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Handspring Press Release Archive
HANDSPRING LAUNCHES TWO NEW FULL COLOR TREOS IN ASIA
Treo 270 communicator features a color screen and enhanced battery life; Treo 90 is the smallest, lightest Palm OS handheld to date and offers an integrated keyboard and SD expansion
HONG KONG (June 25, 2002) - Handspring, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAND) today announced regional availability of two new full color Treo products, the Treo 270 and Treo 90. Treo 270 is a compact, full-color wireless communicator that integrates a mobile phone, wireless applications like email and Internet browsing, and a Palm OS organizer all in one. Treo 270 also has a built-in, backlit QWERTY keyboard and enhanced battery life over the Treo 180 launched in January of this year. Treo 90, a sleek and lightweight organizer with a built-in keyboard and a full-color display, expands the Treo family of handhelds to now include organizers as well as communicators. Based on the design of the award-winning Treo communicators, Treo 90 comes with 16 MB of memory, Secure Digital and MultiMediaCard expansion capabilities, and a long-lasting rechargeable battery. The Treo 270 and Treo 90 both have transflective, color STN displays with a touch screen that is backlit and offers greater readability for viewing text and graphics in a variety of lighting conditions.
"We see strong interest from our customers and partners in Asia for integrated communications products as well as unique handheld organizers with color screens," stated Ed Colligan, COO at Handspring. "In particular, the Treo 270 brings a dynamic offering to the market for both customers and network operators as data applications and services become more prevalent and popular. The ease of use and large, full-color screen become critical elements of a good customer experience."
Starting this week, Treo 90 and Treo 270 will be available in Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. Both products are available through IT retail outlets as well as mobile phone stores; check with local retailers for specific pricing and availability. Handspring continues to work with a range of carriers and partners in the region including SmarTone, SingTel and Celcom as well as GrandTech and its subsidiary PacRim to provide marketing support, technical service and local representation.
Treo 270 Features
The Treo 270's large, colorful touch screen sets the product apart from other high-end mobile phones. The color display also offers better clarity and readability of text and graphics, ideal for Web browsing, viewing photos and playing games. The built-in, backlit QWERTY keyboard enables people to use the device with one hand, even in low light conditions, while also providing faster and more familiar data entry and navigation. The Treo 270's increased battery life allows up to three hours of talk time and 150 hours of standby time.
Treo 270 offers all of the capabilities previously introduced with Treo 180. It is a full-featured mobile phone and wireless data device designed for one-handed operation. It includes such features as Instant Lookup of phone numbers and contacts usually in three keystrokes or fewer, 50 speed dials, a traditional dial pad on the keyboard, call log, easy three-way calling, caller ID and speaker phone. It is a dual-band GSM world phone that can roam internationally. Additional features include SMS text messaging with Chinese support and email. Treo 270 also includes a new version of the Blazer Web browser. Enhancements to Blazer include in-line editing and advanced navigation. Compatibility with next generation GPRS wireless data networks is expected later this year. The cost for the GPRS upgrade is included in the price of the product. Wireless data applications, such as Web browsing, require data services from the customer's wireless carrier.
Treo 90 Features
Treo 90 is one of the first Palm OS organizers available with a built-in QWERTY keyboard and PIM. Applications on Treo 90 have been optimized for thumb keyboard navigation. With Instant Lookup, for example, users can use the keyboard to look up any name in the Contact List in three keystrokes or fewer. Using the keyboard and scroll bars, people can also complete such tasks as selecting and opening an application from the Launcher or checking off To Do items, without using the included stylus.
At just four ounces the Treo 90 is the smallest and lightest Palm OS organizer available to date but offers a powerful user experience with 16 MB of on-board memory. Running on Palm OS 4.1.1H, the latest version of the Palm OS with Handspring's enhancements, Treo 90 is compatible with the thousands of Palm OS applications. It has a rechargeable lithium ion battery that lasts approximately 10 days on a full charge and quickly recharges and synchronizes with a desktop computer while connected to the USB HotSync cable.
Treo 90 also has a removable flip cover with a clear window that protects the screen and keyboard without adding size. The clear window offers a view of the entire screen, so that people can check the calendar and other PIM applications without lifting the lid. Treo 90 offers expansion capabilities without compromising the size or thickness of the organizer via a Secure Digital (SD)/MultiMediaCard (MMC) slot at the top of the device. This slot lets users backup their data or add memory and content, including games, photographs, books and databases.
Treo 90 comes with WordSmith on the desktop CD. WordSmith, from Blue Nomad, is a full-featured word processing application, electronic book reader, document viewer and enhanced memo pad for Palm OS devices. It synchronizes and seamlessly integrates with Microsoft Word, so that documents can be easily transferred from the desktop to a handheld. People can view, edit and create full text documents with WordSmith, and it also offers rich modification and formatting capabilities. Additionally, Treo 90 has a key lock feature, which saves battery power by ensuring that the organizer does not accidentally turn on when it is in a pocket, bag or briefcase.
Treo Family of Handhelds
The Handspring Treo product line is currently available in Asia, North America, Europe as well as Australia and New Zealand. With the introduction of the Treo 90, the Treo family of handhelds now includes both communicators and organizers.
|
|
Treo
90 |
Treo
180/180g |
Treo
270 |
|
|
Organizer |
Communicator |
Communicator |
|
|
Color,
12-bit CSTN, 4,096 colors |
Monochrome,
4-bit STN, 16 shades of gray |
Color,
12-bit CSTN, 4,096 colors |
|
|
QWERTY
keyboard |
QWERTY
Keyboard & Graffiti |
QWERTY
Keyboard * |
|
|
4.2
x 2.8 x .65 inches
10.8
x 7.1 x 1.6 cm |
4.2
x 2.8 x .82 inches
10.8
x 7.1 x 2.1 cm |
4.2
x 2.8 x .82 inches
10.8
x 7.1 x 2.1 cm |
|
|
4
oz, 114g |
5.2oz,
148g |
5.4oz,
153g |
|
|
16
MB, SD/MMC expansion slot |
16
MB |
16
MB |
|
|
No
integrated radio – two-piece solution optional for data connectivity via
IR port or third-party cables |
Dual-band
GSM radio (900/1900 in No. America, 900/1800 Europe & Asia) – GPRS
upgradeable |
Dual-band
GSM radio (900/1900 in No. America, 900/1800 Europe & Asia) – GPRS
upgradeable |
|
|
Palm
OS 4.1.1H |
Palm
OS 3.5.2H |
Palm
OS 3.5.2H |
|
|
Key-lock
function, removable flip-cover, WordSmith word processing application,
Blazer web browser, Palm SMS messaging application, IR, One Touch
Mail |
Choice
of keyboard or Graffiti, Speakerphone, Rocker Switch, Ringer Switch,
Protective flip lid, IR, Vibrate mode, SMS, One-Touch Mail, Blazer web
browser |
Backlit
keyboard, Speakerphone, Rocker Switch, Ringer Switch, Protective flip lid,
IR, Vibrate mode, SMS, One-Touch Mail, Blazer web
browser |
|
|
Bronze |
Steel
Blue |
Steel
Grey |
|
|
l-ion,
approx. 10 days |
l-ion,
approx. 2.5 hours talk time/100 hours standby |
l-ion,
approx. 3 hours talk time/150 hours standby |
|
|
USB
Cable, Travel charger |
USB
Cable, Travel charger, headset |
USB
Cable, Travel charger, headset |
|
|
USB
Charging Cradle, USB HotSync Cable, Serial HotSync Cable, Car Lighter
Adapter, Travel Charger Kit, Stylus 3-pack, Action Pack and Leather
Cases. |
USB
Charging Cradle, USB HotSync Cable, Serial HotSync Cable, Car Lighter
Adapter, Travel Charger Kit, Stylus 3-pack and Action Pack
Case. |
USB
Charging Cradle, USB HotSync Cable, Serial HotSync Cable, Car Lighter
Adapter, Travel Charger Kit, Stylus 3-pack and Action Pack
Case. |
About Handspring
Handspring is a leading innovator in personal communications and handheld computing. In addition to the Treo 90 organizer, the company develops, manufactures and markets the Treo wireless communicators, the Visor expandable handheld computers, and client and server software for fast Web access from handheld devices and mobile phones. Founded in 1998, the company established itself as an industry leader with its Springboard platform, which provides a simple and easy method for hardware and software expansion. Today Handspring sells its Treo and Visor lines of wireless communicators and handheld computers and Springboard expansion modules and accessories at www.handspring.com and through select Internet and retail partners in the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the Middle East.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including those relating to the strength of the market for organizer and communicator products in the Asia-Pacific region. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors including, among others: future economic conditions; consumer acceptance of and demand for Handspring's products; the ability of Handspring and its retail and online resellers to effectively market and distribute Handspring products through the retail channel an in Asia Pacific markets; the availability of Handspring products in the US and internationally; and the rapid pace of technological change and competitive developments in the handheld computer and wireless communications industries. The matters discussed in this press release also involve risks and uncertainties described in Handspring's most recent Form 10-Q. Handspring assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.
Handspring, the Handspring logo, Treo, Visor, Blazer, Springboard, and the Treo logo are trademarks of Handspring, Inc. and may be registered in some jurisdictions.
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