Price: $250 (after 2 year contract)

The Verdict: As far as Windows Mobile phones go, the 800w is a pretty good one. It's no frills as far as smartphones go, but this is almost exclusively for the enterprise crowd. It's not the prettiest, nor is it the smallest, but is powerful enough to run Windows Mobile 6.1 like it should. It moves from menu to menu reasonably quick, and ran most of the apps lag free. In terms of size, it's less wide than previous Treos, but thickness is more or less the same and the keyboard feels the same as old Treos. The bright and crisp 320x320 touchscreen is also a nice upgrade for the 800w.

But the 800w also good because Palm put some of their TLC into the product. The main "Today" screen you see when you first use the phone has a GPS search that lets you find points of interest without first having to launch a separate app. The SMS interface is pulled straight from the Palm OS, meaning text-based conversations can be easily managed. There's also a Wi-Fi button at the top of the phone that allows you to turn on your Wi-Fi and connect to a pre-configured network in a matter of seconds with a touch of a button. It seems minor, but it eliminates a fair amount of tedious menu surfing.

Reception is always at full strength where I'm at, meaning call quality is clear and the EVDO rev.A is speedy. The bottom line is that if you need an enterprise phone and want a physical keyboard, the Treo 800w isn't a bad choice.

Is anyone filled with excitement, their Treo 700 series rattling in their trembling hands? [wmpoweruser] Thanks tipsters!

So, basically take the current Palm OS, add a dash of web 2.0 internet and you've got Palm 2.0. I don't even have a serious affinity for Palm, but man I hope Ed here is just a master of understatement. Because fundamentally, I like writing about companies and people beating back the odds and the weight of history, not relics. [APC]

[Boy Genius Report]

Shadowmite also says it has a micro USB connection, which brings Palm out from the proprietary connector rock. It may be incremental, but it's good to see Palm playing a bit of catchup with the smartphone heavyweights. [Shadowmite via Palm Infocenter]

There will also be an optional Voice Control feature that will allow users to browse the web, create calendar entries and send emails/text messages using voice commands. Just don't let all of this hands-free freedom go to your head. It still doesn't give you carte blanche to multi-task while driving down the highway. [InformationWeek]

In addition, there's a 2-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi hard switch, Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR, 802.11g Wi-Fi, microSD slot, 256MB memory, EV-DO Rev. A, aGPS (not a real GPS), a 320x320 resolution screen, and front-facing keyboard. The launch date is tentatively April, but this is all based on a guy's posting in a forum, which means it can all be a pack of lies at this point. [WMExperts via TreoNauts]

Apparently, customers who are extremely happy with their devices are 50% more likely to stick with the same brand on a follow-up purchase. Well, if that is true, RIM look like they shall comfortably own the smartphone market for sometime to come...hang on, did the surveyors forget to poll iPhone users? Yeah, they did. That offers some slightly skewed results, no? [J.D. Power and Associates via PC World]

And while we hate to get ahead of ourselves, we're ready to celebrate that the Treo's antenna is officially dead. If the picture is fake, we're guessing it's a pretty good mock-up since the button layout more closely resembles that of newer Palm models like the Centro. But at least in my book, the Treo needs an extreme makeover (phone edition) to capture my heart again. Screw functionality, I wanted sliding, clicking and some sort of gesture hologram smell control. [treocentral]

Verizon is also adding Palm's Treo 755p to the lineup, as well as two more white-label WM6 devices with slide-out QWERTY keyboards—the Verizon Wireless XV6800 with Wi-Fi and a 2-megapixel camera; and the SMT5800 smartphone with 2-megapixel camera but presumably no touchscreen. Verizon hasn't announced pricing on these three other phones.

One hopes that the roll out will ensure maximum customer choice, but I can't help thinking they may just confuse the hell out of customers with too many similar sounding options.

Press release:

NEW SMARTPHONE, PDA OPTIONS FROM VERIZON WIRELESS MAKE STAYING CONNECTED A PERSONAL CHOICE

SCH-i760 from Samsung Offers Verizon Wireless Exclusivity on the Nation's Most Reliable Wireless Network

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. - Verizon Wireless is heading into the holidays with a roster of new personal digital assistants (PDAs) and smartphones that give customers exciting options for both business and personal connectivity. The first of the line-up, the SCH-i760 from Samsung, is available online October 19 and in stores November 2. Also joining the portfolio of robust wireless business tools built to handle the speed of Verizon Wireless' broadband network, are the Verizon Wireless XV6800, the Palm® Treo™ 755p and the SMT5800 smartphone.

Styled for performance, the Samsung SCH-i760 features a stylus for quick and easy navigation on the touch-screen and Windows Mobile 6 Professional for a familiar office experience in a mobile environment. Customers will be able to read and edit in applications such as Word or Excel, and read PDFs and PowerPoint presentations. In addition, the compact SCH-i760 features a full QWERTY horizontal slider keyboard, a separate dial pad right on the front of the device, stereo Bluetooth® for both speakers and headsets and a 1.3 megapixel camera/camcorder with flash.
The SCH-i760 is available for $349.99* after a $50 mail-in rebate and a new two-year customer agreement. Business customers may contact a Verizon Wireless Business Sales Representative at 1-800-VZW-4BIZ to purchase the device on Oct. 19.

Dressed in Blue and designed for sophistication, the Verizon Wireless XV6800 comes with a cleverly hidden, slide-out QWERTY keyboard, a 2.0 megapixel camera/camcorder with flash and Windows Media® Player 10. This is the ultimate connectivity device as it can ride speedily along Verizon Wireless' broadband network or users can transition to Wi-Fi for optimal choice in Web, e-mail or behind-the-firewall access. Loaded with Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 Professional and Bluetooth technology for separately purchased headsets and speakers, this device truly lets customers take their office on the road.

Charismatic as it is functional, aficionados will welcome the Palm Treo 755p. Its slim form factor is packed with tools such as a large color touch-screen and a full QWERTY keyboard for easy messaging, a 1.3 megapixel camera and support for Bluetooth stereo headsets. The built-in 60 MB of dedicated memory allows the use of a robust set of applications, while storage can be enhanced by using the miniSD™ slot to add up to 8 GB of additional memory.

Built for fun and functionality, the Verizon Wireless SMT5800 is ideal for customers who need to keep track of meetings as well as their youngsters' soccer games. Easy access to the Internet, calendar, contacts, tasks, e-mail and music is tucked inside a chic, slim package that fits pocket or purse with equal discretion. Equipped with a five-way navigation key and slide-out QWERTY keyboard, the SMT5800 is loaded with Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 Standard, a 2.0 megapixel camera with auto-focus, Windows Media Player 10 and Bluetooth capabilities for headsets and separately purchased speakers. A color screen lets customers watch video or view documents clearly and easily.

More information on the new Verizon Wireless device portfolio, including pricing, will be available as the devices become available.

* Advanced Device Credit
Customers purchasing any of these devices along with a voice and e-mail calling plan of $79.99 or higher or a voice calling plan of $39.99 or higher with an unlimited BlackBerry/PDA/smartphone data plan are eligible for an additional $100 credit toward the purchase of the device. This credit is in addition to the mail-in rebate associated with the purchase of the device. Details available at time of purchase.

So hit the jump for our Frankenreview on the Palm Centro—seven takes that will let you know the whole story.

Computerworld
Palm appears to have carefully thought through the size of the device. For instance, it was just small enough to stow comfortably in a jeans pocket. And it is just barely large enough to have a full QWERTY keyboard.

Treonauts
Again, the touchscreen is smaller in size but luckily Palm kept a high resolution 320x320 display. I didn't have any problems at all viewing all sorts of information on this screen but admittedly the smaller size does make it just a bit harder to reach some buttons or menus with your fingers...

Gizmodo
Like Brian said, that keyboard is seriously tiny. It's much easier to use the screen to type in phone numbers, for instance, and in general, it's significantly more cramped than a Treo.

Slashgear
...it uses the smaller jack, for which I don't have an adapter or any headphones that fit, but the quality, and volume of the built in speaker more than makes up for it, it really is amazing. I could literally hear music from 2 rooms away after I turned the volume up to max, and it was still understandable; there was some crackle in the highs when I cranked it up, but other than that, it sounded great.

CNET
Despite the smaller size, the Palm Centro still manages to pack in all of the features of the Palm Treo 755p and then some...Of course, you get the standard personal information management tools...the Centro isn't just an electronic organizer, though, as the smartphone comes preloaded with Documents to Go (version 10), so you can open, create, and edit Microsoft Word and Excel documents, and view PowerPoint presentations and PDFs.

PCAdvisor
Web browsing in the US with the Palm Centro's Blazer browser over Sprint's EvDO network was a sheer delight...Email setup went smoothly...[and] the Palm Centro supports concurrent instant messaging sessions with the three supported IM services...

InfoSyncWorld
So, why would anyone still buy a Treo? Palm reps claimed business users would be enticed by the larger keypad and screen, though the Centro does have the same 320 by 320 resolution as our larger Treo. Any other differences? None that Palm reps could name, at least none in favor of the Treo.
Final thoughts: The Palm Centro had a very positive response from reviewers. But it's getting obvious that smartphones, and maybe Palm's especially, just aren't achieving that "wow" factor of old. Even with some of the new features, many reviews read more like impressions. Because the biggest updates most users will notice are the price and the form.

Comparison with T-Mobile RIM Blackberry Curve (with Wi-Fi):

"[The Palm Centro] team is now totally focused on delivering our next generation platform, which we expect to have available by the end of the next calendar year."

Just in case everyone is completely bored with everything Palm makes these days, the company painted up this pony in fire engine red, certain to excite those who wear red dresses on Fridays or maybe beasts that fight for their bovine lives in certain bullrings in Spain. Oh wait, red's called Garnet, but Palm Centro still comes in black, too. Anyway, the $100 price as after a $100 mail-in rebate, and you must sign up for $25 data plan. Small price for a small phone, with small features.

In case you're still interested in this trinket after that uncalled-for diatribe, the phone can handle email, text and IM messages, let's you listen to MP3s, can view Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF files, and it also has contacts and schedules on board. So hey, that's a lot of stuff inside this little phone; maybe its features aren't so tiny after all. [Sprint's Palm Centro site]

In fact, they go so far as to say that

"There is also absolutely no 'plasticky' feel about it and in this respect it may be an entry level Treo but it certainly doesn't feel cheap at all - this is a smartphone that I would quite happily and proudly set on a table and show off."

Of course the device is 3G and will feature SMS, IM and push email. A 2MP camera will support pictures and video, while 150MB of internal memory can be expanded through a microSD slot. And yes, there's Bluetooth. Vodafone will launch the first units in October and Palm is describing it as a premium product that will still be free with contract on most carriers. I've officially gone from hating this device to looking forward to its promise. What about you? [pocketlint]

In addition to Windows Mobile, the Treo 500 will lack a touchscreen and feature 3G internet. It makes sense that this would be the final design for the Gandolf, as the earlier prototype looked too much like the slimmer, touchscreen-equipped Centro. Earlier prototypes resembled something closer what this ad is calling the Treo 500. We'll find out officially on Wednesday if this is the secret phone we've been speculating about, and we wouldn't be surprised if it is.

UPDATE: Alles Windows Mobile is reporting that the Treo 500 will have 150 MB of internal memory, Bluetooth 2.0, a 2 MP camera, MicroSD expansion and will come in two colors — the grey pictured above and the white seen earlier in spy shots. [WMExperts]

I know, I know, you're terribly upset, all five of you who defended the offbeat mobile companion when it was introduced last May. In a message on the official Palm blog, Palm CEO Ed Colligan wrote:

In the course of the past several months, it has become clear that the right path for Palm is to offer a single, consistent user experience around this new platform design and a single focus for our platform development efforts. To that end, and after careful deliberation, I have decided to cancel the Foleo mobile companion product in its current configuration.

We will, of course, continue to develop products in partnership with Microsoft on the Windows Mobile platform, but from our internal platform development perspective, we will focus on only one.

As much as I personally looked forward to test-driving one, we applaud Palm's courage in making this tough decision. But no, you can't borrow 10 million dollars from us. [Official Palm Blog]

We have no news in the way of clarified specification from that of what has already been reported. The main details are; the device shall run on EVDO and it shall be pitched at the youth market. Further, the full QWERTY keypad will be complimented by a touchscreen and the price will be a speculated, very reasonable, $99. Sprint shall have exclusive rights for 90 days, after the 90 days mark a free for all shall likely ensue.

The new picture shows a sophisticated looking device, not only will it be the smallest Treo to date, but the supposed youth market orientation may have been altered from earlier suggestions. After all, the colour scheme looks sophisticated and the youth only like their devices in a generic, iPod white plastic finish, as depicted in earlier shots. No official word on specification or release date as yet, but we will keep you posted. (Hey, it's what we do; don't sweat it).

He was thankful for the essay, and passed the letter on to all his executives, even though he didn't agree with all parts of it. One section of the response made me scratch my head, though. "Let's remember that it is very early in the evolution of the smartphone and there is enormous opportunity for us to innovate. We have only just begun to fight!" I wouldn't call it early, Ed, but I'd agree it's far from over. No one is arguing that the Treo doesn't work well; but much of the overarching essay's point is about the fetish factor of the phone; it's just not sexy anymore. It's time to take some risks on all levels and build a new flagship that impresses on all fronts. It's going to take a fight, but most of that is going to be internal, as you shake off the old ideas of what makes a phone great. Most of all, I'm glad you recognize that there are important thoughts in the tech blogs that you might not find in less opinionated traditional media. All in all, a nice conversation between Engadget and Palm that hopefully makes a difference. [Palm]

The Centro has possibly the tiniest QWERTY keyboard I've ever seen. It's infinitesimal: it's actually impossible to type on this thing with two thumbs. The keys on the model I tried were little clear rubbery bumps, below a cursor pad and the usual Palm OS quick application buttons. Seeing me get frustrated trying to puzzle out letters on this tiny thing, a Sprint rep stepped in to say that it was for the "youth market" - in other words, kids with nimble fingers and sharp eyes to read the small screen. On the other hand, it'll fend off the argument about Treos being chunky, that's for sure.