Palm and Microsoft Announce New Treo Smartphone

Ending months of speculation, Microsoft & Palm today announced the Windows Mobile 5 powered Treo Smartphone.

Palm has licensed Windows Mobile technologies to use on the latest and future Treo Smartphones. The New Treo Smartphone takes full advantage of the latest version of Windows Mobile, 5.0. The Treo offers Outlook Mobile, Office Mobile and Internet Explorer Mobile built into the Smartphone, as well as direct access to Exchange Server 2003 for ActiveSync Syncronisation. In addition, the new Treo will operate with Verizon Wireless' BroadbandAccess service, the largest high-speed wireless broadband network in the United States.

A shocking combination but one that Microsoft's Chairman, Bill Gates, hyped up on stage. Gates admitted he received the device this morning and will be using it as his main smartphone (yea, right!). Interestingly the device seems to be running Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC Edition and yet the phone is marketed as a Smartphone. The Treo 700w contains Word, Excel and Powerpoint to allow customers to access most office data whilst on the move.

The device is expected to be launched on the Verizon network in early 2006.

Video: Treo Smartphone Press Conference (300K) | 100K | 56K