Handspring Shows Treo 600 Smartphone at CeBIT

securitas writes "Handspring unveiled its final product before being acquired by Palm: the Treo 600. It runs Palm OS 5.2 on a Texas Instruments ARM processor with 32MB of RAM, has a 160 x 160 color display, comes in GSM and CDMA versions, includes a digital camera plus various camera applications and supports Good Technology's Goodlink e-mail software, competition to RIM's BlackBerry. Of course it also comes with a keyboard, SMS capability, MP3 player, Web browser and Secure Digital/MMC memory-card expansion slot. Measuring 4.41 inches x 2.26 inches x 0.87 (LxWxD) and weighing about 6 ounces, analysts say that the Treo 600 is what clinched Palm's takeover of Handspring. The only problem that they forsee is a seriously crowded market for PDA/mobile phone combinations. Availability for the Treo 600 is this fall. Images at eWeek, SFGate or Reuters. Streaming movies from Handspring (QuickTime dial-up 56k| QuickTime dsl/cable 300k)." Reader Michael Ducker points out this longer article at TreoCentral as well.

Comments

What I want:

[Skyshadow]

I just want a phone that fits easily in the pocket of my jeans (has to coexist with my keys) and, pay attention now, gets good reception.

End of story.

Re:What I want:

[deadsaijinx*]

wow, i've had one of those for like 3 years now. it's small, it's simple, it gets good reception. When you go to your provider, they have your standard vanilla mobile phones. This is a story about a crazy ass gadget that you are supposed to drool over and be amazed by all the functions. No one is forcing you to buy a smartphone, so get yourself a normal phone, and for a lot less.

No cigar? You're kidding right?

[WIAKywbfatw]

This device has a physical keyboard as well as the 160 by 160 display in a friendly form-factor. A 320 by 320 display would have upped the cost and completely changed the form-factor from a phone-like one to a traditional PDA-like one.

Clearly, this Treo 600 has been designed to woe consumers looking for a phone/PDA/MP3 convergence device that isn't any bigger than a traditional mobile phone.

Close but no cigar? Hardly - you might not like it, but I'm willing to bet that the market will.

This is the shape of the future. Watch everyone else jump on the bandwagon and watch these babies fly off the shelves as soon as they ship.