FCC Releases Info on Handspring Treo 300
The FCC has given Handspring permission to offer the Treo 300, the not yet announced smartphone which will use Sprint's 3G wireless network. The FCC has also posted some information about the 300 on its site.
This info confirms much of what was already rumored about the Treo 300, including that it uses the same 12-bit color screen as the Treo 270 and 90. It is expected to be available in the next month or so, at about the same time Sprint rolls out its 3G wireless network.
3G
Of course, the main feature of this model is that it can connect to the new wireless network Sprint is expected to launch nationwide this month or next, providing faster connections and greater bandwidth for data applications.
The Treo will run at a theoretical max speed of 156 kbps, though the actual user speed will usually be something around 70 kbps or so. This is still much higher than the GSM version, which has a max speed of 14.4 kbps, and even faster than a landline modem. However, there is some debate over whether this qualifies is "true" 3G, though Sprint calls it that.
This device uses CDMA2000, though it can use regular CDMA networks, too. It will be offered exclusively through Sprint.
Sprint will integrate its suite of business products into the new version of the Treo, including Sprint PCS Business Connection Personal Edition, which is a service that allows allows subscribers access to their corporate email accounts.
Users will be charged for wireless networking by the amount of data used, not by the amount of time spent online.
Handheld
Aside from the high-speed wireless networking, the Treo 300 is essentially the same as the other wireless Treo models. It will run Palm OS 3.5.2H on a 33 MHz Dragonball VZ processor. It has 16 MB of RAM.
It has a built-in keyboard for text entry. If Handspring is planning to release a version with Graffiti, it hasn't gotten FCC approval for it yet.
Thanks to Marty for the tip. Sorry, I didn't get this out earlier. I've been on vacation and having connection problems. -Ed
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RE: Looks good (for a cellphone)
RE: Looks good
Also, as a personal preference, a rather costly personal accessory such as this shouldn't be all plastic. A metal case and color options of some sort would make it much more appealing.
RE: Looks good
Back to reality
Here's my theory: you're just saying you want the keyboard in the cover because Handspring didn't put it there. You know, the old "Handspring is dead" attitude.
RE: Looks good
RE: Looks good
RE: Looks good
Actually, the dimensions of the Treo are fine. Move the Treo's thumb-pad from its current 'inside' location and make it part of the cover (the existing location of the Treo's window will work fine). Then you have room to put back the graffiti area, but why not just make it a virtual graffiti area like on the Sony Clie NR Series? If you think the keyboard electronics make the lid too thick or heavy, you could just put light plastic buttons with rubber stubs that press against the graffiti area when you type (with the appropriate driver software), but I'm pretty sure they can actually make the thumb-board circuitry pretty thin and lightweight...you might have to trade off tactile feel, though (e.g. replace the treo/blackberry style keys for something closer to the Sony Clie NR keys...)
RE: Looks good
RE: Looks good
Besides, look at the weights on most Palm OS devices. How many are 4 oz? 3 that I know of. The Palm V, the m500, and the Treo 90. There are a bunch more at 4.9 oz, also mostly with metal casings.
So the metal shell doesn't add significantly to the weight.
Speed wrong and wrong comparison?
RE: Speed wrong and wrong comparison?
---
News Editor
RE: Speed wrong and wrong comparison?
RE: Speed wrong and wrong comparison?
RE: Speed wrong and wrong comparison?
RE: Speed wrong and wrong comparison?
RE: Speed wrong and wrong comparison?
Of course, they also don't mention that Cingular is about to purchase AT&T Wireless, making them the most powerful GSM weapon in the universe.
We have AT&T GSM here in Michigan, and it's perfect. If we were able to share Cingular & VoiceStream's GSM towers, (let alone be owned by Cingular), Sprint & Verizon would sweat enough bulletts to raise the water level in Texas above the clouds.
Sprint = suck
Verizon = yawn
Patience = key
Cingular/AT&T Superunion = ACE!
RE: Speed wrong and wrong comparison?
RE: Speed wrong and wrong comparison?
The Treo 300 will support Sprint's 3G network and be capable of taking advantage of the fast downlaod speeds. The 56k cap does not apply here. OTOH, the treo 180/270 are only capable of speeds of up to 28.8kbps since that is the type of GPRS those two models support. The GPRS network is currently capable of faster speesds but the Treo 180/270 will not support it. Of course, the 180/270 aren't even capable of 28.8kbps right now since Handspring has not released the GPRS patch for those two models. The Treo 300 will require no such patch.
Finally, GPRS phones will not destroy Sprint/Verizon. Not even close. At previously mentioned, the best GPRS phones out there in the US support up to 56k, as opposed to 144k for Sprint/Verizon. Both types of networks will be always-on. Sprint/Verizon clearly have the edge as far as coverage goes, GSM is not even close in that category in the US. Unless you are a frequent international traveler, CDMA is as good a choice as any for your mobile needs.
GSM has many problems, GPRS is slow
Note that both Verizon and Sprint are also advertising much lower average rates (70K) than the peak (144K) for Qualcom's cdma2000.
GSM has its problems. It's basically useless in California, with Cingular (formerly PacBell) being the only GSM carrier (AT&T is coming). Service is very is spotty and limited compared to other carriers. My former boss's quote: "My [triband GSM] phone works great, except in California"
Even in Europe, it has problems when you're inside a building. For example, although I could get 3 signals inside my hotel in Bologna, none would last longer than two minutes. If I went outside, it was OK. I saw other people at restaurants getting next to a window to talk.
It can also be entertaining trying to use a pre-paid GSM phone (and the majority of cell phones in Europe are pre-paid) in another country, for either voice or SMS.
RE: Speed wrong and wrong comparison?
CDMA2000/1xRTT claims 144kbps... if STATIONARY... and that's probably stationary, not even meaning that you are stationary, but that the conditions don't change around you (i.e. no sudden mass of clouds or thunderstorm, or rain, snow, etc.) It's rated at 40kbps-50kbps when you are considered mobile. This is the reason people are challenging 1xRTT claim to be 3G (as opposed to WCDMA). It is strictly classified as GPRS equivalent (2.5G).
GSM will do better within buildings compared to any CDMA. In CDMA, you will not be able to transmit at higher power because if you increase power too much, you effectively deafen all other users (clogging the network, and no one else can make a call/everyone drop calls). In GSM, when signal is weak, the phone merely increases power to compensate. That is not exactly true with CDMA... and in situation of weak signals (given similar base-station conditions), you will do much better with GSM... ESPECIALLY WITHIN BUILDINGS. This is also the reason I think, that I have had much fewer drop calls (between 1 or 0... one unconfirmed drop) using Voicestream compared to consistent dropped calls using Verizon wireless (despite having moderate signal strength). I'm in Chicago (new networks).
Finally, Cingular and Voicestream are paired up. If you have a nationwide plan on either, you don't pay roaming/long-distance in the regions either of them serve.
(I do not work for Cingular/Voicestream/AT&T. All info reflects only on what I have read and might have errors).
3G costs
We shall see what the cap is, though, and how reasonable the prices are for the consumer. I have a feeling I won't be able to afford it...
Whoops
"Users will be charged for wireless networking by the amount of data used, not by the amount of time spent online."
Error between chair & keyboard...
High SAR levels
RE: High SAR levels
RE: High SAR levels
Why no unlimited data plan?
RE: Why no unlimited data plan?
Saturate that 70KB/sec connection @ $43/min
$10/MB
70KB/sec connection..
4.28 MB/min download
Please someone tell me this is wrong..
RE: Saturate that 70KB/sec connection @ $43/min
Please clarify...
Not trying to flame, just find out...
RE: Saturate that 70KB/sec connection @ $43/min
On the Telus Web site it says Kb, and I just came back from COMDEX where I spoke to the Telus people and they confirmed it. So I was wrong with my first post.. sorry.
It's still $6/min :)
Oh, and on another note, there was a company on the show floor who I spoke to about the T68i here in Canada.. they've got it now, plus some Euro ericsson about the size of a Zippo.. no kidding.
The big news is they'll have the p800 here in Canada 2 days after it goes GA in Europe August or September.. and SonyEricsson is adding a SD or MS slot to it!
Guy said it blew away all other pda phones he's tried.. The Kyrocera, the upcoming Samsung, and a few others he said we'll be seeing soon..
what about the size
David in Pflugerville, TX
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Looks good