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palmOne Introduces Treo 650 Smartphone, Making it Easier Than Ever for Professionals to Stay Connected
Higher-resolution screen, Bluetooth and expanded multimedia capabilities join advanced email solutions in redefining the smartphone
Hong Kong, Feb. 1, 2005 -- palmOne, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLMO), a leader in handheld computing and communications solutions, today announced the availability of the new Treo™ 650 smartphone in Hong Kong. The Treo 650 builds on the award-winning Treo 600 design, upping the ante with a host of new features and improvements that continue to redefine the smartphone experience, giving mobile professionals what they need to stay connected. The Treo 650 brings corporate email and productivity applications to mobile professionals, and combines a full-featured quad-band mobile phone, a Palm OS® organiser, messaging and web access1 functionality within a compact form factor.
With Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, Memos and more, the Treo 650 lets users organise and simplify their business and personal lives all in one place. Users can dial contacts by name from their contacts list or enter a name or number on the QWERTY keyboard or on-screen dial pad. Speakerphone, speed dial, conference calling, call history, and caller ID make managing calls that much easier.
The Treo 650 is available as a GSM/GPRS/EDGE quad-band world phone, and is available at 3, CSL, SmarTone and SUNDAY outlets, as well as chain stores and retail shops throughout Hong Kong, including Fortress and Broadway, beginning early February. The recommended retail price for the Treo 650 is HK$5,480 without wireless service.
"Mobile professionals today need to stay productive while on the go, and have quick access to important work and personal data. The Treo family seamlessly combines mobile phone, email, organiser, web browser and messaging functions, allowing customers to be much more effective and efficient in their daily lives," said Paul Blinkhorn, vice president for Asia Pacific for palmOne. "The Treo 650 provides great usability and functionality, letting people do what they want, when they want and just about anywhere they want."
Email is the critical application needed by mobile workers who want to remain connected while away from the office. Key to the offering of a premier mobile-email device is an open-platform that provides a full spectrum of application options suitable not only for individuals, but even CIOs at the largest enterprises. The Treo 650 smartphone supports and leverages an infrastructure of wireless carriers and software developers, including Seven, Intellisync and Extended Systems.
palmOne has integrated Microsoft Exchange Server ActiveSync® with its VersaMail™ email application on the Treo 650 smartphone, eliminating the need to buy and manage the cost and complexity of third-party servers and software.2 VersaMail provides customers with a solution for secure, wireless email that is cost-effective and can be deployed quickly and easily. Compatibility with Exchange Server 2003 enables direct corporate email and calendar synchronization.
The Treo 650 is also the first palmOne™ smartphone to incorporate Intel's new 312MHz XScale PXA270 processor, adding a host of new technologies designed to meet the multimedia and security requirements of the new Treo 650.
Treo 650 Smartphone Expanded Features/Benefits
The newest member of the Treo family builds on the award-winning design of the Treo 600 with new and improved features:
• Vibrant 320 x 320 display is easy to read;
• Non-volatile memory and removable battery;
• Integrated Bluetooth® technology for communicating with headsets, computers and printers equipped with Bluetooth technology;
• Improved camera for better low-light shots, with video-capture capabilities;
• Improved QWERTY backlit keyboard and new design for easier typing;
• For GSM, capability to access EDGE based networks, which deliver incredibly fast data speeds4;
• Support for direct corporate email access to Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 using palmOne's VersaMail email software;
• MP3 player3; and
• Single inbox for text and picture messaging.
With the Treo 650, users can do all of the following, and much more:
• Stay connected with wireless email using VersaMail.1
VersaMail makes it easy to access and manage email on the go.5 With the Treo 650's support for popular POP and IMAP email clients, users can download mail wirelessly or by synchronizing with their desktops.6 And for users whose organizations use Microsoft Exchange Server 2003, the Treo 650's built-in Microsoft Exchange Server ActiveSync support will enable direct corporate email and calendar synchronization2. With VersaMail, users can view photos, HTML, and even native Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint attachments.7
• Keep data safe.
With a new "non-volatile" file system, the Treo 650 keeps customers' information safe, even if they forget to charge their phone. Users can carry an extra battery (sold separately), and swap it out for additional power on the fly.
• Play music. Snap pictures. Capture video.
Optimised for multimedia with an Intel XScale® processor, the Treo 650 smartphone lets users take their favourite tunes with them, simply by transferring MP3 files from the desktop.3 And with the built-in digital camera, users can snap pictures, capture video, and even create digital photo albums to take with them on the road. The bright colour screen brings shots to life. Better yet, users can point, shoot and share their moments via email or picture messaging.5
• Connect with Bluetooth wireless devices.
With the Treo 650 smartphone, connecting to compatible Bluetooth wireless devices -- such as headsets and car kits -- is easy using the setup wizard. Users can talk on a headset or synchronise with their desktops8 without wires getting in the way.
• Exchange thoughts and ideas on the fly.
The Treo 650 lets users send and receive text messages, photos or video clips right away from one application with a single inbox. And with text messages threaded in a chat-style view, users can see the entire conversation.
• Access a world of websites on the go.1
Users can get driving directions when they're on the road or check the latest news headlines and sports scores while waiting for a flight. Ringtones and applications can be downloaded directly to the Treo 650, and the full-featured web browser is optimised for fast, on-the-go web access. The web browser features familiar functions such as Back and Forward buttons, Home, History and Bookmarks, and also allows users to save HTML pages to an expansion card (sold separately) from the desktop for offline viewing later.
• Access Word, Excel and PowerPoint files.
Users can be more productive with the ability to view, edit and create Word and Excel compatible documents on the go or pull up PowerPoint presentations for en-route rehearsals. Dealing with email attachments has never been easier.
• Plug in an expansion card to do more.9
The Treo 650 smartphone comes with a MultiMediaCard/SD Card expansion slot, which supports industry-standard cards and input/output capability. In other words, users can add cool stuff to get more out of their Treo 650 smartphone -- pictures, music, books, games, memory.
• Enhance the Treo 650 experience with new accessories.
A new range of accessories for the Treo 650 smartphone is now available and includes:
- form-fit case;
- USB travel cable;
- standard battery;
- hybrid headset/headphones; and
- 3-in-1 cradle kit, which includes a Treo 650 desktop cradle, cable and AC charger with international adaptors.
For Hong Kong customers, the Treo 650 smartphone comes with a CD containing CJKOS Chinese software and PenPower handwriting system overlay. The user-friendly software supports both Simplified and Traditional Chinese characters, as well as English language.
More information on the Treo 650 smartphone can be found at http://www.palmOne.com/hk/ie/.
(1) Within wireless service coverage area only. Email requires data services from a mobile service provider at an additional cost. ISP may also be required. Pricing varies by service provider.
(2) Requires Exchange Server 2003 and access enabled by IT administrator.
(3) Requires expansion card, sold separately.
(4) EDGE service not available in all areas. See service coverage map for details.
(5) Email account required, not included.
(6) Windows only.
(7) Requires DataViz® Documents to Go® 7, included on the software installation CD.
(8) Windows only. Requires a Bluetooth enabled computer.
(9) Expansion card sold separately.
About palmOne, Inc.
palmOne, Inc. -- the leader in handheld computing and communications solutions -- strives to put the power of computing in people's hands so they can access and share their most important information. The company's products include Zire™ and Tungsten™ handhelds and Treo™ smartphones, software and accessories.
palmOne products are sold at select retail, reseller, Internet, and wireless operator channels throughout the world.
More information about palmOne, Inc. is available at http://www.palmone.com/asia/.
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