Cingular Treo 680: Pricing & Release Date Leaks + Treo 750w Possibly Coming to Cingular Soon
I have to admit that at this particular moment I feel as if Santa had arrived early this year thanks to the latest leak of a Cingular “Government Sales Team” PowerPoint presentation for the “Palm Treo 680 Pre-Launch Briefing” which has a ton of information about the forthcoming Treo 680 – now expected to be released on or within days of November 5th…
(Slide 6) Palm Treo 680 Value Proposition
- Cingular-exclusive device
- PDA capability at a Smartphone price: debuts at $174.99 best price (tentative)
- Palm Ease of Use: Palm OS is still recognized as the easiest device OS to use. Palm further enhances the simplicity of Palm OS with the enhanced user interface on Treo 680 which gives quick access to all phone features and major applications (Calendar/Web/Email, etc.).
- Business/Personal email applications: Customers can choose from a variety of email and messaging options to access their corporate and personal email, including Good Mobile Messaging, XpressMail, Blackberry Connect (expected Q1, 2007) and Microsoft Direct Push (expected Q1, 2007)
- LOB applications platform: Support for TeleNav and a broad portfolio of horizontal and vertical applications
- Push to Talk Capability: PTT software upgrade expected in Q1, 2007
- Rich multimedia experience: With MEdia Net, personal email, chat-style SMS/MMS, pending IM capabilities (Thumbspeed), and an integrated multimedia suite with PocketTunes to play music, stereo headset jack, and VGA camera with video capture/playback
From the above information it therefore looks like Cingular may not after all offer the rumoured FREE Treo 680 with a new 2 year voice and data plan but the best price of $174.99 can nonetheless still be considered a bargain for the features and functionality that this smartphone delivers – it also happens to be the single best value Treo ever released.
Additionally the expected availability of Blackberry Connect and Microsoft Direct Push by early 2007 combined with the terrific pricing should also greatly help to push the Treo 680 deeper into businesses which have thus far limited deployments to more senior personnel because of costs.
(Slide 7) Cingular’s Palm Portfolio – Device Comparion (Please click on thumbnail for full size image)
Although the rest of the PowerPoint presentation makes absolutely no mention of a Palm Treo 750w, the above image nonetheless presents it as one that will become part of Cingular’s Palm portfolio at some point in the future… (Also see my previous post Treo 750w Coming To Sprint... Maybe...)
(Slide 8) Palm Treo 680 – Competitive Comparison
Treo 700 Advantages
– 3G speeds
– Higher-resolution cameras
– Slight advantage in talk timeTreo 680 Advantages
– Price -- $50 to $100 cheaper
– Lighter, Slimmer, Antenna-Less Form-Factor (added by me)
– International GSM Roaming
– Enhanced phone UI
– Slight advantage in user-available memory
– PTT Capability (Q1, 2007)
– BBC and MSFP (Q1, 2007)
– Non-camera version (Business Customers Only)
In much the same vein as my own Treo Family Comparison Chart (which I have now again updated with all this latest information) the above image helps to more clearly visualize the main differences between the Treo 680 and other Treo smartphones currently available. As previously noted one of the advantages is also that pretty much all Treo accessories will work for all smartphone models.
(Slide 10) Palm Treo 680 – Pricing & Eligible Data Plans
Palm Holiday Rebate
– Palm will fund an additional $50 off the Treo 680 during Holiday promotional period (11/5/06 – 1/6/07)
– Palm rebate will add to Cingular $50 rebate to create a single $100 rebate
– $100 rebate will require activation of an unlimited data plan and a $39.99 or higher voice planPricing (tentative)
$424.99, no commitment
$349.99, 1 yr. commitment
$249.99, 1 yr. with UNL data plan ($100 rebate)
$274.99, 2 year commitment
BEST price: $174.99 2 year with UNL data plan ($100 rebate)Data Plans
PDA Connect Plans
PDA Connect for Good Plans
Blackberry Connect Plans – BBC available Q1, 2007
Microsoft Direct Push -- client available Q1, 2007
Tethering Plans (Dial-Up Networking): Tethers via Bluetooth at launch; will add USB tethering in mid-life upgrade
Treo 680 & Cingular 8525 info [via Life’s last 60 days]
UPDATE: Thanks to Christopher for pointing me in the direction of the picture below left already showing a Treo 680 demo unit at a Fry’s in Houston. Also one of the very first images of a Cingular-branded Windows Mobile Treo 750w which I estimate may be released as early as the end of November…
Treonauts are always looking for the leaks… 
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
https://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d8341c71a953ef00d83461491169e2
Listed below are links to weblogs that reference Cingular Treo 680: Pricing & Release Date Leaks + Treo 750w Possibly Coming to Cingular Soon:
» Cingular Treo 680: Pricing & Launch Date Leaks from The Song Lives On
やっと来ました。待ってました！ Treonauts | Cingular Tre... [Read More]
Tracked on Oct 30, 2006 6:58:20 PM
Comments
I just spoke to business services, and was advised that the date has been pushed back to Jan or Feb 07? WTF!
Please tell me this guy was wrong!
J
I've been begging my local Cingular rep for more information for some time now. Although they have the Treo 680 dummy phone and the rebate information, she swears that it will only be available via special order. I don't understand how this is possible since we've all read much about the availability, but she said the information is coming from their regional marketing person.
Does anyone know much about or have experience with Cingular's 30 day return policy. I've been anxiously awaiting the release of the 680 and have bought some accessories, and still there's NO word of when Cingular will actually have it. So I'm thinking I could buy a 650 and (carefully) use it until the 680 arrives, assuming that happens by Christmas or so, and then return the 650. If the 680 still isn't out I can either keep the 650 or return it and go back to my current cell phone till the new Treo finally arrives. Any feedback about this possible plan?
#53
Cingular's 30 day return policy....you may exchange or return your unit within 30 days from the sale date without any charge. Check w/ your plan (if newly signed a contract). However, you can only do this ONCE. I did it.
I want 3g speed but i need a smart phone with a good name and mac compatibility, NOW! I'm going to buy a 680 for the discounted price and when the dream machine (750p) is here and for cingular i'm going to trade the 680 to palm for an unlocked version I'll at least make 25-50 bucks and the better phone will be worth the money..... if i play my cards right i might get a sweet bundle with it.
Palm offers 175 for a used 650 so i'm sure the 680 will hold its weight...... yeah!
Hey all...
Hopefully the news I am about to let out may make a bunch of you a lot more optimistic about the Treo 750w.
I am pretty tight with a Cingular rep out here in Chicago and have been keeping in close contact with him regarding new phone releases. I go through phones every few months so I need a guy to keep me up to date. As we all know, the 680 is already out on Cingular's market. I know a bunch of us have been getting the run around about the release date for the 750w, but according to my source, the release should be right before Christmas or right after the holidays.
The rep i know already has the CIngular branded 750w and let me tell you, it is AWESOME. I messed around with it for a while and now I cannot wait to get one. The Cingular wireless stores already have the price guide for the 750w and it is also listed on their website on the "mail in rebate form" (that means it is going to hit the stores soon because the mail in rebate expires 12/30/06)!!!
The down side is, according to the price sheet, which I have seen myself, the no contract price for the 750w is $649.99 and 2-year contract price is $499.99 with a mail in rebate with the activation of a $39.99 or higher data plan.
Hope this helps all you out and clears the confusion...
The comments to this entry are closed.
