Palm Centro: Palm's next Treo, er, smartphone

You didn't really think it was going to be called the Gandalf, did you? Palm's next smartphone is the, wait for it, "Centro"; Palm's apparently not calling it a Treo (it was presented to us as the Palm Centro, not the Palm Treo Centro, or the Treo 800), and isn't yet showing off any images of it (for those you've got Engadget Mobile). But we did learn Palm showed it off at a Sprint media summit, and they outlined these features:

• "Smallest Palm OS smartphone to date
• Targeting a younger demographic, new to the smartphone space
• Runs on EVDO network
• New design features a full keyboard and touch screen"

Wow, a phone with a keyboard and a touchscreen! What will they think of next?

Oh, it sounds like GearLog was there to check it out: no surprise, they mentioned the keyboard is "infinitesimal... impossible to type on this thing with two thumbs". Score. It'll also supposedly go for $99, and Sprint will have 90 days exclusivity.

However! It does look like the version they played with (probably the one above) isn't the "adult-sized" model we've also seen online, which shares many of the same design cues but appears to be larger, has a horizontally oriented display, and runs Windows Mobile.

[Sneakz @ Aug 16th 2007 8:37PM]

Better off Targeting CDMA instead of GSM as there probably will be much better options for GSM. If this ended up being GSM, you would still see BB Pearls flying off the shells more than this but with less options for CDMA (Verizon, Sprint, Telus, Bell, MVNO's etc.) this may see a few sales, especially for the young'ns.

[Zach Marshall @ Aug 16th 2007 8:38PM]

You wanna target the younger demographic? Lower your fuckin' data plan costs. I want EV-DO for my laptop so bad, but I don't have $50 to shell out every month. That's outrageous.

Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and even T-MOBILE - listen up. For the future Blackberry generation here, LOWER YOUR DATA COSTS!

[Slvrgun @ Aug 16th 2007 10:05PM]

Amen to that.

[b @ Aug 16th 2007 10:18PM]

sprints pda data pricing is $15. your argument is not only misplaced but its pretty weak to begin with

as for the pictures, its clear theres a treo logo on the top left of the smaller version. if this is truly not going to be a treo then perhaps we still havent seen the real version

[Zach Marshall @ Aug 16th 2007 10:43PM]

What argument?

My grievance that I'd have to spend $50 for unlimited laptop ev-do? And where are you pulling the $15 plan from? Hell, my texting and mobile web comes to that.

Sprints page (http://nextelonline.nextel.com/NASApp/onlinestore/en/Action/DisplayPlans?filterString=Data_Plan_Filter&id12=Shop_StartPlans_Link_DataPlans) while they do offer the cheapest of data plans.... is still nowhere near $15. It's $50. (40MB a month is a joke).

The point I'm making is, Blackberrys, Treos, iPhones and MDAs are a great product for the 15+ demographic, however, the data plan pricing, especially when factoring in tethering to a laptop (which is what I need), is outrageous!

[David K @ Aug 16th 2007 10:53PM]

Sprints Data plans (for phones) IS just 15/mo dollars for unlimited usage. It's one of those add-on things when buying a new phone and calling plan. It does not include messaging however (IIRC).

[Zach @ Aug 16th 2007 11:02PM]

oh really? that's definitely not too bad then. is tethering too much more? cause if not, then I might just be looking into sprint :) thanks for owning my ass

[Abuzar Baloach @ Aug 17th 2007 12:49AM]

I have a T-mobile plan and I pay 20 USD a moth for unlimited data, and tethering is free.

[Zach @ Aug 17th 2007 12:53AM]

for what phone?

[islndboi @ Aug 17th 2007 1:22AM]

Guess you haven't heard of those Sprint SERO plans.

[Zach @ Aug 17th 2007 2:06AM]

nah, I've looked at it so far, but as I said in the comments a little farther down, at the price its a great deal, though how shady is the tethering and how reliable?

[Sandman619 @ Aug 24th 2007 2:46AM]

AT&T's unlimited data plan for the iPhone is a mere $20. Although at this time the iPhone does not function as a modem for a notebook computer. I find that I don't need that, the iPhone is doing a pretty good job, esp for a version 1.0 product

Cheers!

[Bernhard @ Aug 16th 2007 8:38PM]

What will they think off next? Let me think, probably something weird like a smartphone companion for that model...

[Cal @ Aug 16th 2007 8:39PM]

that thing is god awfully ugly

[dude @ Aug 16th 2007 8:43PM]

haven't they always been touchscreen + keyboard? Palm is really starting to piss me off. I loved their interface but now it's getting cluttered and ridiculous.

[Jon @ Aug 16th 2007 8:46PM]

While not pretty it does look tiny (for a Treo).

[ChiliPepr @ Aug 16th 2007 9:01PM]

i wonder if it will reboot spontaneously 3-5x a day like the current treos?

[Kevin @ Aug 16th 2007 9:15PM]

If its Treo 600-a-licious keyboard is any indication, it should lack non-volatile flash memory, Bluetooth, and a user-replaceable battery!

[Eric @ Aug 16th 2007 9:36PM]

Wow. Quite teh technological innovation.

I'm selling my iPhone the day this is released...

[Khris @ Aug 16th 2007 9:54PM]

I'd ask Palm if they would like help lowering their coffin into the ground, but I think they're doing a find job on their own!

WHAT A JOKE!

Thank god I sold my Treo!

[cjh6793 @ Aug 16th 2007 10:12PM]

THat is a maaajor impreovment.
"Any word on media features? Oh, wait this just in- reports state multimedia functionality still sucks."

[JohnDoe303 @ Aug 16th 2007 10:23PM]

This is a nice move IMO for Palm but I need that sleek black 800w we saw a while ago. I need WM6.

[Zach @ Aug 16th 2007 11:04PM]

you dummy you replied to the wrong comment, but thank you for the information for it. that once again sucks though. but with tethering, is it ANOTHER $40, so for a total of $55, or just $40 for data + tethering?

[JohnDoe303 @ Aug 16th 2007 11:08PM]

@Zach

Wrong post? Did someone say SERO? 49.99 1250 Anytime Minutes, 7pm N&W, Free M2M, Unl Data, Unl Txt, Unl Pic & Vid Mail.. There are two other plans as well. Tethering YMMV based on handset.

[Zach @ Aug 16th 2007 11:11PM]

@JohnDoe

I don't need another phone plan though, I just need the data. Verizon has my balls in a vice grip for two years, which is okay, since I love Verizons voice service, I just need something I can use on my laptop, and getting my own PDA plan would actually possibly work.

[Zach @ Aug 16th 2007 11:18PM]

:o I'm actually checking out SERO right now (for anyone who's interested email: [e-mail]) and i may be leaving verizon

[Joshua Ochs @ Aug 16th 2007 11:00PM]

Um, no Zach. Those data plans are specifically for USB or mobile broadband cards. In other words, your laptop.

This is about phones, which just need the unlimited Power Vision package, which is $15/month. If you want to tether your laptop to it, the kick you in the nuts again to the tune of $40/month.

[James Hare @ Aug 16th 2007 10:58PM]

Dang that thing is dog ugly.

[Jonathan Allen @ Aug 16th 2007 11:20PM]

So it's $99 with a rate plan, small, white, and low on features? They should call it the Treo Zire. Maybe it will come with that sweet 160x160 screen! Huzzah!

[Me @ Aug 16th 2007 11:30PM]

Are you F**king kidding me! You all know if this thing had a half eaten Apple on it you'd be calling it the greatest entry level phone ever created.

Hmmmm...And if Palm announced today they were coming out with an incredible new Smartphone that has everything…………….except for 3G & MMS & no ability to do GPS navigation & no expandability of memory or applications & it cost $129 to replace the battery & it doesn’t do corporate email & the keyboard doesn’t work really well and it cost $600 you would say “they are digging their own grave”, “it sucks”, “are they kidding me” but because APPLE creates the same device it’s the greatest device ever made. “Jesus Phone” …GIVE ME A BREAK!

[Bryan @ Aug 17th 2007 2:42PM]

Yeah, we would.

Because Apple is a company that can take mediocre specs and a high price and turn the product into a hit because of their unmatched skill at advertising and design.

Palm is a has been company without a clue as to their purpose who completely refuses to innovate and at times seems intent on running themselves out of business.

That is the difference. And that is why these two companies dont get equal treatment.

[Dave @ Aug 17th 2007 10:35PM]

You know, if there WAS a half eaten Apple on the back of this, I'm fairly sure the front would be a whole lot better looking.

Say what you will about Apple, but their design is spot on and their user interfaces are really quite good.

It's just stupid to say that this is a phone that we'd all be thrilled with if it were Apple branded. They'd never make a product like this.

[CB @ Sep 7th 2007 1:25PM]

We're not kidding - we're serious!
Because actually, my first Treo 600 didn't have 3G or MMS or GPS navigation; and barely had any internal memory (it would've cost several hundred dollars extra for external memory to equal the 8GB that iPhone comes with); and I never needed to replace the battery; and it never worked properly with my corporate email; the camera was crap; the media player was crap; the Internet access was crap; and if you recall it also started at $600. And I (along with many others) bought it thinking it was great.

But even then I remember thinking, I bet Apple could do a much better job than this. Well guess what? Now they have.

[billy bob thorton @ Aug 16th 2007 11:37PM]

looks like they borrowed the keyboard design of the sx66. which was near impossible to use. I've been a fan of palm for years but they are not offering any incentive for anyone to switch back. I'm sure I'm not the only person who used and loved their 650s until everyone else passed them and appears to have lapped them now.

palm if you're reading: get rid of windows mobile, get the phone size down to at least the E61, keep the keyboard from the 650 and others like it.

[freakmarket @ Aug 17th 2007 2:19AM]

Palm .. if your listening ... KEEP Windows Mobile ... my 750 works great ... loose they keyboard completely and make the touch screen the whole length of the device. I can scribble out text faster with the letter recognizer and my stylus than i can with a thumboard.

Seriously ... a full screen WM Treo would be sweet.

[Umeadi @ Aug 16th 2007 11:45PM]

However! It does look like the version they played with (probably the one above) isn't the "adult-sized" model we've also seen online, which shares many of the same design cues but appears to be larger, has a horizontally oriented display, and runs Windows Mobile...And is ugly as all hell. I mean, I can handle ugly, but this is circus ugly.

[jimmywash @ Aug 17th 2007 1:35AM]

What a piece.

[pstelman @ Aug 17th 2007 8:17AM]

I hope it comes with the hole in the battery cover so you can stick a paper clip in to poke the reset button. It's so annoying to have to take the cover off my Treo to hit the reset all the time.

Also, that thing is remarkably ugly. Even BEFORE the iPhone, I would have called it ugly. Now it's ugly^2.

[Fernando @ Aug 18th 2007 12:33AM]

Want a younger demographic? Palm should buy out GSL from Hong Kong, makers of the Xplore line of PalmOS smartphones, and maybe they can bring the Xplore M98 http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=34784 up to date with a more decent camera, and plastic that doesn't break after 5 months of use.

A Palm Inc. version of the GSM Xplore M98 updated with UMTS, Bluetooth and 2MP camera would be a hot seller.

Just my $0.02...

FC

[allens555 @ Aug 22nd 2007 2:21AM]

the guy's finger is like the size of 3 of those buttons

[S4Rs @ Aug 24th 2007 4:54PM]

I dont care what they put out, I am not even considering buying it until it comes with the Access Linux OS

[Andrew Dickinson @ Sep 5th 2007 9:53AM]

Have you seen european data costs such as Vodafone on 3G operating at 1.5 Mbps which is around $45 ot £25 for 3Gb per month. Which is quite good.

Andrew

[jfos @ Oct 2nd 2007 7:41PM]

First off. It would be a bad idea to switch this thing over to GSM. Yes, it might have coverage in Europe. But as far as its network speed goes, it would be like putting a corvette on a go-cart track if you put a centro or smart phone on GSM. If you want fast flowing data, you'll stick with CDMA. GSM's network is too weak, the only reason why AT&T switched to gsm so long ago was because didn't have a network to build off of in the first place.