Verizon Treo 700wx Windows Mobile 6 Update Released

Posted By: Ryan Kairer Thursday, September 11, 2008 9:11:23 AM

Palm today posted the long anticipated Windows Mobile 6.0 update for the Verizon branded Treo 700wx smartphone. The Verizon only Treo 700wx Updater v1.24 provides an updated version of the Windows Mobile operating system and incorporates past ROM updates.

WM6 provides a number of updates including a refresh user interface, enhanced calendar functionality, better HTML email support, Office 2007 support, Windows Vista compatibility and a number of additional features detailed here.

Full instructions and detailed can be found at Palm Support. Both ActiveSync and SD card updater methods are provided. Again, please note that this update is only intended for the Treo 700wx model operating on Verizon Wireless.

Not only is it highly unusual for Palm to release such an update for an older, EOL'd device, but Windows Mobile 6 was announced all the way back in early 2007 and has since been superseded by WM 6.1. The Treo 700w first became available on Verizon in January 2006, with the memory bumped 700wx model appearing later that year first on Sprint and then later on Verizon in Feb 07. Over the course of its lifetime the Windows Mobile powered Treo 700 series has received a plethora of device updates, some even introduced new issues and were subsequently pulled and reissued.

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This is very odd

hobbes1257 @ 9/12/2008 7:17:09 AM #

Releasing an upgrade (not an update, BTW) from 5 to 6 for such an pld device is surprising.
A explanation would be that there's some new service o app to come that requires WM6. I'm letting my mind wild, of course...

RE: This is very odd

SeldomVisitor @ 9/12/2008 7:30:57 AM #

Either that or Palm was contractually obligated to supply the upgrade...like maybe before Verizon orders any further Palm devices.

RE: This is very odd

hkklife @ 9/12/2008 7:34:28 AM #

I had the same thought but had a couple ideas why they could be doing this:

1. VZW has TONS of unsold 700wx inventory still in the channel and they need to do SOMETHING to make it at least comparable to the other WM offerings out there. With WM5, even slashing the prices on this antiquated design might not move 'em out quickly enough. But WM6 coupled with a nice price cut at least gives it a fighting chance to clear the remaining stocks

2. VZW has some kind of new billing/auto-PRL/OTA download service in the works that requires WM6.

3. VZW passed on the 800w and the CDMA Treo Pro is still a ways away and/or just a rumor. Maybe VZW even had to agree to fund/support this update release in lieu of releasing any new Treos from Palm w/ WM6.x.

4. VZW/MS want all current & forthcoming handsets to be fully Vista-compliant (?) which ideally means WM6.

On a related note, does anyone know where the 700wx now stands in regards to SDHC support? Does the 700wx hardware support SDHC but it needs WM6 to "see" it so only Verizon users are in luck? Or do all 700wx versions support SDHC 4GB cards but not capacities past that?

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: This is very odd

SeldomVisitor @ 9/12/2008 7:48:07 AM #

> ...1. VZW has TONS of unsold 700wx inventory still in the channel...

Interesting thought - it MIGHT be that Palm is obligated to accept that excess inventory in return. They say something like that in their SEC filings:

== "...Because we sell our products primarily to wireless carriers, distributors,
== retailers and resellers, we are subject to many risks, including risks related to
== product returns, either through the exercise of contractual return rights or as a
== result of our strategic interest in assisting them in balancing inventories..."

- http://tinyurl.com/3hjseg

Page 25 and following.

RE: This is very odd

hkklife @ 9/12/2008 8:20:00 AM #

Do you interpret that to mean: "take excess inventory back outright" or "compensate carrier partners $-wise so they keep buying our next-generation stuff" ?

"Unexpected changes in product return requests, inventory levels, payment terms or other practices by these sales channel partners could negatively impact our business, results of operations and financial condition"

Remember when the 755p launch on Verizon for late summer/early fall got delayed to late Dec'07/ Jan '08 due to testing certification and Palm's earnings that quarter got clobbered as a result?

Who again is responsible for shouldering the costs of rolling out a WinMob upgrade? IIRC, Microsoft provides the actual license to the handset manufacturer for little-or-no cost, right? But the handset manufacturer & carrier are responsible for all device custimizations/testing/rollout/support etc.

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: This is very odd

SeldomVisitor @ 9/12/2008 8:27:23 AM #

I always took such words to mean "take inventory back outright" in conjunction with either crediting back the entity or not billing them in the first place.

We don't know handles these things - they tell us they modify their estimating methods "periodically" without ever telling us WHAT those estimating methods really are.

It could be (though I'd find it hard to actually believe) that Palm doesn't bill for 1/Nth of their shipment to a carrier unless the carrier actually sells it. And, as they've noted, they account for the NONsale much much later in time to when they account for the "sale".

RE: This is very odd

SeldomVisitor @ 9/16/2008 2:52:07 PM #

Latest rumor poop is Verizon will be carrying the 800W in October.

Wonder if there WAS a connection...

RE: This is very odd

SeldomVisitor @ 9/17/2008 3:25:13 AM #

The plot sickens...

The Boy Genius is suggesting that there really isn't anything interesting coming from Verizon anytime soon, but that Verizon is trying to create buzz to head off the T-Mobile Android phone impact, among others:

- http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2008/09/16/blackberry-storm-weve-been-had/

So maybe the rumor that the 800w is coming in October is also planted for the same reason.

Large Enterprise customer

wildmantrader @ 9/12/2008 7:59:08 AM #

I heard rumors that Palm has a large enterprise customer that wanted the upgrade and probably compensated Palm for the upgrade. The customer wanted to upgrade so they could run on current Treos they had until Palm releases the Treo Pro for CDMA.

RE: Large Enterprise customer

SeldomVisitor @ 9/12/2008 8:18:25 AM #

It should be noted that this person self-admittedly has a large position in Palm stock and, as very clear above, is not afraid to post "information" with absolutely no way to verify its validity.

Reader beware.

=========

And to short circuit the irrelevant comeback about MY stock position - I have no position in Palm stock and haven't had one for months, minimally.

And I =always= post links to my sources if I am not posting an opinion.

RE: Large Enterprise customer

hkklife @ 9/12/2008 8:26:05 AM #

The large enterprise customer bit is unsurprising and actually quite a plausiable scenario (though it's worth a chuckle or even a giggle to consider the dubious benefits of the expense of throwing $ at Palm to maintain a large deployment of aging Treo 700wx's vs. just upgrading everyone's handsets outright).

Now, the part abou the CDMA Treo Pro is still very, very much up in the air and totally unconfirmed. So far the mythical beast that is the CDMA Treo Pro is nothing more than wishful thinking & speculation from the community, aside from that single reference in cens.com last month:

http://news.cens.com/cens/html/en/news/news_inner_24450.html

http://www.palminfocenter.com/news/7449/cdma-treo-pro-also-on-the-way/

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: Large Enterprise customer

Gekko @ 9/12/2008 9:02:41 AM #

that's the dumbest, silliest, most implausable theory that i've heard yet.

RE: Large Enterprise customer

LiveFaith @ 9/12/2008 11:29:52 AM #

It's actually true. Enron & WorldCom are both heavily on board.

Pat Horne

RE: Large Enterprise customer

Gekko @ 9/12/2008 11:52:01 AM #

i heard it was Santa Claus. he's gearing up for the big Christmas season.

that's CHRISTmas, for all of you commie pinko lefties out there.

RE: Large Enterprise customer

flex22 @ 9/13/2008 12:12:35 PM #

lets not forget VZw purchase alltel who Probably has more over stock then VZW.
I ask alltel about this what a joke they said they were not geting an update. but will be geting 6.1 for their HTC :( what about us that have and like the 700wx. no wonder they were purchase just no customer service