.KEYWORD treo
.FLYINGHEAD FIRST LOOK
.TITLE Handspring adds color to the Treo line
.OTHER
.SPOTLIGHT FIGALT cover.gif
.SUMMARY Handspring has just added two new models to its line of Treo handheld devices: the Treo 270 and Treo 90. Steve Niles has all the details on these full-color devices that add some interesting new features to the Handspring product line, including a backlit, built-in QWERTY keyboard and a Secure Digital and MultiMediaCard expansion slot.
.AUTHOR Steve Niles
Handspring has just added two new models to its line of Treo handheld devices. The new Treo 270 is an update to the Treo 180, adding a full-color display, a backlight for its built-in QWERTY keyboard, and enhanced battery life. Like the previous models in the Treo line, it’s a wireless communicator that integrates a mobile phone, wireless applications like email and Internet browsing, and a Palm OS organizer all in one.
The Treo 270 is pictured in Figure A.
.FIGPAIR A The Treo 270 adds new features to the product line.
The new Treo 90, however, is a departure from the previous Treo models in that it has no wireless capability. It has the same organizer features as any other Palm OS device, but it has the familiar Treo built-in keyboard for those who shun Grafitti. It also has a full-color display, 16 MB of memory, version 4.1 of the Palm OS, and a long-lasting rechargeable battery. Most interesting is the fact that the Treo 90 is the first Handspring device to use a Secure Digital and MultiMediaCard expansion slot instead of the traditional Handspring Springboard expansion slot.
The Treo 90 is pictured in Figure B.
.FIG B The Treo 90 has no wireless capability.
.H1 Treo 270
The Treo 270 is available for $499 with GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication) service activation or $699 without a service plan. For the next three weeks, though, owners of Handspring’s VisorPhone Springboard module can purchase Treo 270 for $499 without activation of a new service plan.
The device is available now from Handspring’s Web site (at http://www.handspring.com/products/treo270/index.jhtml?prod_cat_name=Treo270) and will become available through authorized Handspring retailers in the coming weeks. In addition, Treo 270 will be available throughout Europe and Asia where Treo 180 and 180g are already sold. Handspring expects to announce availability in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Latin America in the months to come.
According to Handspring, the Treo 270’s large, colorful touch screen is supposed to set the product apart from other high-end mobile phones. They say the color display also offers better clarity and readability of text and graphics, making it ideal for Web browsing, viewing photos, and playing games. However, it should be noted that both the Treo 270 and Treo 90 have 12-bit color (meaning it can display over 4,000 colors). Most other color Palm OS handhelds have 16-bit color screens.
The built-in, backlit QWERTY keyboard is nice in that you can still type even in low light conditions. The Treo 270’s increased battery life is also important, considering its phone functionality. According to Handspring, it allows up to three hours of talk time and 150 hours of standby time.
Like the previous Treo models, the Treo 270 is a full-featured mobile phone designed for one-handed operation. It includes features like Instant Lookup of phone numbers and contacts (usually in three keystrokes or fewer), 50 speed dials, a traditional dial pad on the keyboard, call log, three-way calling, caller ID, and speaker phone. It’s a dual-band GSM world phone that can roam internationally.
Treo 270 is also a wireless messaging device capable of sending and receiving SMS text messages and email. It works with Treo Mail, which Handspring introduced earlier this month. Treo Mail is a wireless email service designed just for Treo communicators. It provides secure access to corporate email or POP3 Internet accounts. Treo 270 also includes a new version of the Blazer Web browser designed to allow one-handed navigation of Web links and pages with the rocker switch, and enables in-line editing.
Web browsing and email retrieval require Internet service either through a wireless service provider or an ISP (Internet Service Provider), as well as a GSM wireless plan that includes data services. SMS (Short Message Service) may require a separate plan as well. Compatibility with next generation GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) wireless data networks will be available later this year. The cost for the GPRS upgrade is included in the product price.
The device is a steel-gray color, measures 4.2 x 2.8 x 0.82 inches, and weighs 5.4 ounces. It has 16MB of memory and a rechargeable lithium ion battery. It’s compatible with the same Treo accessories as previous models.
.H1 Treo 90
Treo 90 is available for $299 at http://www.handspring.com/products/treo90/index.jhtml, and within the next few weeks it should be in retail stores across the U.S. Treo 90 will also become available in the upcoming months in Canada, Europe, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia and Korea.
Handspring is really getting behind the idea of the built-in QWERTY keyboard. They believe the feature will expand the market for organizers to include people who are intimidated by or never wanted to learn Graffiti. Meanwhile, there are also people who don’t want to commit to having their phone and PDA in one device. The idea seems to be, if people like the Treo 90, they’ll eventually upgrade to one of the versions with a built-in mobile phone.
The Treo 90 is a bronze color and measures 4.2 x 2.8 x 0.65 inches and weighs four ounces. It runs Palm OS 4.1.1H, the latest version of the Palm OS with Handspring’s enhancements. It has a rechargeable lithium ion battery that should last 10 days on a full charge.
Treo 90 has a transflective, color STN display and a touch screen that is backlit. However, there’s no mention of its keyboard also being backlit. It has a removable flip cover with a clear window that protects the screen and keyboard without adding size. The clear window offers a view of the entire screen, so you can check the calendar or look up a phone number without lifting the lid. Additionally, Treo 90 has a key lock feature, which saves battery power by ensuring that the device doesn’t accidentally turn on when it’s in your pocket, bag, or briefcase.
Treo 90 comes with WordSmith on the desktop CD. WordSmith from Blue Nomad (at http://www.bluenomad.com) is a full-featured word processing application, electronic book reader, document viewer, and enhanced memo pad for Palm OS devices. It synchronizes and integrates with Microsoft Word, so that documents can be transferred from the desktop to a handheld.
.H1 Conclusion
Besides the Treo 270 and Treo 90, the Treo family of handheld devices includes the Treo 180 and Treo 180g, which have been available since February 2002. A color CDMA Treo is scheduled to be available this summer and will operate on the Sprint Third Generation Network. We’ll look forward to seeing that new addition soon.
.BEGIN_SIDEBAR
.H1 Product availability and resources
For more information on Treo 270, visit http://www.handspring.com/products/treo270/index.jhtml?prod_cat_name=Treo270.
For more information on Treo 90, visit http://www.handspring.com/products/treo90/index.jhtml.
For more information on WordSmith from Blue Nomad, visit http://www.bluenomad.com.
For more information on Palm handhelds, visit http://www.palm.com.
.H1 Easy, flexible article reprints
ZATZ now offers a quick, easy, flexible and inexpensive way to use article reprints in your marketing and promotion efforts. You can now get article reprints for a one-time fee of only $200. For details, visit http://mediakit.zatz.com/reprints.
.END_SIDEBAR
.BIO
.DISCUSS http://powerboards.zatz.com/cgi-bin/webx?50@@.ee7001d
