Handspring Releases GPRS Update and Treo in Mexico

Posted By: Ryan Wednesday, October 2, 2002 8:52:41 PM

Handspring has officially announced the availability of its GPRS software upgrade for Treo 180 and 270 for customers in Europe and Asia. A US release has not been formally issued, however our friends at TreoCentral have unofficial instructions to get it up and running on US networks.

The GPRS Upgrade enhances applications like email and web access due to faster, persistent connections to higher-speed packet data networks. The upgrade also includes improvements to the phone and SMS applications as well as an easy installation and wireless data set-up process.

"We believe the GPRS Upgrade transforms Treo from a good data device to an outstanding data device with dramatically improved browsing performance and a more seamless email experience," said Joe Sipher, vice president of worldwide marketing. "Along with the improved data features, we've also included a number of customer requested enhancements to the user interface."

Some of the added features of the upgrade include:

Improved speed when looking up and dialing names from the Contacts list
A new mute button in the phone application
Automatic set-up for wireless data through the installation -- no need for manual configurations or an Internet Service Provider (ISP)
Enhanced navigation between voice and data functions. For example, if you are in the middle of a data session and you receive a voice call, Treo will give you the option to answer the call or send it to voicemail. If you answer the voice call, it will put the data call on hold and resume downloading once you have completed the voice call.
Immediate access to speakerphone; you no longer need to wait for the call to connect to see the speakerphone button.

Handspring expects to deliver this upgrade to customers in Australia and New Zealand soon; they delivered GPRS to customers in Canada via Rogers AT&T last month.

Treo 270 in Mexico
Handspring also announced availability of the Treo 270 communicator from Telcel, the leading Mexican network operator, through a distribution relationship with Celex The launch of the Treo 270 in Mexico marks the entry of Handspring into the Latin American market and will coincide with Telcel's launch of GSM services in Mexico.

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Quite Tight...

TexSkater9140 @ 10/3/2002 12:37:51 AM #

being able to access GPRS in the US must seem "quite tight" to the people who have been wanting this.
to bad i dont have a treo, i dont see myself upgrading for a while though
m130 for life!
-alex

----------------
"One of the advantages bowling has over golf is that you
seldom lose a bowling ball."
-Don Carter, pro bowler

New Story Underneath?

jho4thclie @ 10/3/2002 1:01:27 AM #

I understand that NX Series debut is BIG, but I think I prefer the strictly chronological arrangement of stories on the main page.

-Jerrod

-JWH

RE: New Story Underneath?

PDA Guy @ 10/3/2002 2:43:54 AM #

Agreed. Any reason why this story showed up under the NX one?

RE: New Story Underneath?

rickyspears @ 10/3/2002 5:44:43 AM #

This is part of the redesign. In Ryan's introduction he said, "We will now list our most notable news article, denoted by the blue "Lead story" text, first at the top of the homepage. New articles will be listed directly below the lead story ordered by date."

I have to agree with you that I prefer the old completely chronological order myself. Most of us probably check the site a few times a day and never miss a new item.

I'm not sure about the motivation of this change. Perhaps it to show new visitors that PIC knows not just the latest of the Palm news, but the greatest of the latest as well. :o)

RE: New Story Underneath?

hkklife @ 10/3/2002 11:31:21 AM #

Ugh. First the hideously slow loading of the new site (at least for me, on both dial-up and broadband) and now this non-chronological headline scheme. I'm starting to miss the old site already. Perhaps a poll or a show of hands could convince Ryan otherwise??

RE: New Story Underneath?

markgm @ 10/3/2002 11:59:16 AM #

I too like the chronological order of stories...call me lazy!

RE: New Story Underneath?

Beavis @ 10/3/2002 12:43:47 PM #

Add me to the list of people who prefer the old way.

RE: New Story Underneath?

rldunn @ 10/3/2002 1:21:07 PM #

Me too!! I like all the other changes except for this one.

RE: New Story Underneath?

KRamsauer @ 10/3/2002 1:29:58 PM #

I like the old way too. Funny. At the top of the screen I'm at right now it says "PalmInfocenter.com, check it 2, 3, 4 times a day." Following that advice, the chronological order is the best!

RE: New Story Underneath?

Gekko @ 10/3/2002 1:42:25 PM #

I agree. Also - I miss the ANONYMOUS posting. It seemed much more lively of a place. The last 6 out of 7 posts for the last few house were all on this "RE: New Story Underneath?" thread. BORING! I'm sure we're missing out on some tidbits that people haven't posted because they're too lazy to log in or afraid of getting traced.

RE: New Story Underneath?

Admin @ 10/3/2002 1:48:19 PM #

Give it some time folks, you'll get used to it. Maybe I'll set up a poll on the matter soon. I have other ideas I'm working on to make new stories more noticable. If the news comments are slow, the PIC forums are always a very active place.

RE: New Story Underneath?

KRamsauer @ 10/3/2002 3:09:53 PM #

It wouldn't be so bad if the lead story didn't look exactly like the rest of them, save for a little blue type. Even a different horizontal rule between the lead and first stories might make a difference. Maybe making it into a box and having the rest of the stories flow around it? Something, please. :)

RE: New Story Underneath?

jho4thclie @ 10/4/2002 8:55:32 AM #

Yup. Agreed. Sorry to say it, Ryan... but if you want a lead story on top, I'd do it like Brighthand does... (Sorry for saying the B word everyone). Set it apart from the chronologically ordered news stories.

-JWH

RE: New Story Underneath?

fitz @ 10/5/2002 12:28:02 AM #

Ryan, you need to learn a lot about user interface design. You don't tell people to get used to your site, you change your site to suit the wants of the people who use it.

This is great

aflores @ 10/3/2002 1:46:04 PM #

I like very much, because I am from Mexico and I spec this for a long time, but when Sony release a smartphone?, because I don't want to carry on to equipment's a Cellular and a Clie.

Aflores
Fanatic of a PDA with Palm OS

TREO W/ SD SLOT AND GPRS

michael828 @ 10/4/2002 8:14:34 PM #

Anybody has an idea of handspring will everrelease a treo smartphone with an SD expansion slot and GPRS capability. We in Southeast asia has been waiting for such stuff.

RE: TREO W/ SD SLOT AND GPRS

Token User @ 10/4/2002 8:33:59 PM #

You might be better served with a Kyocera 7135. Of course, SE Asia is a big place, and the 7135 is designed for CDMA networks (= China, Japan, and Korea for SE Asia).

~ "Don't be too proud of this technological terror you've constructed." - DV ~