Treo launch rumor adds a price: $399 / $499

Last we heard from our insider in the biz, Palm was going to be launching their PalmOS-powered Treo 700p sometime around or on Monday, May 15th. Now it would seem Gadgets on the Go's gotten word from a source they deem reliable that the 700p's got a price: $399 for a new 2 year contract, $499 with a 1 year contract.  (Oh, they also confirmed the same release time frame we had -- mid May ideally, early June at latest.) That sounds about right if you ask us, but there's only one way to find out: wait for the launch. Ok, well, two ways: we'll keep on inquiring, ourselves. Stay tuned, Treo nuts.

[foxx @ Apr 15th 2006 3:33AM]

they need to hurry up and release this thing..I need to upgrade my sprint cellphone

[Max @ Apr 15th 2006 3:57AM]

And they complain about the price of the PS3...

[give_me_a_700p_NOW @ Apr 15th 2006 5:46AM]

oh come on... at least with the treo, you know exactly what you're paying for. sony still hasn't figured that out yet. ;-)

gimme!!!

[andy @ Apr 15th 2006 6:30AM]

Why do they need the antenna again?
Tell me, I forgot...

[Peter @ Apr 15th 2006 7:20AM]

Agreed with Andy about the antenna. The Treo has a classic design two and three years ago with an antenna because 1) It needs an external antenna for better reception, 2) Without antenna, it may be confused with a regular Pocket PC/Palm PDA. None of them is true anymore, in fact in the rest of the world except US, an external antenna on a phone nowadays is considered an outcast.

I like the Palm OS albert with its non-multithread GUI, so unfortunately I have to stick with a Treo which is getting old (think about Palm essentially is a one-product gidget for the last 3 years without any new innovation in hardware form-factor since Treo 600)...

The following mobile is ideal and I will pay extra $300 US compared to this Treo 700p/700w, because it also has built-in WiFi, built-in GPS, two cameras (one on the front for video conference, one at the back 2Megapixels), built-in VoIP, UMTS (eqivalent of EvDO) , and lighter than Treo...

http://www.fujitsu-siemens.com/products/mobile/handhelds/pocket_loox_t_series.html

[Kenundrum @ Apr 15th 2006 7:53AM]

Uh... that info has got to be off... if it's being offerend on Sprint's Network- Sprint doesn't offer 1 year contracts anymore...

[Gogh @ Apr 15th 2006 8:18AM]

Couldnt they just add a removable block of plastic to represent the antenna? ;D

[Red @ Apr 15th 2006 9:43AM]

Jimmie is not a reliable source... though i believe this is correct. He's a hack and someone should take down his site...

Jackass

[Josh @ Apr 15th 2006 10:08AM]

I don't know about anyone else, but I'd love to get rid of the antenna and the camera, especially if it resulted in a slightly slimmer Treo.

Weirdest moment was as I sat down at the computer, before clicking my Engadget bookmark, I thought to myself "I sure hope there's something 700p related. Dreams do come true!"

[Dan Fishkin @ Apr 15th 2006 10:50AM]

yea definatly was thinking the same thing josh :P well i just hope somehow they can find a hack to swich the firmware from the 700w to the 700p...ok probobly not gonna happen but gotta drea :P

[Jon @ Apr 15th 2006 11:10AM]

Looks good, but agreed the antenna has to go. Its a shame that this is for sprint because sprint sucks in my area and I don't want a 700w (screen res, WiMo etc.) any chance of this beaut being released for verizon?

[Nitin @ Apr 15th 2006 11:22AM]

any idea when a GSM version of the treo 700 is expected?

it sucks being on T-Mobile. i'm strongly thinking about getting the MDA :(

[Ben @ Apr 15th 2006 12:31PM]

Anyone think this will cause the price of the 650 to drop? I'm looking at upgrading my cell phone and was looking at the 650...

-Ben

[stretchdog @ Apr 15th 2006 2:05PM]

Makes me want to run out and email niksphones right away!
Thanks for the spam idiot!!!

[Cliff @ Apr 15th 2006 6:13PM]

niksphones needs some negative starts

[Cliff @ Apr 15th 2006 6:14PM]

*stars

BTW interesting phone Peter (post #4)

[Josh @ Apr 15th 2006 7:47PM]

Ben (14), I would bet heavily that once the 700p is out for Sprint, the 650 will drop in price.

For what it's worth, I tried to get a couple months ahead of the 2-year trade in for $150 with Sprint and asked them about the Treo's future. They said Sprint wasn't going to carry the 700w that Verizon has but was releasing their own Treo...that was all she told me, but this is clearly reassuring.

[jason @ Apr 16th 2006 12:27AM]

#5...PETER.


fugitsu's loox T is looking hot... There's our treo killer people....built in GPS...UMT's....dual camera's @ 2mp and best of all BUILT IN WIFI. one minor plus to me is that there is no antena.

The cons:
(1) it will never be released in the united states
(2) it will never be released in the united states
(3) it will never be released in the united states
(4) WINDOWS..WINDOWS..WINDOWS..WINDOWS..WINDOWS.
(5) You know the price is gonna be over $800 and even more if you find some back channels to get it thru.

[Jill Carrol @ Apr 16th 2006 11:25AM]

Palm was going to be launching their PalmOS-powered Treo 700p sometime around or on Monday, May 15th. Now it would seem Gadgets on the Go's gotten word from a source they deem reliable that the 700p's got a price: $399 for a new 2 year contract, $499 with a 1 year contract.
very nice I think.

[Wry Cooter @ Apr 16th 2006 3:44PM]

Maybe that isn't really Nick's iPods, but a disgruntled customer.

I'm wondering if PalmOS is still a viable platform. Back when the first treo was announced, then sort of kept off the market by the carriers, I lusted for a PalmPhone pretty bad, since then, and that has been, what, at least 7 years? I still keep up with Treo news. But it seems like the hot Treo is never available.. which makes alternatives look more enticing.

[Dolomite @ Apr 17th 2006 9:44AM]

Too bad they decided to keep that damn antennea. Makes it look like a relic from the cold war era.

[Reverend Jim @ Apr 17th 2006 11:15AM]

Did anybody else notice the big black smudge on the phone in the picture? Is that supposed to be part of the design, or did someone screw it up in Photoshop?

[Steven @ Apr 17th 2006 12:09PM]

Does anyone know when the treo 700w or the 700p will be avaliable on the Cingular Wireless Network? I have the 650 and want to upgrade! also, whats going to be new from the 650 to the 700 other than the keyboard? please email me with any info. at: [e-mail]

thanks

[Craig @ Apr 28th 2006 9:14PM]

Don't know about Cingular but had a Sprint technical support person confirm the 700w availability sometime probably late May 2006 and she also confirmed the upcoming 700 release for Sprint will NOT include a Palm version.