Treo Pro Prematurely Announced?

Posted By: PIC on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 9:34:17 AM

For our longtime readers the title above is somewhat of an understatement, even sometimes expected given the flurry of rumors that nearly always precede a new Palm release. Nevertheless, a number of tech sites posted seemingly official announcements of the Palm Treo Pro smartphone earlier this morning, only to quickly withdraw portions of the article citing a premature release by one of Palm's PR agencies.

In any event, new official looking press pictures of the device have been posted and even a video clip (posted after the break), which appear to have been produced by Palm's marketing department. Oddly these items remain online, while the official announcement statements were requested to be taken down. Initial images confirm that the device is essentially identical to the Treo Pro engineering prototype that have recently made the rounds online.

Word of a official announcement was first posted on Electronista, the Register and subsequently Slashgear and shortly later recapped by Engadget. There is no word of the Treo Pro on Palm.com's site and PalmInfocenter has not received any sort PR statement from Palm regarding the device as of this writing.

By now nearly every aspects of the device has been leaked online including numerous rounds of spy shots from multiple sources, some with uncharacteristically good resolution. The Treo Pro is expected to sport a Quad-Band GSM phone with Tri-Band 3G HSDPA support. It is said to run Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional on a 400 MHz processor with a 320x320 pixel flush touchscreen, 256MB memory, microSD expansion, built in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS.

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poor marketing

swieder @ 8/19/2008 11:20:23 AM #

Amazing how disorganized Palm seems on the announcement of this very important product.

RE: poor marketing

TooMuch @ 8/19/2008 12:04:47 PM #

Really? This is likely an intentional leaking strategy to garner news and build anticipation for a formal announcement.

RE: poor marketing

heavyduty @ 8/19/2008 12:04:54 PM #

At this point not only does this slip up not matter, it's even beneficial; we've been waiting too long for this product and people have been buying other phones in the meantime (hp 910, Samsung 780, etc.) due to the lack of a official release date for the Treo.

So even if this leak wasn't planned it will only do Palm well.

Palm Vx (a classic) -> Palm 505 (*yawn*) -> Dell Axim (slooow...) -> Palm TE (great) -> Qtek 9090 (great idea, lousy platform) -> Nokia 6630 (a toy) -> iMate SP3i (not bad) -> Nokia 9300 (can't sync notes!!) -> Treo 650 (awesome) -> hw6915 (almost perfect) -> Nokia E51 (un/impressive) -> Touch Enhanced (nice!)

RE: poor marketing

SeldomVisitor @ 8/19/2008 1:29:01 PM #

Maybe they want the news out now to try to sell some of these to some more carriers.

Like AT&T?

RE: poor marketing

swieder @ 8/19/2008 2:27:05 PM #

It depends on how long it will be until the 850 is available. If it is more than 60 days from now until someone can actually buy an 850 then I consider these leaks a big problem for Palm. If the 850 is available in the next two to four weeks then the leak could help build some hype.

RE: poor marketing

mikecane @ 8/19/2008 5:51:43 PM #

Given the damn scope of the leaks, they have like 24 hours to deliver or eat crow.

RE: poor marketing

SeldomVisitor @ 8/20/2008 6:05:13 AM #

> Maybe they want the news out now to try to sell some
> of these to some more carriers.
>
> Like AT&T?

Ooooh.

The Pr-Fluff is out now; AT&T is not mentioned.

RE: poor marketing

swieder @ 8/20/2008 7:02:16 AM #

They announced today, but dont start shipping to Sept (Euro) or the "Fall" (USA). Did all these leaks lead Palm to announce earlier than planned?

RE: poor marketing

hkklife @ 8/20/2008 7:50:42 AM #

I/we had read somewhere that that "Pro" wasn't expected to be announced until late September or even early October so yeah, I think these "leaks" are basically responsible for the device anouncement hitting the press a month or so earlier than planned.

I think everyone had generally assumed it to be announced in Sept and begin shipping in October. Of course, that could all have been a smokescreen. Remember, the Centro supposedly launched last fall earlier than anticipated as well.

Pilot 1000->Pilot 5000->PalmPilot Pro->IIIe->Vx->m505->T|T->T|T2->T|C->T|T3->T|T5->Zodiac 2->TX->Verizon Treo 700P->Verizon Treo 755p

RE: poor marketing

SeldomVisitor @ 8/21/2008 4:55:17 AM #

> I/we had read somewhere that that "Pro" wasn't expected
> to be announced until late September or even early October...

Here's what Palm says about something related to "announcing":

- http://tinyurl.com/palm850fcc

IS THE PALM OS DEAD?

ScottG @ 8/19/2008 1:38:32 PM #

I'm just starting to wonder if the Palm OS is DEAD?

Why are all the new version of the Palm's only have the Windows version installed on them. It's very frustrating to see this happen over and over with each new release.

ScottG

RE: IS THE PALM OS DEAD?

mikecane @ 8/19/2008 1:55:46 PM #

I'm getting real sick of the negativity at this site!

Does the phone say "Palm" on it?

Does it have an OS running it?

Then Palm OS lives!!

There. Now we r no longer h8trz. Weez luvvrz!!

RE: IS THE PALM OS DEAD?

ScottG @ 8/19/2008 2:47:07 PM #

I know Palm is alive as for the hardware!!!

I SAID THE OS (Operating System) ! ! !

Just can't figure out why it's always the Windows OS (Operating System) that continues to debut on all the new versions of the PALM HARDWARE, then the Palm OS version come many months later on. I've never even seen a Palm that anyone owns that has the Win OS installed on it.

When I say or hear the Palm Hardware you think of the Palm OS (Operating System), the Software that runs on it - As for "Negativity"? Nothing I wrote is Negative at all, it's just a question of why this is the case now for everything they "PALM" comes out with. If you think a question is a Negative, well then all I can say to you is to F.O.!!!

ScottG

RE: IS THE PALM OS DEAD?

mikecane @ 8/19/2008 5:50:23 PM #

What a git! Can't parse humor unless it is littered with those twee emoticons.

You poor fool.

RE: IS THE PALM OS DEAD?

stellaboy @ 8/20/2008 2:50:51 AM #

You guys can kiss and make up now.
The centro debuted with palm os and the treo pro doesnt have palm os on it. You were both not right.

I think Palm needs the money right now and needs to tick over to palm os2 next year. I think this is a great product and will appeal to so many people. I can upgrade my phone next month and hope its out in the uk real soon as I think I may get one.

pilot 5000 >Palm V > m505 >Tungsten T >A bad win mo 5 pda >Clie Peg ux50 > Tungsten t3 >Treo 680 >Centro

A glimmer of hope

atrizzah @ 8/19/2008 3:43:12 PM #

That music is incredibly irritating...

But I must say, I'm actually reasonably excited about this device. I'm finally ready to make the transition to Windows Mobile, after spending waaaay too long sticking with Palm OS. Palm OS is now woefully behind the competition in capability, and I have little faith that their next OS offering is going to surpass the competition (if we ever see it in the first place!)

I'm looking forward to hearing more about it, and I'm hoping that it really will be a leap ahead of current Palm hardware, pretty much in every way.

Peace Out
Alan

Who cares?

lobotomic @ 8/20/2008 1:29:08 AM #

Why should I buy this device instead of an HTC or whatever other random brand using Windows Mobile? In fact, I would not be surprised if it was HTC who built it, for starters.

Has Palm really added to it any special sauce that tastes any better than others'? Why should I care at all that it is Palm branded?

I wish Palm well, but really, there is nothing to see here. Wake me up with Nova.

RE: Who cares?

joad @ 8/21/2008 8:58:05 AM #

But- it sez "Palm"!!! And, we're so stupid to our blind brand loyalty that we'll accept anything with the magic word "Palm" on it as if it were a Palm (OS) device.

Palm has won our hearts over the past 11-12 years with their high quality control and excellent customer satisfaction, so naturally if they say that this WinceMob monstrosity is as good or better than the Palm OS then of course - here's MY $500 bucks!!

Hey Palm - there are a hell of a lot of alternatives that are built and supported better than your track record has been. For many of us, the **ONLY** reason we endure your build quality and customer "service" is because you are basically the exclusive vendor of PALM OPERATING SYSTEM devices. You could put a flying car into your WinceMob devices and they'd still be as unusable as WinceMob by any other manufacturer - with the added non-bonus of being built and supported by PALM!

Paying my annual PDA update tax to Palm since 1997.

RE: Who cares?

SeldomVisitor @ 8/21/2008 9:48:20 AM #

> Why should I buy this device instead of an HTC or whatever other
> random brand using Windows Mobile?...

Rumor has it that AT&T asked the same question.

RE: Who cares?

BaalthazaaR @ 8/21/2008 11:16:10 AM #

Plume : But... but... we built it... it is new and great, ok not so new and maybe it is just ok. oh who are we kidding, after fooleo who'd believe us anyway.

(yeah I know the popular replacement for the copyrighted word is Plam, but I prefer the plume of smoke rising from the crater where they used to be)

Palm Software on sale