Quiet launch for Palm’s Treo 800w

gallery

PDA and smartphone maker Palm has launched a new high-end Treo handset as it tries to take on the likes of RIM and Apple in the battle for business smartphone users.

However, the launch was overshadowed by the launch last Friday of Apple’s 3G iPhone, which sold more than one million units over the weekend.

The Treo 800w smartphone runs Windows Mobile 6 and will cost $250 (£125) after signing up for a service contract with US mobile operator Sprint and receiving a $100 (£50) rebate. No UK-specific pricing has been announced at the time of writing.

By contrast, Apple's iPhone 3G sells for between £99 and £159 in the UK, nearly half the price of its previous version.

The lower price has spurred iPhone rivals to keep prices low, such as Samsung’s recently introduced "Instinct", which is set at $130 (£65) after rebate in the US.

"Despite recent price cuts in the smartphone sector, the new Treo is priced at $249.99 with a two-year contract, making the 800w model one of the most expensive smartphones offered at Sprint," said CL King & Associates analyst Lawrence Harris in a client note.

The new Treo comes with a full keyboard, which the iPhone lacks. Both have Wi-Fi, satellite navigation systems, and built-in digital cameras.

Palm executive Brodie Keast said that the Treo is primarily meant to take on the Blackberry's dominance among business users, but acknowledges that the iPhone has drawn a lot of attention. But, he says there remains a lot of room for growth in the smartphone market.

"It's also a very large market," he said. "We don't need to defeat RIM or Apple in order to succeed."

Email to a friend

Print this page