"Black Tie Edition" Treo 650 is real, shipping in US

Well, color us a bit surprised. It turns out that the rumored "Black Tie Edition" Treo 650 for Asia-Pacific was not only real, it's coming to this side of pond as well. The specs sadly haven't changed from what we've reported before: you get the same old Treo 650 repackaged in black, a unique hard case, a dual-purpose stylus/pen, and that's about it. The Black Tie Edition is shipping immediately for a whopping $599 unsubsidized; we're not holding our breath for our 700p-toting readers to make the switch, but for folks on GSM carriers, this is now the snazziest Treo money can buy.

[Carlos @ Jun 20th 2006 5:43PM]

Ewwww. Treo 650? C'mon.

[kerunt @ Jun 20th 2006 6:06PM]

I would take it for $50.

[kerunt @ Jun 20th 2006 6:20PM]

Anonymous,

7 employees are thinking of "new and innovative" ways to improve their products.

The other 900 are trying to get mp3 ringtones on their Treos...

[Jico @ Jun 20th 2006 6:21PM]

Palm said that they'd introduce 4 new treos this year.
The 700w and 700p were the first two... does that make this the third?

If so, does this indicate that they'll delay either the threo "hollywood" or the new budget-priced treo?

Because God, I hope not. I've been holding out for the hollywood for months, and if it's delayed to next year I think I'll cry.

[Anonymous @ Jun 20th 2006 7:07PM]

Speaking of things Palm said they were going to do, whatever happened to blackberry connect? Wasn't that supposed to be out early this year?

[Kyle @ Jun 20th 2006 8:01PM]

Umm, What's the difference between this and the black sprint version. Obviously other than GSM. Might as well switch to sprint and verizon and pocket the remaining 300 dollars.

[supersocialist @ Jun 20th 2006 8:38PM]

So Palm releases the 700, and suddenly their remaining stock of 650s is severely devalued. What to do with a warehouse full of unsold and now-outdated hardware? Slap on a new case and call it a "special edition," and wait for the suckers to line up.

I'll buy the housing on eBay and swap my perfectly good 650 in, thank you very much.

[apt @ Jun 20th 2006 9:26PM]

wow hey! A new Treo... and it looks like pretty much every other Treo before it. What a surprise

[David O @ Jun 20th 2006 10:02PM]

Eh.. only for Sprint and Verizon? No thanks... I'm with T-Mobile and I'll get an MDA or SDA instead. More phone for the money.

[Carlos @ Jun 21st 2006 3:30AM]

Uh, David O, it's for GSM users only, so actually, it is available to you.

[xbit @ Jun 21st 2006 4:23AM]

I really find it interesting how devices like the Treo (and the Sidekick) do fantastically well in the states while the rest of the world ignores them.

Palm OS is by far the most prevalent smartphone OS in North America, but worldwide (even including US sales) it's a distant fourth behind Symbian, Windows and even Linux.

I'd love to know why.

[Anij @ Jun 21st 2006 8:56AM]

Wow...okay then...they really need to start trying harder. I have a 700, thank very much, and there is no way I'm paying $500 for a new case...I'm not a sucker like those that go 'oh! wow! must...buy...-drool-'. Hehe. That's like my best friend...

[Mark @ Jun 21st 2006 9:03AM]

Ummm, they already did have some Treo promotion campaign this spring, price for 650 was about 300 euros after all coupons and rebates for European market.
Palm is dying isn't it?

[David O @ Jun 21st 2006 8:45PM]

Carlos, not unless I want to buy an unlocked one and use it unsupported on the T-Mobile network. Doing so is *kinda* a pain in the a$$.

[ken @ Jun 26th 2006 5:32AM]

i wish i could have one! is somebody has the heart to give?

it would be so useful for me as an info tech student...
email me to [e-mail] if your willing.

[ken @ Jun 26th 2006 5:36AM]

wish i could have one!!
could somebody has a heart to give?
it would be so useful for since i am an info tech student..
if your willing email me at [e-mail]
thanks!

[Anonymous @ Jan 28th 2009 8:18PM]

Palm isn't even trying any more, are they? As of June 2005, they still had 907 employees; what on earth can they be doing with their time?