Palm Treo 680 and Cingular 8525 price and release!

Ah yes, this is what we've been so eagerly awaiting. Enough pussyfooting around with the Palm Treo 680 and HTC Hermes / 8525 coming to Cingular -- we know they're due. We need prices, we need dates. And according to what appears to be a recent Cingular marketing presentation, we've got 'em:

• Treo 680: $424.99 straight, $349.99 one year, $249.99 one year with unlimited data (and $100 rebate), $274.99 two year, $174.99 two year with unlimited data (and $100 rebate; their ad, however, shows a $200 list price, but it's good to know we can count on around two Benjamins. Expect it November 5th (tentative).
• Cingular 8525: $559.99 straight, $484.99 one year (not including $50 rebate if included with unlimited data), $409.99 two year (also not including that same rebate); expect it October 29th.

See, now that wasn't so bad, was it? Both came in right around where we'd expected and hoped; between the Dash, the Q, and the 680, it looks like that $200 price point is the sweet spot for ever-slimming smartphones. And the 8525 ain't too bad either, considering what you're getting.

[Thanks also to djnth]

[SVergara @ Oct 28th 2006 5:21AM]

Just the information I needed to see before going to bed. Can't wait for the 8525!

[Larence @ Oct 28th 2006 9:44AM]

Life Begins Now! 8525 will SOON BE MINE!!

[Rev. Nathan @ Oct 28th 2006 5:37AM]

I was expecting cheaper for the 8525. Oh well... it isn't stopping me from getting one.

[Sam @ Oct 28th 2006 1:03PM]

Yea the 8525 is more than I wanted to pay, but by this point nothing will stop me from getting one.

[Stymie @ Oct 28th 2006 5:43AM]

What about the i607 Blackjack?

[idesign245 @ Oct 28th 2006 7:02AM]

Where did they you the pricing info from? The actual power point presentation doesn't have any prices in it...

[RyanTV @ Oct 28th 2006 9:42AM]

Now we just need the 750, the Q, and the Excalibur.

[Alex @ Oct 28th 2006 9:46AM]

So 300 for the treo 680 without a data plan! I was gonna get one as my first smartphone but for that price, I don't think I will be.

[Kris Linquist @ Oct 28th 2006 11:15AM]

Want to buy an unlocked Treo 650? :) Email me (I'm the person who's website is linked via [Read].

[Thermopyle @ Oct 28th 2006 11:19AM]

I'm excited about the 8525.

It's time to retire my trusty ole Audiovox SMT5600.

[Victor (Mister A) @ Oct 28th 2006 11:23AM]

Is it me or has no one else noticed the fact that the mention a PTT upgrade? Does it sound like they are going to try to push their PTT network even more now. I doubt that many people actually use it but still kind of important that they mention that too. Also at some point of the presentation they mention that it's actually Windows 5.2 for the Treo 750, which they mentioned under the Cingular Products. Any comments please let me know.

[oki @ Oct 28th 2006 11:46AM]

Anyone to buy my unlocked treo 650 too? im wanting to get the 680 dont have any money though. ha wandor if those 4 colors of treos be offered from cingular or not..
hint the link on that picture to cingulars site doesnt work

[Mattso @ Oct 28th 2006 12:06PM]

I don't know... in my opinion that's way too much for the 8525. I have an 8125 and if I had waited for the 8525 I would be pissed right now. That price is easily out of the "I can convince myself that it's worth it because I really do need yet another expensive gadget" range. The envy is going to kill me, though, as soon as I see one of these in the flesh. Damn, I wish I could remember when and how I became this way.

[Sam @ Oct 28th 2006 1:12PM]

The Agenda page of the PowerPoint references the Sierra Wireless AC875 HSDPA Modem Card but I don't see anything about it in the presentation.

[bobdole @ Oct 28th 2006 1:39PM]

it's funny.. I work for cingular and I've been patiently awaiting these devices, but our bulk ordering warehouse (what the stores order from) still shows no inventory and no purchase orders or eta's... however on a completely unexpected note, the blackberry pearl (which I wasn't sure we were getting at all) now shows as "coming soon" on our price lists... personally I think the 8525 is going to be another v3i launch... expect it next summer or so.

[Gary @ Oct 28th 2006 2:27PM]

This seems like a good unit.
But is this a 3G phone

[paolo @ Oct 28th 2006 3:26PM]

the 8525 is a 3G the 680 is not

[michael.davis @ Oct 28th 2006 4:03PM]

Why would they put it on sale on a Sunday? That sounds rather unlikely and so I have my doubts about all of this. We shall just have to wait and see.

[Meatloaf @ Oct 28th 2006 7:13PM]

What 484.99!!!
Cingular, I will hold on to my 250.00 8125(a new 2gig card will hold me over) and get the PS3 = Cheap blueray DVD player. Will media net even work on the 8525??????

[Kidoun @ Oct 28th 2006 8:23PM]

I've been using the HTC TyTN (8525) with Cingular for about a month, and it's been great. The beefed up processor really helps with things like screen orientation changes, and running a lot of apps. Had to pay a little more, but I don't like my phones crippled.

[Serg @ Oct 29th 2006 1:01PM]

The big difference between the 8525 and the TYTN is the front camera activation - TYTN has it and the 8525 claims to have the ability for PTT. THIS IS THE KILLER APP. 3.5G, WIFI, Bluetooth, WM5 AND PTT. Kidoun - could you verify whether the TYTN will have that ability.

[Jake @ Oct 28th 2006 8:59PM]

FYI, to get the extra $100 rebate, you have to sign up for their unlimited data plan, which is $40/month. With a 2 year contract, that's $960 just for data. The Sprint 700p will end up being much cheaper, since their unlimited data is $15/month ($360 in 2 years). So if you want unlimited data, the Sprint 700p remains far & away the best value. I'm a big Palm fan (got a 700p), but these prices are incredibly disappointing for what was supposed to be a value offering.

[Sak @ Oct 28th 2006 9:08PM]

Stopped by a Cingular store today. Rep as always had no idea when the 8525 would be released. He guessed some time in Jan. Of course his guess may mean nothing. But was kind of disappointing.

[zai @ Oct 29th 2006 3:41AM]

559.99 is cheaper than 699.99 HTC Tytn
does this phone need to be unlocked to use in other carriers like t-mobile?

[Sam @ Oct 29th 2006 2:14PM]

Looks like the 10/29 date was wrong. Anyone seeing this phone available yet?

[austinguy23 @ Oct 29th 2006 8:06PM]

I've called 3 or 4 major Cingular stores in Houston today and none of them had it. One said they plan to get it next week. Another said they expect to receive it mid-November. The others had no clue.

[Dillon Menefee @ Oct 30th 2006 3:53AM]

I just went to the cingular website and type in their question section "treo 680" and it gave me a direction to this site.

http://supportcingular.atgnow.com/cng/resultDisplay.do?page=http%3A%2F%2Fsupportcingular.atgnow.com%2Fcng%2Ftutorials%2FKB71847.html&result=0&responseid=6d7e636f43386ff0%3A35998f%3A10e97fb7657%3A-d64&groupid=1&contextid=20990%3A265.278&clusterName=CingularCluster&doctype=1000&excerpt=Palm+Treo+680#Goto265

Its not much, but it does seems to be to be a good sign.

[Alan @ Nov 6th 2006 9:12AM]

Okay , it's November 6th and not a peep about the 680 or 8525??? Any ideas on when?

[michael.davis @ Nov 6th 2006 12:36PM]

As I said a week or two ago, I think these sources are simply unreliable. We are whistling in the wind. The 680 right now might as well be vaporware.

[AJ @ Nov 6th 2006 2:46PM]

http://supportcingular.atgnow.com/cng/tutorials/KB71847.html

There's the session-free KB article about " Accessing Contacts on a Palm Treo 680 Using Good Mobile Messaging" Has a few screenshots....good times.

[Craig @ Nov 6th 2006 3:19PM]

They drive me crazy, I calle dlast week trying to get some info got no where, called today, I got priceing but was told there is nothing in the system about a release or shipment yet, so who knows I was told that the 680 and 750 will be released at the same time and the pricing for the 680 is correct and the 750 will be 499 with 100 rebate with 2 year and unlimited data

[LDW @ Nov 13th 2006 4:20PM]

I've called Cingular several time san dthey have no knowledge of the having the 680 anytime soon. What gives?

[Stacy @ Nov 8th 2006 12:25PM]

Talked to a Cingular rep in store yesterday, he said he's heard nothing about the 680 and they will have the 700 out first, I'm hoping he's a moron.

[mgjazz @ Nov 9th 2006 3:12PM]

The Cingular 8525 Pocket PC will be available exclusively from Cingular for as low as $399.99 beginning Thursday, November 16, in Cingular retail stores nationwide, select national retailers, http://www.cingular.com/, and through Cingular's B2B direct sales team. For more information, please go to http://www.cingular.com/8525.
http://cingular.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=1746