Palm set to announce Treo 700p for Sprint on May 15th

We were sort of hoping against hope that Palm would officially take the wraps off their new Palm-powered Treo 700p here at CTIA this week, but a highly trusted source has confirmed for us that they won't be making an official announcement until Monday, May 15th (or thereabouts). That date could slip, of course, but it does jibe with the May 28th launch date that's been floating about the interweb. We'll keep poking around here at CTIA to see if we can find out any more details, cool?

[Rick Austin @ Apr 5th 2006 8:34AM]

Are they ever going to offer a quad-band GSM version of this phone? I mean really. Actually I hope they don't bother offering this device without integrated WiFi (WiFi via SDIO is a poor solution at best, I've used it and hated it on other devices). The Treo in my opinion is the perfect form factor and now it supports Windows Mobile (my personal favorite over Palm). Perfect in almost every way - except - no GSM and no WiFi. I hope they get their act together.

[Josh W. @ Apr 5th 2006 8:38AM]

I have the patience to wait until May 15th.....right?

[Gabriel Lowe @ Apr 5th 2006 8:38AM]

Why not just announce it now? Everyone knows it's coming, and once it is announced there can be more discussion of fact and less of rumor!

[Andrew @ Apr 5th 2006 9:00AM]

I've been waiting for this....I guess a little extra waiting can't hurt.

[Webby @ Apr 5th 2006 9:03AM]

I want it NOW!!

[Jason @ Apr 5th 2006 9:10AM]

There's no WiFi in the treo because of power consumption. Not actual electrical power consumption, but carrier power consumption. The carriers demand the power to consume the features that scare them.

Imagine if you had to buy your TV from your cable company.... Or your DVD player from blockbuster...Oh the horror!

[Peterjon @ Apr 5th 2006 9:14AM]

i hope that t-mobile get this phone. even thou i not a fan of the candy bar shape phone i would love this phone

[Cliff @ Apr 5th 2006 9:45AM]

I like the windows mobile version, but the screen resolution sucks though. Also, it appears to not have the random reboot issue that my palm os based 650 had. I wonder if this palm os version of the phone will have any annoying issues...

*phone call*
*reboot*
*voicemail alert*

[Kamalot @ Apr 5th 2006 10:16AM]

Cliff:

I found that random reboots are often caused by software. In particular, a piece of software called LightWav caused my phone to reset when getting calls quite often. I got rid of the software, and got a phone that worked!

[dpinder @ Apr 5th 2006 10:23AM]

Are the plans on Sprint cheaper than Verizon? Because I'll GLADLY jump ship!

[Dan @ Apr 5th 2006 11:52AM]

they dont want intigrated wifi for the sole reason that they can sell you their most expensive product....wireless data transfer. that would be like a motorola razr offering skype using a verizon cell tower....sorta

[Malatesta @ Apr 5th 2006 12:24PM]

"Are the plans on Sprint cheaper than Verizon? Because I'll GLADLY jump ship!"

A lot cheaper. $15 will give you unlimited ev-do on Sprint (plus your basic voice package). Verizon is upwards of $40 a month I believe.

Plus, Sprint's speed may be a lot better...may, take this with a grain of salt:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=zJAYfGqcUOc&search=verizon%20evdo

[Steven @ Apr 5th 2006 12:31PM]

Does anyone know if the Palm Treo 700p will come out for cingular? I have a Corporate Account and so Palm has assured me and so has Cinglar that a Palm Treo 700w will come out on the Cingular Network in Late June/Early July. please email me: [e-mail] with any info. thanks!

[Rob @ Apr 5th 2006 12:37PM]

Finally enough of an improvement to upgrade from my Treo 600? Will I be able to wait for some reviews, or will I compulsively order the first day I can? Can I write anything but a question?

[Kevin @ Apr 5th 2006 12:50PM]

suck. i just broke down and got a 650. This thing will be $500 on launch anyway, so i guess I wouldnt have bought it anyway.

Sprint's Data plan is by far cheaper than most. I just got in on a fantastic deal though. The SERO(Sprint Employee Referral Offer) program. http://www.sprint.com/sero

500 Anytime
Unlimited Vision or Power Vision
Unlimited Picture Mail
and more

$30 a month. Yes that is $30 a month.

You need a sprint employee's email address. I just went to sprint store and asked one of the guys for his business card. Worked like a charm. They also offer a $50 plan with 1250 minutes. And I think another one too, maybe unlimited. This expires 6/30/06 i think. So if the 700p comes out, you may have a chance and get this awesome plan.

[Joe @ Apr 5th 2006 12:53PM]

This is the second cdma treo to come out before a gsm version. What's with the "hollywood"? I love my cingular 650, but the 32mb of shared memory is bleak. Plus I've had this phone for a year now. That's like 20 in phone years (friggin thing stills works perfect). I need new technology in my gsm treo!

[Craig @ Apr 5th 2006 1:09PM]

"Once the 700p is released, I hope Palm and MS will work on a 750w that has higher screen resolution. That's my only gripe with the 700w."

Windows Mobile doesn't doo 320x320 like Palm OS does, so the next supported resolution is 480x480. Not only would that be damn hard to read, but it would consume 4X the power that the 700w's 240x240 screen does, meaning shorter battery life. Plus, 480x480 would likely be a custom screen for a very small number of units, making each quite expensive. For these reasons, I doubt any WM-powered Treos will have higher than 240x240 (or maybe QVGA) screens in the near future (within 3 years).

[Nick @ Apr 5th 2006 1:12PM]

God hopefully they improved on the 650... it has to be bar none the crappiest phone on earth. Terrible phone reception, Random reboots, unstable OS, terrible pic resolution, no help/support from Palm...

That company dissapoints me on so many levels.

[baxter madu @ Apr 5th 2006 2:25PM]

You'll notice the majority of the folk who want Wifi are those with GSM and their awesome EDGE speeds. Hey, it's not going to have it, so shut up about it. Lalala yes I know, stupid carriers, it's their fault, etc. What can you do? We go through this every freaking time since the 600's release and they're still not including it. Can you stop complaining now? It's over. What's the point?

I have Sprint and I honestly cannot wait for this thing with EVDO. For others, I could see the upgrade having a lot less value.

oh yeah, #1 ("I hope they get their act together"): Treo sales to represent 74 percent of Palm's revenue for last quarter. Sounds like whatever act they got going is doing just fine.

[clicclic @ Apr 5th 2006 2:32PM]

Steven: Cingular uses GSM, as does T-Mobile. If Palm comes out with a "GSM 700p" or a 700p for the European market, you'll be all set. Just make sure the GSM phone supports 850 MHz and 1900 MHz frequencies (GSM used in USA/Canada/Puerto Rico).

[sygyzy @ Apr 5th 2006 2:35PM]

Windows Mobile is a superior OS but the screen on the 700w is too small and there are other problems. PalmOS sucks. I can't wait to replace my 650. I wish Palm could just "get it" right with the Treo.

[Rick Austin @ Apr 5th 2006 10:56PM]

Oh yeah, #19, what's wrong with expecting more. I don't care what percentage of their profits are from the Treo. 74% of almost nothing isn't that much. If Palm wouldn't have purchase Handspring they'd be dead by now. I have an i-mate SP5m (made by HTC), QVGA screen, Bluetooth AND WIFI and it all works great. If it only had a keyboard and better form factor I surely wouldn't bother with the Treo. Maybe HTC will build a device that includes all of their GREAT features and a slightly better form factor and put Palm out of their misery (just listen to the complaints about features and quality in this single thread).

[SHoe @ Apr 6th 2006 2:53AM]

To all of those people who think 'it's windows therefore it MUST be more advanced': Win Mobile has true multi-tasking versus Palm OS 'main task + music'. I won't pretend that's not an issue - but when everything else about Windows Mobile STILL sucks balls in terms of usability versus Palm OS (c'mon Bill - it's been 5 f#$kin years - get yr crap together and give us a real mobile UI that doesn't involve 6 steps to shut down an app for christ's sakes!) - then i'll stick with an OS that has a smart user interface design anyday. Besides - i can play Duke Nukem 3D and watch high-frame rate H.264 video on Palm OS (TCPMP) - how much more advanced do i need? I'd like true multi-tasking (i guess - though that doesn't equate to better in the mobile world) - but i won't swallow for it.

[andy @ Apr 6th 2006 4:45AM]

About WiFi on a contract mobile power consumption, the Nokia 9300i has WiFi and so does many other phones (not that you need one IMO)...and BTW Symbian IS superior...

[SHoe @ Apr 6th 2006 9:59AM]

>>and BTW Symbian IS superior...

LOL. Symbian is a good OS, though it's the smartphone OS that acts like a features phone IMHO - no touchscreen and i like touchscreens. It is also hellishly painful to write code for and compatibility from say, one series 60 phoen to another - let alone one symbioan phone to another - is a problem. different versions of the underlying OS and different iterations within each ui layer as well as different ui layers (s60,s80,UIQ) make things a pain.

[Ross R @ Apr 6th 2006 11:19AM]

I have been waiting for this phone since the 700w was rumored... anyway, not sure if this is news or not but if you put http://www.palm.com/us/products/smartphones/treo700p/ into your browser, there is a blank placeholder page. At least add another data point for a near future release.

[CH @ Apr 6th 2006 11:22AM]

"c'mon Bill - it's been 5 f#$kin years - get yr crap together and give us a real mobile UI that doesn't involve 6 steps to shut down an app for christ's sakes!"

On my Treo 700w this is 3 steps.

1) Hold down "ok" button to bring up program list
2) Select program to stop
3) Hit stop

[Felix @ Apr 6th 2006 11:24AM]

Gyus, I wonder about one thing only.
Whatta hell this aerial is doing outside the body? I am sooo bloody fed-up with the aerial sticking out on my old TREO, and sincerely hoped that PALM would grow out of it, eventually, but here we come again...
I am upset.

[MG @ Apr 6th 2006 2:39PM]

Internally we are told its a June launch for the Treo 700p. Official launches are the first Monday of the month. Unless it ends up being a soft launch. That remains to be seen.

[Adora @ Apr 6th 2006 8:31PM]

#27:

If that were true, we should also expect to see the 700l released Real Soon Now(http://www.palm.com/us/products/smartphones/treo700l), and perhaps the crowd-pleasing 700pwl (http://www.palm.com/us/products/smartphones/treo700pwl) will actually one day reach fruition, too!

:: Lisa
:: adora [at] techslut [.] net

[Craig @ Apr 13th 2006 2:27PM]

Just had lunch with a guy who was looking at the Treo in a local Sprint store this week. The Sprint store rep told him he might want to wait as the 700 would be out next week (week around April 15). He did not know to ask if it was the Palm or Windows version. But he did indicate the store person was confident that an announcment and availability would be next week. I CAN'T wait!