Verizon Centro Now Available!

The Centro is on the Verizon website.  They list the price as $269 plus a $100 discount and a $70 mail in rebate.  Net cost $100.  Not a bad deal.

Here are the features per Verizon’s web site:

Features

• Palm Operating System (5.4.9)
• All Digital, 1xRTT/1xEV–DO (Rev.0)
• BroadbandAccess Connect Capable
• Fast mobile web browser (Palm Blazer 4.5)
• Built–in organizer (Calendar, Contacts, Tasks and Memos)
• 128MB (64MB user available)
• Bluetooth® Wireless Technology – v1.2
• MP3 Player with Palm® Pocket Tunes™
• Memory Slot for microSD Cards (up to 4GB)
• Send, receive and respond to email remotely
• MMS Capable including Text messaging with Chat–Style view
• Wireless Sync Capable
• Download, view, and edit Word and Excel® compatible files with Documents to Go®
• Rehearse PowerPoint presentations and consult important PDF files on the go

• 1.3 Megapixel digital camera with Video Capture
• 2.2″, 320×320 color TFT Touchscreen
• 5–Way Navigator Key
• Backlit QWERTY Keyboard
• Speakerphone

General Information

• Hearing Aid Compatibility = M4/T4
• SAR Information: 1.09 W/1Kg at Ear; 0.817 W/1Kg on Body
• Battery Usage: Up to 210 minutes talk time / Up to 300 hours standby
• Dimensions: 4.22″ (H) x 2.11″ x (W) x 0.73″ (D)
• Weight: 4.2 oz.

From what I can tell it only comes in Blue.  For more information visit Verizonwireless.com.

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Well, in September 07 palm released the Palm Centro.  I thought I would provide an update to the availability of this phone on Verizon.  As of today the palm Centro is still not available on Verizon.  There have been some leaks that the phone should hit the stores this Friday, but if we know Verizon, this will just be a let down.

The pricing is rumored to be $270 with a 2-year contract or $340 for a 1-year contract.  Verizon’s price is substantially higher then ATT and Sprint, but who knows, perhaps they will offer some rebates on top of the price.

It is also rumored that the phone will come only in Blue on Verizon networks.  I am sure Verizon will put its own limits on the phone as well, but we will just have to wait and see.

I suppose we should be lucky that Verizon does not have the contract with Apple for the iphone.  We would still be waiting for the 1st generation phone to come out to stores.

In a press release yesterday, Apple and ATT have renewed their exclusive partnership which includes lowering the initial cost of the Iphone.  The next generation Iphone will start at $199 for the 8GB model with a two you contract with ATT.  ATT will offer plans starting at $30 per month for voice plus $39.99 per month for data.  While the phone is less, it appears the new plans are $10 per month more than the current available plans.

The Iphone is scheduled to be released July 11.  I anticipate a large demand given the new business features and lower device cost.

Unlike the older model iphone, the new version will be have applications to integrate to corporate email and intranets.  This will open the door for corporations to begin using the iphone as a business device and not just a cool toy.

On a side note, to the Apple stock investors who are concerned the lower price will hurt shareholder value, Jobs had this to say ”We’ve done very well for shareholders over the past decade [and] ask them to trust us – maybe we know what we’re doing.” 

Verizon has just released the Samsung SCH-i760. This phone looks like it has some good features like a sliding keyboard, windows mobile 6, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, voice commands, 1.3 megapixel camera w/flash, and a digital music player. I have been waiting for the HTC xv6800, but since it has not be released and my palm has died I may try this phone. The size seems just a bit smaller than the treo, but the sliding keyboard adds a great advantage. It is nice to see Verizon releasing some new phones as the holiday season approaches. I did also find one more phone that Verizon is suppose to release next month. The Vox, don’t know a lot about it but is by the same company that makes the xv6800.

Has anyone used the Samsung SCH-i760? Feedback or comments on it?

Today, Palm released a new low cost smart phone aimed at non-business consumers. The new Centro smartphone, is based from Palm’s popular treo, but offers slightly slimmer design and comes in red and black.

Photo Courtesy of Palm.

It will offer consumers good internet browsing, text messaging, and easy to integrate email from sources like outlook, Gmail, and Yahoo. There is no Wi-Fi, but it does run on Sprint’s mobile broadband network.

Other applications on the phone include Google maps, AIM, and Yahoo messenger. The phone will be available on Sprint for $99 with a two year commitment sometime mid-October.

So, Apple and AT&T have the iphone, sprint has made progress with both the mogul and now new Centro smartphone, and Verizon has ???

I refer back to an earlier post about Apple and Verizon where Verizon’s chief operations officer mentions their commitment to working with an undisclosed vendor to come out with a cutting edge phone later this summer. Where is this phone? The iphone has been out, Sprint has beat Verizon to the punch with its version of the XV6800, and now Sprint gets the new Centro Smartphone for 90-days with no competition. If this is Verizon’s brilliant plan to win over customers, then they need some corporate re-structuring.

Come on Verizon, be adventurous and use you large R&D departments to truly give the US a leap in the wireless industry. It will come sooner than later from someone. You can be the first to change or you can do nothing and lose you valuable status as the largest carrier. Give us what we want that is already present in other parts of the world. Unlocked phones, true wi-fi, internet and data speeds that can actually be useful, and lastly some new cutting edge phones. I expect this from the nation’s largest carrier. If it can’t be delivered, then step down.

What are you thoughts?