Treo 650

Treo 650. The Treo 650 was a smartphone developed and marketed by Palm, Inc., released in November 2004 as the successor to the popular Treo 600. It refined the formula of its predecessor with significant hardware upgrades, including a brighter screen, faster processor, and expanded memory, while retaining the iconic integrated QWERTY keyboard and Palm OS experience. The device was sold through major carriers like Verizon Wireless and Cingular Wireless, cementing Palm's position in the burgeoning converged device market against rivals like Research In Motion and its BlackBerry series.

Overview

The Treo 650 represented a peak in the design philosophy of Palm, Inc., blending the personal information management strengths of the Palm Pilot lineage with robust voice and data capabilities. It launched during a period of intense competition in the mobile sector, facing challenges from devices like the BlackBerry 7230 and early Windows Mobile handsets. Key to its appeal was the cohesive integration of its Palm OS software suite with the physical hardware, offering a familiar environment for users of earlier Palm V or Tungsten T models. Its release was strategically supported by partnerships with network operators worldwide, including Sprint Corporation and T-Mobile in the United States.

Hardware

The device was powered by an Intel XScale PXA270 processor running at 312 MHz, a notable speed increase over the Treo 600. It featured 32 MB of RAM and 32 MB of non-volatile NAND flash storage, allowing data persistence through battery removal. The display was a sharp 320x320 pixel TFT LCD capable of showing 65,000 colors, a significant improvement in clarity and brightness. Primary input methods included a well-regarded thumb QWERTY keyboard, a responsive Touchscreen for stylus input, and a Five-way navigation button for one-handed operation. Other hardware components included a VGA-resolution digital camera, a removable 1800 mAh lithium-ion battery, and support for SDIO cards via an expansion slot.

Software

The Treo 650 shipped with Palm OS Garnet version 5.4, an operating system renowned for its efficiency and instant-on capability. Core applications included the Palm Desktop suite—Date Book, Address Book, To Do List, and Memo Pad—deeply integrated with telephony functions. It featured advanced PIM synchronization software for Microsoft Outlook and IBM Lotus Notes, alongside the Blazer web browser and VersaMail email client. The platform's openness allowed installation of thousands of third-party applications from developers like DataViz (for Documents To Go) and Handmark. Notably, it included RealPlayer for multimedia playback, supporting formats like MP3 and MPEG-4.

Connectivity

For wireless data, the Treo 650 was offered in both GSM/GPRS/EDGE and CDMA2000/1xRTT variants to suit different carrier networks like Cingular Wireless and Verizon Wireless, respectively. It featured integrated Bluetooth 1.1 for connecting to wireless headsets, GPS receivers, and for synchronizing with Microsoft Windows or Apple Macintosh computers. Traditional IrDA port was also included for beaming data to other devices. Internet connectivity was managed through dedicated dial-up networking profiles, and the device could function as a modem for a laptop via Bluetooth or a USB cable, a feature heavily promoted by carriers like Sprint Corporation.

Reception and legacy

Upon release, reviewers from publications like The Wall Street Journal and PC Magazine praised the Treo 650 for its powerful performance, excellent keyboard, and improved screen, though some criticized its bulk and occasional system instability. It won several industry awards and became a favorite among business professionals and early adopters, selling millions of units. Its success solidified the Treo line as a major competitor to the BlackBerry 8700 and influenced subsequent designs from HTC and Motorola. The Treo 650's legacy is that of a quintessential pre-iPhone smartphone, exemplifying the Palm OS ecosystem at its height before the platform declined in the face of competition from Apple Inc., Google's Android, and Microsoft's Windows Phone. It was succeeded by models like the Treo 680 and the Windows Mobile-based Treo 700w.

Category:Smartphones Category:Palm, Inc. devices Category:Mobile phones introduced in 2004