Smartphone Insider

Smartphone Insider provides the inside scoop on today's hottest Smartphones, including strengths and weaknesses, problems and solutions, user feedback, news, and tips & tricks. We will focus on a different device each issue.

Palm Treo 700w/wx and 750

The introduction of the Treo 700w in January of 2006 marked Palm's first release of a Windows Mobile device. With it Palm included a customized Today screen that improved the usability of Microsoft's Windows Mobile 5 OS. Users now had the freedom of using a Pocket PC Phone Edition device that was optimized for one-handed operation. Frequently-done tasks such as searching Contacts or the Web could be performed quickly with the QWERTY thumb keyboard rather than having to navigate through menus using the touchscreen and stylus. In September 2006, Palm released the Treo 700wx, an updated version of the 700w that had an increase of 32 MB of RAM. January 2007 saw the release of the Treo 750, a GSM world phone version with a lighter, redesigned body and a softer feel. The 700wx is currently available from both Verizon and Sprint, while the 750 is available from Cingular (now AT&T). Unlocked versions of the 750 are available online from onthegosolutions.com and other vendors.

The Treo 700w (top left), the Treo 700wx (above), and the Treo 750 (left).

Strengths

• Pocket PC Phone Edition device with an enhanced Today screen optimized for one-handed operation, including search windows that make it easy to find contacts and Web sites. Also offers hot key and speed dial functions.
• Added built-in phone features, including ability to immediately respond to a phone call with a text message and an automatic new Contact query if you receive a call from a non-Contact phone number.
• QWERTY keyboard for easy text entry.
• Includes Microsoft Office Suite with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Mobile.
• The 700w/wx runs on the EV-DO wireless broadband Internet network; the 750 runs on the 3G/UMTS networks worldwide.

Weaknesses

• Small screen with low resolution and slightly washed-out colors (2.5" diagonal, 240x240).
• The 700w/wx is relatively thick (.9") and heavier (6.4 oz) than comparable Phone Editions (750 is .8" thick and 5.4 oz.).
• No integrated Wi-Fi on either device.
• The phone function is turned off when the power button on the keyboard is held down. It can be accidentally pressed when the device is held against the ear, causing the call to be dropped.
• The 700w/wx has no A2DP support for wireless music streaming to a Bluetooth headset (750 has A2DP support).