Vodafone introduces 3G Palm Treo 750v smartphone

September 13, 2006

Palm announced the Palm Treo 750v smartphone, the first Treo smartphone to take advantage of Vodafone's 3G/UMTS network. The Treo 750v brings the Palm experience on Microsoft's Windows Mobile 5.0 to Europe for the first time. The new Treo 750v will be available first to Vodafone customers in the following countries Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and other regions by the end of the calendar year.

"The new Treo 750v smartphone -- made available first in Europe -- on the Vodafone 3G/UMTS network is Palm's latest salvo to reach more customers in more regions with an ever-expanding line of compelling Treo smartphones," said Ed Colligan, president and chief executive officer from Palm. "Expanding the Treo footprint globally is a key focus for Palm, and with collaborative marketing investments in Europe from Palm, Vodafone and Microsoft, we are confident we can captivate mobile professionals and businesses and help them be more productive in the office and on the go."

The Treo 750v combines the hallmark Palm experience of a multifeatured mobile phone with email, messaging, web browsing and organization software all in a new compact design. The new smartphone comes with Microsoft's Messaging and Security Feature Pack (MSFP) for Windows Mobile 5.0, which includes Direct Push Technology and enhanced security features free and out of the box. It is also fully compatible with Vodafone Business Email, giving remote access to enterprise and Internet-based email accounts. These business-ready solutions address the need for a robust push-email solution that can be deployed easily by small businesses to global enterprises.

Unique to the Treo smartphone on Windows Mobile 5.0 is a suite of software enhancements developed by Palm that underscores its brand promise of fast access, ease of use and simplicity. Examples include the following:

Today Screen enhancements, which feature the ability to "dial by name" with a few keystrokes on the keyboard, perform a web search directly from the Today Screen and perform one-touch dialing with personalized photo speed dials;

Ability to manage a call directly from the Today Screen and stay on top of voicemail with on-screen, VCR-like icons, such as rewind, delete and fast-forward controls for easy navigation;

Ability to ignore a call and quickly compose a text message, such as "In a meeting" or "Can't talk"; and

Dedicated messaging application for SMS/MMS that is organized in a "chat thread" so users can reference prior messages and use emoticons for a personal touch.

"The new Treo 750v smartphone, when combined with our high-speed 3G/UMTS network and push email, makes an invaluable tool for our business customers," said Oliver Mauss, global director of Business Marketing, Vodafone. "Our commitment to help customers increase their productivity and make the most of their business and personal time will be further enhanced by the addition of this new innovative device to our range of business solutions."

"We're excited to team up with Palm and Vodafone to launch a Windows Mobile-based Treo in Europe. We're seeing significant adoption of mobile applications among business users in the region, and the Treo is an attractive proposition for organizations considering mobile deployments," said Nick Barley, business and marketing officer, Microsoft U.K. Limited. "The Treo 750v builds on the power and flexibility of Windows Mobile, Palm's unique design and user experience, and service through one of the world's leading mobile operators to deliver a winning solution that connects professionals to their critical information while on the go."

The Palm Treo 750v from Vodafone will be available through all Vodafone UK channels, including all 347 stores from 2nd October 2006. Prices range from FREE to GBP150.