as big as the 700 for what I use it for and the keypad has to be more than for texters. I simply can't change to a kids toy. I hope pro means they have the professionals in mind. But it needs to be OS. It seems like Windows sucks up too much precious memory.

[Dave N.]

Okay if I would read a little before getting heated up....well I didn't. It seems to be just about the same or slightly wider and longer but much thinner. And a much better camera that would actually be of great use in my work. And the GPS would save a bit of driving out of the way. But still Windows....errr! Please build with Palm O/S before I have to buy a new phone.

[one.m.davis]

My comment is the same as all the above ones

WHY WINDOWS MOBILE??

when is a decent PalmOS unit going to be released??

the centro
a) offered nothing not on the 680
b) still had some features we had been begging palm to throw away, like that awkward multipin connector (why would you keep it just on the palm models?) and a 2.5mm headphone jack (thank goodness finally fixed on this model)

(however, at all costs keep the mute switch at the top of the unit, that is one of the simplest and greatest inovations the treo ever had)

but again
many of us on PalmOS treo's don't want to go to windows mobile (if we did go windows mobile there are many non-palm optios)

please either release something soon, or a statement on what you are doing with a modern PalmOS unit, You have left your loyal users out in the cold too long...

just look at all the replies to this blog!!

[one.m.davis]

Dear Mike A.

I have just read that you read (to moderate) all the comments

if you read all the comments can you please make it a priority to answer our common cry of "WHY WINDOWS MOBILE??" and when is a modern PalmOS unit going to be developed/released.

Most of us would rather here that you have no plans to ever provided a decent PalmOS unit, at least we would know, and stop holding out false hope.

Also, for those of us unaware, why can't a PalmOS be produced for 3G networks?

Thank you

Mike D.

[Rui Castro]

Portugal whats a PalmOS version of this phone?

[Dane]

iPhone makes the difference by one thing only; software. In the long run, Palm will never be able to compete with hardware only. Then you're up against guys like Nokia, LG and Sony Ericsson.

You guys really need to shape up your software. That's the opening.

Drop Windows Mobile. While it might bring some quick bucks now, it's going to kill you in the long run. "Just another Windows phone" will not make a difference.

[Steve_In_Texas]

If it only ran Palm OS!! Everything else about it is wonderful. Let me know when I can buy one to replace my Treo 650 (the very best Palm, ever). Just in case it is not clear, I have no interest in a Palm form factor loaded with Windows OS. Bring on the Palm OS.

[Scott W]

Currently on a Treo 680 with a dozen plus key apps.

Give me this hardware with PalmOS and I would buy one immediately.

[Michael G]

The main reason to buy a Palm has always been the Palm OS. Windows Mobile is notoriously cumbersome and fallible, but Palm OS has always been the superior alternative. GPS, WiFi, 3G, and a touchscreen are all home runs. I'm still waiting for a Treo based on the T/X, with it's larger touchscreen, and that wonderful Palm exclusive - Graffiti!! Now that would give the iPhones and RIM devices a run for the money!!

[rick]

Well me too, disappointed there is no palmos. I don't want to rebuy all my palm applications!

[Colonel Kernel]

I love that Palm has finally realeased a device for the power user that is not feature-limited to please the carriers, but, I too, wish to see an equally powerfull version for the Garnet OS, on-in-years as it is.

Would it be so hard for you to rework the Pro a little to run Garnet and also release it as Unlocked GSM device? THAT would tide over the wolves at the gate until the new OS is released.

[jtk]

I wholeheartedly agree with Maik, and others who express disappointment with the lack of a new Palm OS device. What we need, and what Palm needs to stay afloat, is a Palm TX with a phone (and with 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS). If you can't do it with the new Palm OS (which I suppose will never exist), let us have it with the existing one. It is still a great platform: easy to use, with tons of software, and lots of existing, loyal users. And never let go of Graffiti (unless you come up with some better, true handwriting recognition)!

[Kent Morwath]

@tk421
"This means GPS will not work unless you are in range of cell towers". False. Assisted GPS *can* use towers to improve positioning especially where GPS signal is not good (i.e inside buildings). The Treo comes with a software that require a subscription, but AFAIK you can buy and load another one that doesn't.

@Cozmot: do not listen to the WinMo haters. There are people trying to look smarter blaming MS for everything from dinosaurs extinction to global warming. The latest releases are not so bad.

[Augustine]

"iPhone makes the difference by one thing only; software."
Yes, a software that cannot cut&paste! LOL!

[Aaron R. Deutsch]

Treo Pro as a physical device: No leapfrogging here -- more a leap to try to stay relevant. That being said, it is kind of delicious looking, despite the small screen. Man, this would have been a hot phone in 2004!!!

Windows Mobile: FAIL

I've been a fan and a champion for Palm devices running the Palm OS for years now. Amazingly (and sadly), it's been the *same* device for all of those years, because there hasn't been a fitting replacement.

SERIOUSLY, what are the plans to put some good software on this? It's like Palm looks at us all like an alarm clock that they can keep hitting the big "six month snooze" button on twice a year by promising the new OS will be done soon just to shut us up.

Taking the easy way out and tossing on Android is a perfectly acceptable compromise IMHO. If the new Palm OS, when finally released, isn't as good as android, or doesn't beat Apple's move to other carriers we're looking at yet another group of iPhone converts...

[Russell Guinn]

I'm a longtime Palm OS Smartphone at&t user. I'd be one of the first in line for the new Treo Pro if it had a Palm OS. Please don't leave your Palm users High & Dry.

[Russell Guinn]

I love my Treo 680 Palm OS, except that it's a hassle to have to bluetooth with a GPS receiver, the multipin to USB syncing cable is not alway reliable, and built in WiFi would be nice. All starting to make iPhone look pretty nice since eReader, and recently SlashID are now available for iPhone. If iPhone only had a hot swap battery I'd switch today from my Treo 680. A Treo Pro with Palm OS would keep me loyal!!!!

[Mark]

@zzchipster

You can stream video, music and access the internet quite nicely with Palm OS. The negative opinions of WinMobile OS and preference for Palm OS expressed here are the result of actual experience using both OSes.

[USPSAGunner]

Sadly, if Palm does NOT come out with a new PalmOS device soon, I'm going to have to migrate to another platform (Blackberry most likely). My Treo 700P is a great smartphone but it's getting a little long in the tooth. The 755P isn't enough of an improvement to justify purchasing a whole new unit -- especially if I hold onto the hope that a better PalmOS device is somewhere out there. But if Palm doesn't get with it soon and reward the loyalty of their users, they're going to become just another purveyor of Windoze devices -- and that pool is already way too crowded.

[UnknownR]

Not what we want and too late (again).

I had a Treo 650 which I loved; tons of medical apps etc. But Palm apparently could care less about its own OS, and therefore now instead of waiting for Palm to get their OS into a sleek phone, I now update my apps with iPhone versions. I can hardly wait for the iPhone Palm emulator to come out http://www.styletap.com/product_apple.php (if apple decides to put the final nail in Palm's coffin).

[Gale]

I have a Treo 680 and need to upgrade to keep my phone working with my newer car phone system. But I am so reluctant to use Windows Mobile. My 680 is my fifth device on the Palm platform and I DON'T WANT TO CHANGE. Will any new Treos be built with the Palm OS?

I also use ATT, and am disappointed by the selection of Palm devices they offer. I love that you are making an unlocked device with the new Pro . . . but

I have watched people next to me on planes struggle with the Windows Mobile. Am I really going to regret leaving the Palm OS?

Faithful customer