Palm unveils the smaller and cheaper Centro smartphone

Personal digital assistant specialist Palm Inc. has this week pushed back the pocket-friendly covers from its new Centro device, a tiny smartphone set to arrive as the company’s debut offering into the cheaper and more pennywise sector of the hugely competitive mobile phone market. Described as somewhat of a smaller and lighter edition of its well known (and considerably more expensive) Treo smartphone, Palm’s new Centro handset is set to hit retail for as little as $100 USD, with the company hoping it catch the eyes of those consumers perhaps looking for a value alternative to Apple’s iconic iPhone.Much like the $300 USD Treo, the diminutive Centro comes equipped with touch-screen functionality and a full keyboard, while also allowing users to receive and dispatch e-mail messages, manage documents, spreadsheets and photos, surf the Net, and listen to music.Palm is marketing its credit card-sized, 42-ounce Centro at those more middle-of-the-road mobile phone users who might be looking to adopt a device with more tangible technical oomph while remaining within a strictly moderate price range. With the Centro, Palm "has crossed into the feature phone market, which is 10 times the size of us just competing with RIM [makers of the BlackBerry] head-to-head, or us going after the iPhone," explained Palm CEO Ed Colligan, in a Reuters news agency report.In light of the somewhat fevered reception offered up to the iPhone, which launched on June 29, it remains to be seen if regular consumers flock to the Centro and whether it can feasibly mount a challenge against Apple’s handset. However, seeing as it comes with Palm’s proven quality, undoubtedly feature-rich specs, a touch-screen, online capabilities, and a price just one quarter of the iPhone, there seems little reason as to why the Centro won’t do well.At launch, the Centro will be attached exclusively to Sprint Nextel Corp. for a period of 90 days. Palm has not yet revealed the names of alternative carriers that will come into play beyond that point.

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DanSep 30th, 2007 - 17:51:40

I have been a Palm device user since the Palm Pilot days. Palm has always
inovated and we now have a smartphone for the masses! Good for you Palm!

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SueSep 30th, 2007 - 17:54:34

Hope it does well. Palm OS kinda dated but hey it works for what I will
use it for. Basic Email, phone, texting, etc. Just wish the carriers wouldn't lock u in with multi year contracts....

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