Treo 680 Colours For Cingular Now Available
Over the past few weeks some Treonauts may have read news/rumours that some of the Unlocked Treo 680 colours – starting with Copper (Orange) – were “disappearing” from Palm’s website until eventually today only the standard Graphite (Grey) remains available to buy for $399…
The reason for this is that Palm received a significant order for its entire coloured Treo 680 stock from none other than Cingular… Therefore, without much fanfare, Palm stopped selling all coloured Unlocked Treo 680 models (Arctic, Copper and Crimson below) and instead began selling Cingular-branded Treo 680 smartphones in these same colours – available under a variety of monthly plans from $39.99/month to $199.99/month.
For Treonauts looking to purchase an Unlocked Treo 680 smartphone this unfortunately means that now they will only have access to the Graphite model for $399 (above left). However, the good news is that those who have been yearning to purchase a coloured Treo 680 but did not want to pay $399 for the Unlocked model will now be able to get one (with a two year contract from Cingular for example) for as little as $199 (after rebates). [Please note that the Graphite Cingular Treo 680 also continues to be available in our store for FREE after rebates.]
I am thrilled about these news for two reasons. On the one hand I am delighted that my own personal collection of all four Unlocked Treo 680 colours pictured here are now sure to become a bit of a collector’s item… 
More seriously, the fact that Cingular has now embraced all Treo 680 colours is a very significant development that to me clearly indicates both the success of this smartphone model as well as Cingular’s commitment to continue to invest in its promotion.
As I have noted previously however (see Cingular Treo 680: Available in Black & Silver) one of my biggest disappointments regarding colour remains the fact that Palm did not release a ‘Limited Edition’ Treo 680 model in Rubberized Black which could have been sold for up to $100 or more above the base price of an unlocked model. I have to assume that Palm did envisage this possibility but did not pursue it due to perceived low demand and/or profitability.
If you have not already upgraded or purchased your own Treo 680 in Graphite or any of the three other (Arctic, Copper and Crimson) colours I can for my part tell you that I have found absolutely no reason to seriously complain since getting mine(s) some three months ago – I am absolutely delighted with it.
You may also want to read: Treo 680 Comparison Chart, Treo 680 Reviews as well as my Top 10 Treo Accessories.
Treonauts always lead colourful lives… 
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Comments
Why he heck does CINGULAR get all the good phones? The MAIN reason I do not go with them is their insurance plan. THERE ISN'T ONE. If you drop, lose, get it wet, crack the screen, or if your Treo gets stolen, BAM, you have to buy another one at full price. That's just ridiculous when every other carrier has an insurance plan for the Treo. Sprint, Verizon, and TMobile need to step it up and start putting in higher bids to get these good phones exclusively.
Read this PalmInfocenter article from a couple weeks ago and especially note the comments to the article explaining how Palm could sell Cingular Treos but Cingular not:
Especially do not EVER forget the example of T-Mobile when "they" were selling an earlier Treo model - you went to T-Mobile's site, drilled down to the phones, clicked on Buy for a Treo, and were automagically redirected to Palm instead of T-Mobile's site.
Cingular isn't even doing that much (as of the time of this comment) - you buy from Cingular you get Graphite. Period.
@John Doe, have you visited the Palm website and tried to order a coloured 680? We all know how it used to be but things change. Maybe you should check your facts before telling someone else they're wrong ;o)
[EDITED' Hmmm... there is a difference between Cingular selling Cingular-branded TREO 680s and PALM selling Cingular-branded TREO 680s? (*) "...explaining how Palm could sell Cingular Treos but Cingular not...".
(*) See the PalmInfocenter article and comment thread.
More evidence that Cingular itself is not yet selling colored TREO 680s, thus has not yet BOUGHT colored TREO 680s from PALM:
Strangely, not only has the Crimson TREO 680 =not= shown up on Cingular's web pages - as of the time of this post =all= TREO 680s have disappeared from Cingular's web pages.
Curiouser and curiouser.
Well, it has returned so who knows what's happening!
Not crimson yet, just graphite.
Well, Cingular has FINALLY added the crimson TREO 680 to their regular online lineup, along with the red Blackberry Pearl.
But no additional colors.
This seems strange, given that the article above says Cingular bought the whole boatload - what are they waiting for?
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