Analysts Reveal Palm's Treo Plans for 2006

Everyone should know by now that Palm plans to release its first smartphone running Windows Mobile early next year.

But this leaves some wondering, "When will the next Treo running the Palm OS be available?"

According to a report from Caris & Co. analyst Susan Kalla, it will be launched in the second quarter of 2006.

Although she gave few details on this smartphone, Kalla did say that it will be be available from Verizon Wireless and will support that company's EV-DO high-speed wireless network.

Verizon's EV-DO network offers typical download speeds of 400-700 kilobits per second (kbps).

According to an analyst report that was leaked to Engdget, this device will be codenamed Hollywood and will have a very thin design and no external antenna.

Verizon First Again

It seems Palm has recently forged a very strong relationship with Verizon.

The first Windows Mobile Treo will also debut on this carrier's network, and will be available exclusively from Verizon until the middle of next year.

However, Kalla says that the next Palm OS Treo might not be available only from Verizon at launch. There's a possibility that Sprint Nextel might also offer it next spring.

Looking Ahead

According to Kalla, the next Palm OS Treo will debut on Cingular Wireless in late 2006.

This device will reportedly support this wireless carrier's UMTS, giving it average data transfer speeds of 220 to 320 Kbps.

At this point, it does not appear that the next Treo will have HSDPA, would would give it a much higher data transfer speed.

Tastes Great, Less Expensive

In what should be welcome news to many, Kalla also reports that Palm intends to release its first mid-range Treos next year.

These devices, which will cost about $200, around the middle of 2006.

At this time, it is not known if these will be Palm OS or Windows Mobile Treos.

The analyst report that was leaked to Engadget mentioned a second smartphone in development from Palm, codenamed Lowrider. It seems likely this is a reference to the mid-range Treo.

Left Wanting More

Unfortunately, Kalla does not reveal many of the details of the upcoming Palm OS-based smartphones.

She does not, for example, say whether they will run the Linux-based version of the Palm OS, or will continue to run Palm OS Garnet, as Palm's current smartphones do.

Palm OS for Linux is expected to be released about the same time the first of these Treos will.

Clearly, more details will have to wait until nearer the release of these models.

Related Links

• Palm, Microsoft Announce Windows Mobile Treo

Source: Forbes