Verizon Wireless confirmed it will sell PalmOne Inc.’s Treo 650. Many in the industry had expected such a move, although neither Verizon nor PalmOne had officially announced the device for Verizon’s network. Sprint PCS and Cingular Wireless L.L.C. already offer the Treo 650.
Verizon did not give a price for the advanced device or a specific release date, except to say that it would be available “soon.”
Verizon broke from its standard announcing procedure with the news about the Treo 650. Typically, the carrier issues a press release with specifications and pricing details shortly before a device becomes publicly available. For the Treo 650, Verizon posted information about the device on its Web site-“the latest smart phone from PalmOne, the Treo 650 will soon be certified on the Verizon Wireless network”-and is offering to send interested customers an e-mail alert when the device is commercially available.
“We got so many inquiries that the link was provided to give people a place to sign up for follow-up when the device is available,” said Verizon spokeswoman Brenda Raney. “I think that says a lot for our network that so many people want the device from Verizon Wireless.”
Verizon’s decision to sell the Treo 650 will likely boost PalmOne’s Treo sales. Indeed, PalmOne recently lowered its fourth-quarter forecasts due to a delay in its device shipments. Those in the industry believe the delay was because Verizon was taking longer than expected to test the Treo 650 on its network.
PalmOne’s Treo 650 is an updated version of the Treo 600, which Verizon currently sells. The Treo 650 features the Palm operating system, Bluetooth and an MP3 player.
Interestingly, Verizon offered a disclaimer about the Bluetooth capabilities for its Treo 650.
“The Treo 650 supports the following Bluetooth profiles: wireless headset, hands-free accessories, file transfer and synchronization with compatible PCs. It does not support all profiles, for object exchange (Obex),” the carrier wrote on its Web site.
The disclaimer is likely a response to a California lawsuit filed against Verizon Wireless that claims the carrier displayed “willful, deceptive and oppressive conduct” in limiting the capabilities of its Bluetooth-capable Motorola Inc. V710 camera phone.
The lawsuit centers on Verizon’s application of Bluetooth technology in the phone. Following Verizon’s directions, Motorola included three types-called profiles-of Bluetooth in its V710 for the carrier. The phone supports the headset, hands-free and dial-up networking profiles of Bluetooth. These technologies can connect the phone to wireless headsets, Bluetooth car kits and laptop computers for use as modems. However, the phone does not support the file-transfer Bluetooth profile, which allows users to share files between the phone and another Bluetooth-capable device like a phone, laptop or personal digital assistant. The lawsuit claims Verizon misled users by advertising that the phone can “connect to your PC or PDA whenever and wherever you want.”
V710 users cannot share camera images through Bluetooth, but must instead subscribe to Verizon’s Get Pix picture-messaging service. Users also must purchase applications through Verizon’s BREW application download service rather than sharing those applications through Bluetooth.
