Rumor: New Palm OS Treo in April

I meant that a CDMA/GSM global Treo would be costly to produce/design/market. I know that the Sammy global handset on Verizon (to date their only offering) still commands a premium and is only available through their web site and select corporate stores.

Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX

Let me rephrase myself--again:

A global Treo for VERIZON (the Vodafone connection, anyone?) would make sense for them. Global, in this sense, is CDMA=USA GSM=Rest of the world. Global as in a single Treo handset that can alternate betweeen Verizon's mighty CDMA network in the States and the Vodafone et al GSM networks when abroad.

Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX

There are MANY areas in the USA that might just be a few miles outside major metropolitan areas that have a marginal digital CDMA signal, no GSM coverage, and where analog is still the strongest signal (and yes, I can personally account for this throughout the southeast & midwest).

Just because a GSM network technically covers a certain area here in the states does not mean that you'll be able to hold onto that signal or have a reasonable conversation without dropouts. The inherent nature of GSM phone designs means that the clunky looking but useful extendable antennae on many CDMA handsets still comes in handy in these fringe areas.

My Moto V710 improves by at least one bar on signal strength when pulling its (bent, crooked, and ugly) antenna out all the way. My Verizon RAZR, by comparison, despite good RF performance from sucha tiny handsets, usually has fewer bars than the V710 did even with its antenna retracted (it still has the stub extending out of the top of the phone).

For the time being CDMA is still a necessary evil for many users in the United States--especially those living in fringe areas, near the mountains, or in rural areas. Aside from THAT single strength, and overlooking any "fluff" like media content offerings, brand loyalty to a particular type of handset, or requiring EVDO data, there's no "real" benefit of CDMA.

It's just in its real-world rollout & solid roots in the USA that makes CDMA the best choice for *most* users. The # of CDMA to GSM business users I know here in the southeast is easily 4:1. Interestingly enough, it's housewives, retirees, and teenagers that I most often see sporting some nifty little GSM handset.

(that said, I am seriously considering abandoning Verizon in favor of a GSM Razr on Cingular so that I can regain BT DUN functionality--unless the Treo 800p on Verizon rumors SOMEHOW come to pass by March 15th).

Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX

As for technology and where it's moving, I know many ppl that are moving to T-Mobile or Cingular, BECAUSE they have GSM and they want to be able to use the same phone world wide. And I'd like to believe that among the ppl that buy expensive TREO phones, there's a higher percentage of ppl that travel and would like to be able to take their phone with them. In my mind, the universal access to GSM networks far outweighs the lack of coverage in the boonies in the US.

MST

Ditto that comment. Mausoleum speaks from a position of sheer "good luck" to live in a strong GSM part of the USA. I wouldn't be nearly so naive to make such a sweeping generalization as the "vast majority of people , epsecially those buying smart phones, live in areas with good GSM coverage".

I'll also wager that the average CDMA user pulls in more $ in revenue per month than the average GSM user in the STATES. All of the business types I know who are on the road more often than not use CDMA simply for the good coverage in the 'burbs or outlying rural areas.

Me personally I spend more time stateside (like 99.99% of users) talking on the phone than globe-hopping SO no, GSM global functionality does not outweigh CDMA's large footprint domestically. Besides for the true jet set elite, a cheap GSM phone & pre-paid international SIM card can always be had...

Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX

Surur

They said I only argued for the sake of arguing, but after an hour I convinced them they were wrong...

Were it crashing incessantly (defined as "continuing without interruption") it would never STOP crashing.

And that's your dose of anal-ness for today! :P

Tim Carroll
Your friendly customer service robot
(and big Treo fan)

You're not too good at picking up on sarcasm, are you?

------------------------
Sony CLIE UX100: 128 MB real RAM, OLED screen. All the PDA anyone really ever wanted.
------------------------

The Palm eCONomy = Communism™

The Great Palm Swindle: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=7864#108038

NetFrontLinux - the next major cellphone OS?: http://www.palminfocenter.com/comment_view.asp?ID=8060#111823

EVDO, 64mb or more RAM, Bluetootth 1.2 or better, 1.2mp camera or better, tweaked/slightly larger keys, 18-bit color depth screen, physically larger 320*320 screen, slimmer formfactor, smaller or no external antenna, higher-capacity battery, Push-to-Talk, improved build quality, internal storage memory ala T5, Wi-Fi SDIO card capable, FrankenGarnet 5.5 with some Cobalt bolted on etc etc ad infinitum.

The (realstic) possibilities for improvement are numerous. The theoretical list of possible improvements are nigh endless. There's still PLENTY of improvements to be made to an OS 5.x unit seeing as how the 650 had specs in '04/'05 that people expected in '04 on the Treo 600!

Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX

I would further hazard a guess that it will have a total of 128 MB of flash. Palm seems to like standardizing their memory buys, and they've used 128 MB on the TX and 700w. I'd expect the casing and keyboard, along with other specs, to be more or less identical to the 700w.

Surur

They said I only argued for the sake of arguing, but after an hour I convinced them they were wrong...

With that experience behind them, you'd think they'd be able to do even better with superior hardware, which makes me think the 700w's cam software might not be Palm's work.

Hpefully in addition to a superior screen, the 700p/800p whatever will have a superior camera too - even if the hardware is the same as the 700w.

Tim Carroll
Your friendly customer service robot
(and big Treo fan)

HOW minor? 64mb RAM, 1.2mp camera, BT 1.2, EVDO and running Garnet 5.5? Same FF as the 700w.

Those are the "likely" specs I've been touting all along. Sprint or Verizon?

Why didn't Palm just make a running change and rebrand--or at least repackage all of the 650s in new Palm packaging?

I still don't expect a feature phone from Palm...at least not in '06. Maybe if they have a strong year they might get around to one in midyear '07 or so.

Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX