Interesting Findings From the Centro FCC Docs

Despite the fact that the Centro CDMA version has hit the ground running as one of the most popular new Palm OS devices in quite some time, the GSM version of Palm’s Centro smartphone only became available last week. Sprint enjoyed a period of exclusivity for the Centro that lasted more than three months, only ending in this month’s announcement of unlocked Centro sales commencing in Europe as well as a version for AT&T wireless in the United States.

Some light can possible be shed on the reasons for the tardy GSM Centro in some recently-released FCC filings. As posted by Engadget Mobile, these filings reveal some rather interesting details. First of all, the Centro’s internal name is the Treo 685, which is exactly what some earlier rumors had suggested and we discussed in a December report. This comes as no surprise whatsoever since the CDMA version is coined the "Treo 690" (presumably the EVDO radio gives the CDMA version the advantage of a higher model number!).

Palm CentroThis dual nomenclature is nothing new for Palm, as the original Tungsten T was technically "m550" and the original white Zire was officially known as the "m150". Deciding not to brand the GSM Centro as the Treo 685 was likely an 11th hour decision based in no small part on the device’s initial commercial and critical success with Sprint.

A second interesting fact revealed in the FCC documentation is that the device does indeed have Bluetooth 2.0 radio hardware built-in, despite being advertised as being only Bluetooth 1.2 compliant. This is likely due to the aging Garnet OS’s Bluetooth stack not supporting the newer 2.0 protocols.

Finally, conspiracy theorists will delight in the fact that the GSM device was approved between December 2006 and May of 2007, despite not being released in CDMA form until October 2007 and February 2008 for the GSM variant. The actual reason for the delay behind the device’s release is highly debatable. The Elevation Partners recapitalization deal, the integration of Jon Rubinstein into the Palm fold and the cancelation of the Foleo Mobile Companion last summer could have consumed the majority of Palm’s attention and resources, making a 2007 release for the GSM Centro unreasonable.

Or perhaps, as this December Wall Street Journal article suggested about the CDMA version, Rubinstein called for some late-running changes to all versions of the Centro that delayed their release. Palm also could have simply sat on the device’s release to clear existing stocks of Treo 680s and Palm OS handhelds or for last summer’s iPhone hysteria to die down. Or Palm could have desired a drawn-out release schedule in order to permit Sprint total Centro exclusivity and spread out the final few Palm OS Garnet-based devices to have some momentum to carry Palm through 2008 while work continues on the Nova OS.

At any rate, Sprint’s first four months on market with the Centro appears to be a success, with widespread print and television advertising for the device, heavy discounts on the device only now starting to appear and a new wave of Centro colors on the horizon.

The full exhibit of the FCC filings can be perused here. The PIC review of the CDMA Centro can be found here.

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GSM made more sence....

WareW01f @ 2/25/2008 6:21:43 PM # Q
Palm is a global company, GSM a global spec, you would think that overall Palm generates more revenue from GSM than CDMA. Plus I know that Europe is anti antenna, so I can see that as part of it.

Outside of that, it seems a lot easier to get a GSM device up. Just drop in the SIM and go.

RE: GSM made more sence....
sungod @ 2/25/2008 7:47:00 PM # Q
Not so.

By far Palm sells more handsets in the US than the rest of the planet combined so GSM really isn't as important to them as you would think.

Especially since they can only make low end moddles that are GSM EDGE.

Lets face it the only* major difference from a users prospective between the Treo 755p and the Treo 680 is the radio.

And that's supposed to warrant a US$200 difference in price?

CDMA is by far in Palm's best interests.

*Sorry on closer inspection it does have a better camera too.

Att Palm:
I am one of many T|X owners who would haply be Beta testers for Nova.
We could give you valuable feedback without ever having to go threw the networks for approval.

RE: GSM made more sence....
robera @ 2/25/2008 7:59:38 PM # Q
I also could be a NOVA OS beta tester!! Palm should launch an upgrade for TX with this new OS before any smartphone to scape from the eternal carriers approval delays!!!

RE: GSM made more sence....
BaalthazaaR @ 2/26/2008 10:18:30 AM # Q
I also could be a NOVA OS beta tester!! Palm should launch an upgrade for TX with this new OS before any smartphone to scape from the eternal carriers approval delays!!!

I don't think that will happen. I believe that half if not the majority of TXs ever produced were produced with a non-flashable ROM at least from what I've read. You might want to read through this thread:
http://www.palminfocenter.com/comments/7904/#141492


RE: GSM made more sence....
hkklife @ 2/26/2008 12:33:09 PM # Q
Here's an easy way for Palm to have their cake & eat it too:

Drop the Z22 down to$75. Drop the E2 entirely or cut its price down to $125-$150. Drop the TX and replace it with a TX2 at the same price point.

Give the TX2 the following specs:

-A FULLSIZE SDHC slot
-416mhz CPU (but 312mhz is usable if cost/battery concerns emerge)
-A high-capacity battery (1400mAh *minimum*). User-replacable would be even better but unreasonable to expect from Palm.
-128mb RAM + 1, 2, or 4gb internal flash storage w/ DriveMode. Also plenty of DBheap/cache (unlike the TX).
-A charging LED & an integrated microphone
-Higher-quality audio output hardware and a better 3.5mm stereo jack
-802.11g + BT 1.2 (though I can personally live w/ .11b and BT 1.1 if $ is an issue)
-Better build quality and consistent screen quality (no stagelights or dim yellow screens)
-A software bundle at least as good as the Centro's.
-User-selectable Graffiti 1 or Graffiti 2 (charge $10-$20 for a G1 unlock code/plugin to pay royalties to Xerox if need be).

Make them AlL flashable. Push it heavily at retail as the PDA/PMP/VOIP solution for people who want more flexibility than an iPod Touch offers and who don't want the monthly service charges from a Treo/iPhone etc. It certainly couldn't be a money loser and would keep Palm's name & the OS in the spotlight until Nova is ready. Offer some kind of competition/incentive/assistance for developers to start coding 320x480-friendly apps again.

Then...(drumroll)...have a closed beta test program for TX2 owners to flash their devices and beta-test Nova without the meddling of the carriers, much like how Access released the Garnet emulator for the Nokia Internet Tablets. Palm would be killing, oh, 3 birds with one stone. Palm could then basically take the same device in a year or so, maybe beef up the specs a bit & ship it with Nova preinstalled. Then the'd have a PDA with a 2 year+ lifespan lifespan like they enjoyed with the original TX.

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

RE: GSM made more sence....
sungod @ 2/26/2008 8:37:43 PM # Q
I know my sig is living in a dream world but without dreams what are we?

Windows mobile users thats what.

The Bluetooth 2 radio is the most interesting thing to me, looks like palm is starting to prep there hardware for Nova.

Ether that or we'll see a Winblows Centro but I doubt it.

As far as Palm changing the T|X id also like to see:
Z33:
320x320 screen from the Centro
SDHC card slot
3.5mm headphone jack
Pocket Tunes Dlx
E|3:
Should be a T|X without the WiFi
And better battery life

Att Palm:
I am one of many T|X owners who would haply be Beta testers for Nova.
We could give you valuable feedback without ever having to go threw the networks for approval.

RE: GSM made more sence....
rpa @ 2/27/2008 3:10:02 AM # Q
Isn't the Treo 500 a Windows Centro?

rpa
Palm Pilot >> Palm Tungsten E user
RE: GSM made more sence....
hkklife @ 2/27/2008 11:57:12 AM # Q
Yes, the Treo 500 launched on Vodafone shortly before the Centro did on the Sprint network in the US this past fall. Palm said they have no plans to bring the tri-band 500 to the US market. It's basically a "me too" rebranded device, lacking the Athena MultiConnector, the standard Treo ring/vibrate switch, the smile keyboard or really anything in the way of Palm's "special sauce".

Otherwise, it has pretty solid specs for a Palm, Inc. device. It has a decently sized low-resolutioin "widescreen", plenty of RAM & ROM, A2DP, UMTS, and a nice quality 2mp camera.



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

RE: GSM made more sence....
sungod @ 2/27/2008 9:46:54 PM # Q
Isn't the Treo 500 a Windows Centro?

Not really it takes it's styling cues from the Centro but is a wider form factor like a Treo .
I'd hate to see someone try to use WinMob on the Centro's tiny screen.
It's thumb unfriendly enough as it is.

On a side note does anyone know if the unbranded Treo 500 has the modified today screen of the Treo 750w?
I know the 500v has a bog standard WinMob with the Vodafone menu over the top but I haven't heard much about the vanilla 500.

Att Palm:
I am one of many T|X owners who would happily be Beta testers for Nova.
We could give you valuable feedback without ever having to go threw the networks for approval.

Reply to this comment

So what were these last minute changes Rubinstein asked for?

Patrick @ 2/26/2008 1:54:10 AM # Q
Who wants to warrant a guess?

One thing I'd wager is the deluxe version of pTunes, as opposed to the standard version. In my opinion, that sort of thing didn't mesh with Palm's historical "good enough" style.

What do you think?

RE: So what were these last minute changes Rubinstein asked for?
RussianGuy @ 2/26/2008 2:47:56 AM # Q
I saw in some article a few months ago that the change was related to the external design
RE: So what were these last minute changes Rubinstein asked for?
mikecane @ 2/26/2008 11:51:33 AM # Q
It doesn't matter what version of PTunes they put on it. I'll continue to see people using their *iPods* for music instead of their Treos or Centros.

RE: So what were these last minute changes Rubinstein asked for?
numlock @ 2/26/2008 12:10:03 PM # Q
Lanyard loop FTW!
RE: So what were these last minute changes Rubinstein asked for?
hkklife @ 2/26/2008 12:17:27 PM # Q
Well, from what I've been able to gather, earlier pre-production GSM Centros had slightly angled, almost slanted keys. But the production model has been changed to mimic the CDMA keyboard completely. But GSM Centros do have that little silver ridge on the backside that elevates it to keep the speakerphone from sounding muffled when it's sitting on a tabletop. A clever little conceppt, sure, but how many form-fitting case molds is this going to render unusable. Palm should have either made ALL Centros have this ridge or kept the GSM version identical to the CDMA one. This reeks of the old-time Palm arrogance when they would change formfactors, styli size, and connector pinouts from one device to another (think how the Pilot, Palm III, IIIc and VII were all similar but dissimilar).

Mike Cane brings up an EXTRAORDINARILY good point, one that I've been trying to HAMMER in to Palm & the various Treo apologists for years. Without (at MINIMUM) a 3.5mm headset jack, the Treo is a complete and utter joke as a music-playing device.

I do not want to lug around a pair of overpriced, poor-sounding Palm 2-in-1 2.5mm stereo headphones with a useless mic on them (I seldom use my Treo as a phone). I do not want to carry around a kludgy/fragile/easily lost adapter for my regular 3.5mm headphones ether. If RIM of all companies can squeeze a 3.5mm plug into a BB Pearl, then Palm certainly could have done it on the Centro. Garnet's lack (no one had better dare mention AudioGateway) of stable, native A2DP support only exacerbates the problem. Then on top of all that we have the 4gb storage card limit. I hate my iPog Classic & iTunes but at least I can count on my iPod for long battery life, solid build quality, good sound quality, a real headphone jack, and 160gb of storage. To call the Centro/Treo anything more than the barest of barebones media devices is quite a stretch. Palm had a 3.5mm stereo headphone jack back in 2004 on the $130 Zire 31. To continue to exclude headphone support on a $500+ Treo in 2008 is beyond absurd.



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

RE: So what were these last minute changes Rubinstein asked for?
mikecane @ 2/26/2008 5:02:03 PM # Q
>>>Mike Cane brings up an EXTRAORDINARILY good point, one that I've been trying to HAMMER in to Palm & the various Treo apologists for years. Without (at MINIMUM) a 3.5mm headset jack, the Treo is a complete and utter joke as a music-playing device.

WTF? You mean they *don't* use a standard headphone jack?! I didn't know that (why should I have even looked to see?). I was dumb enough to assume that since the LifeDrive and TX have them ... (uh, the TX does, right?).

RE: So what were these last minute changes Rubinstein asked for?
PacManFoo @ 2/26/2008 5:30:57 PM # Q
The TX has it, but it really doesn't matter considering the audio hiss of the TX will drive you mad.

PDA's Past and Present:
Palm TX (Number 2)
Palm - IIIxe, Vx, M500, M505, Tungsten T, TX
Handspring - Edge, Platinum, Deluxe
Sony - SJ22, UX50
Casio-EM500
Apple - MP110, MP2000, MP2100
RE: So what were these last minute changes Rubinstein asked for?
sungod @ 2/26/2008 8:20:25 PM # Q
The TX has it, but it really doesn't matter considering the audio hiss of the TX will drive you mad.

PacManFoo

There is A fix for this on the French Palm website.
Something to do with French laws and sound quality.
I don't know why they never released it anywhere else.
But sadly I can't speak French and I lost the post that gave instructions on how to get it.

Att Palm:
I am one of many T|X owners who would haply be Beta testers for Nova.
We could give you valuable feedback without ever having to go threw the networks for approval.

RE: So what were these last minute changes Rubinstein asked for?
twrock @ 2/26/2008 8:43:59 PM # Q
I wonder if they started to implement that fix in later TX releases. My first TX has terrible hiss. None of my replacements had bad hiss. But they all had other problems!
(Palm, in case you missed all of my previous rants on the subject, your AsiaPacific repair/replacement system is horrid; seems to me all they are doing is shuffling around broken units until the warranties are expired. If that is the pattern elsewhere as well, it's no wonder you ranked so low in user satisfaction ratings.)


"twrock is infamous around these parts"
(from my profile over at Brighthand due to my negative 62 rep points rating)
RE: So what were these last minute changes Rubinstein asked for?
sungod @ 2/26/2008 8:51:00 PM # Q
stumbled my way throu so here it is

http://tinyurl.com/2fh3a5



Att Palm:
I am one of many T|X owners who would happily be Beta testers for Nova.
We could give you valuable feedback without ever having to go threw the networks for approval.

RE: So what were these last minute changes Rubinstein asked for?
PacManFoo @ 2/26/2008 9:01:57 PM # Q
Thanks for the link sungod!

I'll try it out and see how it goes.

PDA's Past and Present:
Palm TX (Number 2)
Palm - IIIxe, Vx, M500, M505, Tungsten T, TX
Handspring - Edge, Platinum, Deluxe
Sony - SJ22, UX50
Casio-EM500
Apple - MP110, MP2000, MP2100

RE: So what were these last minute changes Rubinstein asked for?
freakout @ 2/27/2008 7:29:17 AM # Q
hkk:
Garnet's lack (no one had better dare mention AudioGateway)

Too bad! I'm going to anyway. :P The lack of a 3.5mm jack does indeed suck. But Audio Gateway is... reasonably... stable and offers excellent audio quality as well as a lot of tweaking options you don't get with most devices that feature built-in A2DP. It's streets ahead of WinMob in those respects.

RE: So what were these last minute changes Rubinstein asked for?
hkklife @ 2/27/2008 11:51:05 AM # Q
Timmmmmay.....I somehow figured you'd be the one to defy me! :-)

The drain on the battery + lack of variety on BT headphones are my chief areas of concern. And I have a set of fancy Shure earbuds, fancy Sennheiser earbuds, some Sony studio monitors and some noise-cancelling Panasonics. I don't fancy having to buy yet another set of 'phones & carry another charger just for BT!



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

RE: So what were these last minute changes Rubinstein asked for?
freakout @ 2/28/2008 2:44:38 AM # Q
Yeah, there isn't very many good BT headsets out there right now. Even worse, Nokia have discontinued their excellent HS-12Ws that I've been using for the last two years, so when they finally die I'm going to have to move on to a more sucky pair... but I sure as hell ain't going back to a wired set! Stone knives and bearskins my friend. :P
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