Palm announces WM5-powered Treo for Vodafone

So Palm has officially announced one of those three Treos we were promised at the end of last year, and just as we expected, this Windows Mobile 5 AKU2-powered model will be sold exclusively overseas. Unfortunately the company neglected to include a detailed spec sheet in its press release -- more information will be available closer to the as-yet-unspecified launch date -- so all we really know at this point is that it's destined for Vodafone's 3G UMTS network in several European countries. Also unclear is how this model relates to other upcoming Treos we've seen under such codenames as Hollywood, Lowrider, Nitro, and Lennon -- we sure wish Palm would be a little more forthcoming with its product roadmaps. As usual, though, you can always count on us to bring you every little bit of Treo news we get our hands on, even if Palm and friends don't give us much help putting it in context.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

[Korey @ Jul 13th 2006 1:12PM]

i think its shi*ty for eurotrash to get the hotphones before the US isnt palm based out the US anyway i mean cmon be american give us the good tech first

[Stu L Tissimus @ Jul 13th 2006 1:17PM]

Korey, I'd just like to thank you for reinforcing the wonderful image we Americans give off to the rest of the world. Again, thank you.

[Terral @ Jul 13th 2006 1:24PM]

Palm had to pull it's sales of Treo 650's off the EU market last month due to enviromental concerns if I remember right. This makes sense to get the EU up and running. After all, the cellular market is much larger outside of the USA.

[Will @ Jul 13th 2006 1:34PM]

Umm, I hate to burst your bubble, but the Treo 700W has been out for a while now. And last time I checked it ran Windows.

Also, the 650 did not meet enviormental standards in Europe,so Palm had to release a new model to replace the 650 in Europe. And this phone is probably double the price in order to comply with the European socialist regualtions.

Finally, if you are upset about this, you need to look at all the phones that get released in Japan, Korea, and Europe that are way cooler than this, or any other "American" phone. US consumers simply have not demanded, in large enough numbers, high tech phones that are equivelant to overseas phones. Sadly, most Americans can barely turn a cell phone on, much less operate a Treo. So until all the ignorant boobs across the country get some smarts we are destined to be behind in cell phone tech for a while.

[David R @ Jul 13th 2006 1:39PM]

Who cares about windows powered PDAs....shouldn't Palm be making Palm-powerd PDAs?

[Adam @ Jul 13th 2006 2:09PM]

See, my picture is true from the hollywood post!! It is NOT a photoshop!

[TC @ Jul 13th 2006 5:47PM]

I have heard Palm management mention four Treos for 2007 on more than one occasion.

As far as the lead content in the 650's solder, Palm stocked sufficient quantity in distribution centers before the July 1 import ban date. The 650 is still legal to sell. Because they were working on the phone mentioned in the article we are commenting on, it is obvious to me why Palm chose not to re-engineer the 650 from the solder up.

2007 has shown introduction of WM5 Treos before PalmOS, perhaps this will happen again with the new antenna-free model.

[Clay @ Jul 14th 2006 2:27PM]

I heard there was a manual released somewhere online, anybody got a link?