Introduced this September, Palm has confirmed that its much-anticipated Treo 700w communicator is scheduled to launch in January 2006. The device, which is the handheld maker's first to feature the Windows Mobile platform, will debut exclusively on the Verizon Wireless network with support for EV-DO connectivity in a form factor closely resembling the company's existing Treo 650 communicator.
Powered by an Intel processor, the as-of-yet unnamed Treo will be joining the 600 and 650 models, both currently carried by Verizon Wireless. Although Palm has still to provide further specifications concerning the device, the company will attempt to diversify the product from competing Windows Mobile 5.0 products through additional software.
Among the modifications made is a Today screen plug-in which utilizes a band of contact pictures to let users dial visually, as well as the ability to ignore a call whilst simultaneously opening an SMS dialog to inform the calling party of your status. Also, users will be able to assign voice mail short codes to visual buttons to more easily navigate different voice mail systems as opposed to having to remember several short codes and possibly so for multiple systems.
Once available, the device will face competition from the Motorola Q, which is also expected to be broadly available in January. Similar to the Treo 700w, the Q offers an integrated thumbboard and runs Windows Mobile 5.0, but relies on the wholly button-controlled Smartphone edition on the platform as opposed to the Pocket PC edition which also enables stylus interaction.
According to Palm, pricing for the Treo 700w will be 'slightly higher' than existing Treo models due to its inclusion of EV-DO, but the maker has still to confirm its exact pricing. Other carriers are expected to be able to introduce the device in mid-2006 following the expiracy of Palm's exclusivity period with Verizon Wireless.
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