Sprint May Not Launch Palm Treo Pro Until Feb. 15

Despite briefly listing the Treo Pro on its web site this week, Sprint may have pushed back the release of Palm's latest Windows Mobile smartphone until mid-February.

An internal memo from Best Buy that was leaked to Mobility Today indicates that this retailer was set to launch Sprint's version of the Treo Pro on Monday, Jan. 25, but this has been pushed back to Feb. 15.

This delay is happening despite the fact that Best Buy stores have already received shipments of this device. 

No reason for this change was given in the leaked memo, but it could easily be related to the product the Treo Pro will replace, the Treo 800w. This model is similar to the upcoming one, but is notoriously problem-ridden. If Sprint hasn't yet exhausted its supplies of the 800w, it may be holding back the successor.

An Overview of the Palm Treo Pro

The Treo Pro has been available in the U.S. for some time, but Sprint is the first wireless carrier to offer it. Previously, a GSM version has been sold by Palm directly to consumers as an unlocked device. In Europe, the Treo Pro is available from Vodafone.

This smartphone has the design that's become a hallmark of the Treo line, a candybar shape with 320-by-320-pixel touchscreen above a QWERTY thumb-keyboard.

It runs Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional on a 400 MHz processor from Qualcomm, and comes with the standard suite of productivity applications.

Other features include an external microSD card slot for additional storage, a built-in GPS receiver, and a 2.0 MPx camera.

More about Sprint's Version

The Treo Pro model currently available uses GSM networks, but Sprint's version will be a CDMA phone with EV-DO. In addition, it will have Wi-Fi and Stereo Bluetooth.

Sprint says its 1500 mAh battery is good for 5 hours of talk time. 

This carrier intends to charge $200 with a two-year contract and mail-in rebate for the Palm Treo Pro.