Palm Treo 800w Gunning For Apple iPhone

Sprint launched online sales of the Treo 800w, the Windows Mobile-based Treo model, hoping to capitalize on the fading Apple iPhone 3G fever, which hit its peak when Apple launched the device Friday morning.

The latest Treo runs Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional as its operating system, a Treo choice for Microsoft purists not wanting to run Palm's own OS. The Treo 800w also features GPS, Wi-Fi and EVDO Rev. A.

The Palm Treo 880w measures 4.4 x 2.3 x 0.7 inches and weighs in at 5 ounces, making it slimmer and more streamlined than earlier Treo iterations. It offers a 320 x 320 resolution touch screen along with a full QWERTY keypad. In addition, the Treo 800w has a 2.0-megapixel camera with camcorder, built-in media player and stereo Bluetooth. It also features a MicroSD card slot for up to 8 GB of memory.

The 800w lists for $599 but is available through Sprint for $249.99 with a two-year contract after $250 instant savings and a $100 mail-in rebate.

The 800w's introduction follows a busy several months for Palm, which unveiled the Palm Centro, a touch-screen device targeted at first-time smartphone users, in September. Since its release, the Centro has sold more than 1 million units, mainly due to its sub-$100 price tag with new contracts from major carriers like Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile. ATandT also offered the $99 Centro deal, but recently reduced that price to a cool $69.99.

Along with Centros for major carriers, the smartphone maker offers an unlocked version for $299, which can be used with any wireless carrier that uses GSM.