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Thanks to an analyst at Caris & Co., we now have a better idea when we'll see the new Palm Treo for Windows Mobile, aka the Treo 700w. We also have new insight on updates the the Palm OS version, which will see a refresh complete with EVDO. Lastly, we're finally going to see the Treo family get larger, with new mid-range models coming in at $200.

Susan Kalla released a detailed research report on Palm, from an investment perspective. her research was chock full of updates on the Treo family though, including details of the 700w, a Palm OS version of a refreshed Treo 650 and a tease about Palm's new mid-range Treos.

Palm Treo for Windows Mobile (Treo 700w) - Not much new here, Kalla confirms a release on Verizon prior to the end of February next year, which is consistent with the guidance issued by Palm thus far. Verizon does have an exclusive on it though through at least mid-2006, so Sprint, who has been the earliest adopter of Palm hardware, will be left out for several months.

Palm OS Based Treo 650 Refresh - The comparable product to the 700w, will be released by May in EVDO form on Verizon. Sprint Nextel will also likely get the Treo at the same time. A UTMS version for Cingular will ship closer to the end of 2006. Again, for whatever reason, T-Mobile is showing little interest in Palm Treo hardware. They're the only major carrier to not offer the Treo 650. It's also not known if this unit will ship on the current version of the Palm OS or if PalmSource will be ready with the new version, whatever that will be called.

Mid-Range Treo - Years ago when Palm talked about the long term plan for Treo, they talked about building a family around the brand with models for various types of users. This hasn't happened yet and Palm has dodged the subject repeatedly. Now it looks like a mid-range unit will come out near the $200 price point early or mid 2007.

Source: Forbes.com