Treo 600

Treo 600. The Treo 600 was a groundbreaking smartphone developed by Handspring and released in late 2003. It successfully merged the functionality of a personal digital assistant with a mobile phone and integrated QWERTY keyboard, becoming a pivotal device in the early convergence market. Its design and capabilities heavily influenced subsequent models in the Treo line and the broader mobile industry.

History and development

The development of the Treo 600 was led by Handspring under founders Jeff Hawkins and Donna Dubinsky, following the company's earlier Treo 180 and Treo 270 models. The project aimed to create a fully integrated device that moved beyond the add-on Springboard module system used in earlier Visor products. Key partnerships, including one with PalmSource for the Palm OS platform and various carriers for network support, were crucial to its creation. The device was officially unveiled and began shipping in October 2003, shortly before Palm, Inc. completed its acquisition of Handspring, marking a significant transition for both companies.

Specifications

The Treo 600 featured a 144 MHz ARM-based Texas Instruments OMAP processor. It included 32 MB of RAM and 32 MB of flash memory, with storage expandable via a Secure Digital card slot. Its display was a 160x160 pixel, 16-bit color STN LCD screen. For connectivity, it supported GSM/GPRS tri-band or CDMA2000 1xRTT radios, along with an infrared port. The integrated VGA camera was capable of capturing low-resolution images and video. Power was supplied by a removable lithium-ion battery, and the device's physical dimensions were compact for its era, measuring approximately 4.4 by 2.3 by 0.9 inches.

Features and software

The device ran Palm OS 5.2.1H, providing access to a vast library of applications from the Palm platform. Core software included the Palm Desktop suite for contact management and calendar synchronization, along with messaging clients for SMS and email. The integrated Blazer web browser allowed for basic HTML browsing over cellular data networks. A notable feature was its full QWERTY keyboard, designed for efficient text input, complementing the touchscreen and Graffiti handwriting recognition system. Third-party software from developers like DataViz and Chapura enhanced its document viewing and wireless synchronization capabilities.

Reception and legacy

Upon release, the Treo 600 received widespread critical acclaim from publications like The Wall Street Journal and PC Magazine, praised for its robust integration and form factor. It won several industry awards and was commercially successful, helping to revitalize the fortunes of Handspring and later Palm, Inc.. Its design philosophy directly influenced the subsequent Treo 650 and Treo 680, cementing the Treo line's reputation among business users. The device is historically significant as a key forerunner to modern smartphones, demonstrating the viability of combining a PDA, phone, and keyboard into a single, pocketable device years before the rise of platforms like iOS and Android.

See also

* Palm (PDA) * BlackBerry * Windows Mobile * Personal digital assistant * Mobile operating system

Category:Smartphones Category:Palm OS devices Category:Handspring (company)