In a curious break with tradition, Palm has managed to keep its latest smartphone a secret until just days before its official announcement – we normally know what Palm has in pipeline months in advance.

Images and specifications of its new Windows Mobile-powered Treo Pro appeared online last Friday, followed by a video clip yesterday. Now the cat is officially out of the bag and Palm has confirmed that the Treo Pro will available in the UK in September contract-free for around £399.  More info and the full specifications after the cut.

The Treo Pro bears more than a passing resemblance to Palm's compact Centro smartphone (it's a little larger and heavier), but it runs Windows Mobile Professional 6.1 rather than PalmOS. The Treo Pro is the first Palm smartphone with HSDPA support, and it also packs Wi-Fi and GPS. Palm has also upped the screen resolution to 320 x 320 – the previous Treo 750 made do with a laughable 240 x 240 display.

Another first for the Treo Pro is a 3.5mm headphone socket – until now, Palm has been labouring under the cruel misapprehension that a 2.5mm socket was sufficient for a smartphone with multimedia pretensions.

After reviewing the feature-filled BlackBerry Bold and Nokia E71, there doesn't seem to be much to get excited about with the Treo Pro, but it's good to see Palm come up with a smartphone that at least has a core specification that matches the competition's. Palm has posted an introduction video that has some of its execs explaining the thinking behind the Treo Pro, though it's interesting that it seems to think that Wi-Fi is a "new feature" for a smartphone. New for Palm, perhaps...

The full spec list is below, followed by Palm’s press release. Look out for a Mobile Computer review of the Palm Treo Pro in a week or so.

[Palm Treo Pro] 

Treo Pro Smartphone by Palm Balances Simplicity and Productivity in a Streamlined Design for Business Professionals

Treo Pro Empowers Mobile Work Force with Windows Mobile 6.1 and Palm Shortcuts

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Aug. 20, 2008 – Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq: PALM) today introduced Treo™ Pro, an effortlessly usable smartphone for businesses that want to simplify their IT infrastructures and lower costs, and for users who want to stay on top of their professional and personal lives. With its streamlined design and Palm® shortcuts layered on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, Treo Pro is a unique combination of sleek simplicity and robust productivity -- including email, Wi-Fi and GPS capabilities(1) -- that meets the needs of businesses and end users alike. Treo Pro, which will be available from Vodafone and O2 in Europe(2) and from Telstra in Australia, also will be available in an unlocked version in the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific.

“Businesses want the control and savings that Windows Mobile affords, in an innovative and elegant package that keeps their users happy. That’s where Palm comes in,” said Ed Colligan, president and chief executive officer, Palm, Inc. “Everything about Treo Pro -- from the hardware design to the packaging and accessories – embodies the elegant and simplified end-to-end experience that our customers expect from Palm.”

The Treo Pro smartphone lets IT managers support an increasingly mobile work force with the ease of use and robust feature set business professionals demand. Besides the benefits of lower costs and increased productivity, Treo Pro can deliver the increased security, easier device management and access to information on the corporate network that Windows Mobile 6.1 provides.

Users can quickly respond to business and personal email, access the web, stay on top of appointments and contacts, and use Wi-Fi or GPS on the go.(1) Treo Pro’s thin design blends a flush, high-resolution color touch screen and a full QWERTY keyboard with a removable battery that packs up to five hours of talk time and enough strength for the business user’s needs, offering a powerful yet effortless mobile experience.

Palm Experience on Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional

The Treo Pro smartphone, based on the popular Windows Mobile platform, helps optimize business processes by effortlessly mobilizing users with enhancements to the Windows Mobile 6.1 platform including:

One-touch Wi-Fi button -- Easy, fast Wi-Fi connection experience (802.11b/g).(1)

• Today screen enhancements -- Web search directly from the Today screen.
• Ringer switch -- Silences the device immediately.
• Screen saver -- Lets users know at a glance – without turning on the device – what time it is and whether they’ve missed a call or have a new SMS/MMS message.
• New voicemail indicator -- The center button flashes to let users know that a voicemail is waiting.(3)
• Dedicated email and calendar buttons -- Fast one-button access.

“Windows Mobile is delivering mobile solutions that help businesses address the changing competitive landscape,” said Andrew Lees, senior vice president of Microsoft’s Mobile Communications Business. “The Treo Pro smartphone brings together a powerful combination of Palm’s feature innovations and Windows Mobile 6.1, providing access to the information people need when away from the office.”

Lower Costs, Increased Productivity

With Treo Pro, businesses can quickly and easily deploy a secure, low-cost and compatible infrastructure for their mobile workforce by taking advantage of a tightly integrated Palm and Windows Mobile 6.1 solution, including:

Microsoft Direct Push Technology(4) -- Direct connection to Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 SP2 or 2007 gives users up-to-date email, contacts and calendars.

• Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 -- With the deployment of Mobile Device Manager, the Treo Pro can deliver increased security, easier smartphone management, and access to information on the corporate network. IT professionals can confidently manage large Treo Pro deployments.
• Thousands of applications available for Windows Mobile -- Businesses can extend mobility beyond email to optimize business processes.
• World phone -- With high-speed UMTS/HSDPA network capabilities(5), Treo Pro is a sleek world phone that’s ideal for companies with an international work force.
• Integrated GPS -- Users can access maps, turn-by-turn directions and point-of-interest (POI) searches.(1)
• Support and training -- Palm shortcuts make Treo Pro so easy to use, businesses can spend less on training and support for their users.
• Familiar Windows experience -- Users can browse the web with built-in Internet Explorer Mobile; open, view, and edit Word and Excel compatible files; review PowerPoint presentations and PDF files; and open ZIP files remotely.

Pricing and Availability

Treo Pro will be available in the UK in September through Vodafone from free on contract and also available through O2 direct sales and online business stores.  An unlocked version will also be available through the Palm online store (http://www.eurostore.palm.com) as well as select Internet, retail and enterprise resellers for a suggested retail price of £399 including VAT.

Treo Pro will also be available in the US in the Autumn and in Australia through Telstra.  Additional Treo Pro availability is scheduled to follow worldwide.

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