Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Applications
    • Applications

    Handspring Dials Up the High End

    By
    Jason Brooks
    -
    January 17, 2002
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Handspring Inc. is shifting its focus from PDAs for the masses toward more profitable higher-end handheld devices with integrated cell phone capabilities. Judging from eWEEK Labs tests of the GSM-based Treo 180 communicator, Handspring has not only taken a solid first step in the smart-phone direction, but also has gotten the jump on future competitors running mobile operating systems from Symbian and Microsoft Corp.

      The Treo is smaller and more usable than the Kyocera Palm OS Smartphone or Handspring VisorPhone Springboard module we reviewed last year. This is due, in part, to the inclusion of an excellent Blackberry-style thumb keyboard, in place of the Graffiti input area found on most Palm OS devices.

      The Treo is definitely a phone first and a PDA second. As a result, it offers fewer avenues for expansion than does a VisorPhone-equipped Visor. The Treo is the first Handspring product not to include a Springboard slot, and the Treo does not include a Secure Digital or other peripheral expansion slot, either.

      The Treos small size and weight make up for the lack of expansion potential, however. The device measures 4.3 inches long by 2.7 inches wide by 0.7 inch thick, and weighs in at 5.4 ounces.

      It is priced at $399 with phone service activation and is slated to begin shipping at the end of this month.

      Apart from its thumb-keyboard and phone functions, the Treo is a standard Palm OS device—it runs Palm OS Version 3.5.2h and ships with 16MB of RAM. We could connect to the Internet at a data rate of about 9.6K bps—too slow for aggressive Web browsing, but good enough for e-mail and some light Web access.

      Handspring has stated that the Treo is upgradable for use with GPRS networks, which will boost data rates and enable always-on e-mail delivery.

      The Treos application set resembles that of the VisorPhone and includes Handsprings very good Blazer Web browser and the One-Touch Mail e-mail program, as well as applications for sending SMS (Short Message Service) messages and managing the Treos phone-specific features.

      To connect to the Internet, we had to configure our Treo to dial a separate ISP (Internet service provider), a service that incurs a separate cost as well.

      The Treo is powered by a lithium-ion battery, which, according to Handspring, yields 2.5 hours of talk time and 60 hours of standby time.

      The device synchronizes with a desktop computer via a USB cable and with Palms standard HotSync Manager software.

      The Treo ships with a hands-free headset jack, with which we could access PDA functions while making voice calls. We could not, however, make voice and data calls at the same time.

      Technical Analyst Jason Brooks can be reached at jason_brooks@ziffdavis.com.

      Related stories:

      • Best Way to Build Your Mobile Enterprise
      • Ultra Wideband Is Important Step Forward
      • Palm Gets It Right (Almost)
      • Sizing Up Early Bluetooth Devices
      • 802.11a Five Times Faster Than 11B
      • Mobile App Development For Less
      • Mobile Apps in Sight
      Jason Brooks
      As Editor in Chief of eWEEK Labs, Jason Brooks manages the Labs team and is responsible for eWEEK's print edition. Brooks joined eWEEK in 1999, and has covered wireless networking, office productivity suites, mobile devices, Windows, virtualization, and desktops and notebooks. Jason's coverage is currently focused on Linux and Unix operating systems, open-source software and licensing, cloud computing and Software as a Service. Follow Jason on Twitter at jasonbrooks, or reach him by email at jbrooks@eweek.com.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Applications

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Applications

      Kyndryl’s Nicolas Sekkaki on Handling AI and...

      James Maguire - November 9, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nicolas Sekkaki, Group Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI at Kyndryl, about how companies can boost both their AI and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×