LAS VEGAS-Verizon Wireless is offering Palm Inc.’s Treo 700w smart phone running Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Mobile operating system for use on its EV-DO network.
Verizon, Palm and Microsoft last year announced plans for a Windows-based Treo exclusively on Verizon’s network. Previously Palm built all of its phones running PalmSource Inc.’s Palm operating system.
The Treo 700w features the same basic design as the Palm-OS-based Treo 650, which Verizon also offers. The new device offers Microsoft Office applications for Windows Mobile, Internet Explorer Mobile and Windows Media Player Mobile as well as direct access to Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 for mobile access to information, said the companies.
Additional features of the Treo 700w include screen enhancements, call management directly from the Today Screen and the ability to ignore a call with a text message reply.
The Treo 700w costs $400 after a $100 rebate and requires a two-year contract, a service plan of at least $40 and an unlimited personal digital assistant/smart phone data plan.
In other Verizon gadget news, the carrier announced it would sell UTStarcom Inc.’s XV6700 phone running Microsoft’s Windows Mobile software, as well as Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.’s SCH-i830 Windows Mobile phone.