Palm has launched the Treo 500v smartphone. The device will be available exclusively through Vodafone in Europe for the time being -- but it should reach our shores in the future.
Available throughout EMEA (Europe, the Middle East and Africa) from 1 October, the 3G smartphone sports a consumer look but comes with the usual business productivity tools.
Palm's latest handheld runs on Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 and features a Qwerty keyboard, 320x240 pixel display, 2.0 megapixel camera, 150MB of internal memory and a microSD expansion slot as well as support for push e-mail and Google Maps. Microsoft Office and Internet Explorer also come pre-installed.
While Wi-Fi support is a noticeable omission, the device does have Bluetooth. The Treo 500v weighs in at 120 grams and is available in two colour options: white and grey.
Hit, or miss? Palm's new Treo 500v
A local spokesperson for Palm said that no plans for an Australian launch have been announced yet, but the phone is likely to make an appearance Down Under at some point.
Palm has experienced some setbacks in recent times. The manufacturer cancelled its Folio ultra-mobile PC before it went to market, (despite Palm founder Jeff Hawkins' declaration it was "the best idea I've ever had"), and face continued stiff competition in the smartphone sector.
Windows mobile just plain sux. Why not stick with PALMos, My 680 and previous 650 have been wonderful.