Palm Centro Euro Launch Sept 12?
Here’s a surprise… Although the latest “official” Palm Centro image a week ago was clearly branded for Sprint – thus leading us to believe that this latest Palm smartphone would be launched first in the US – a new promotional page appearing on Palm’s European website for “the latest cool phone from Palm” seems to suggest that the Centro will actually make its debut in Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom as early as Wednesday, September 12…
Although there is no mention on this website of the name Centro (or Treo for that matter) the only Palm smartphone that we have come across that fits the five blue outlines can only be the Palm Centro (below).
Additionally, a trusted source tells me that Palm has been working “very closely” with AOL, Yahoo and Google among others to ensure that many of their online offerings are seamlessly integrated on the Palm Centro – something which was already evident from the screenshot on the official image (here on the right) where AOL’s AIM and Yahoo’s Messenger are both prominently displayed.
I can only hope that other partners might include companies such as Real and their Rhapsody service for example to make the Palm Centro not only a complete communication solution (phone, email, messaging) targeted at the youth market but also a great multimedia device with integrated movies, music and photos.
Leaving aside the fact that (for now at least) I don’t think that I will personally be in the market for a Palm Centro since what I really want is a new high-end Treo smartphone there is nonetheless no doubt that the more I discover about the Centro the more I like it.
I actually think that with the right marketing push Palm may have a winner on its hands with this new entry-level smartphone – one that may win the hearts and wallets of the millions of people who will be more than happy to get a Palm Centro for $99 instead of a $499 or $599 iPhone.
This September should certainly prove to be a very interesting and exciting month…
Treonauts always want to know what’s new… 
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» Palm teaser hints at early Centro launch for Europe from Pocket.Net - Mobile 2.0
Filed under: Handsets , Palm We cant be certain what Palm s playing at with this teaser brochure [Read More]
Tracked on Sep 2, 2007 3:36:24 PM
» Palm Centro to hit Europe on September 12? from Pocket.Net - Mobile 2.0
Although we saw the Centro clearly branded with Sprint logo, it seems that Europe will get the Palms [Read More]
Tracked on Sep 4, 2007 5:18:35 AM
Comments
I personally wouldn't be to shocked when the announced Google phone would turn out to be the Palm Centro.
Look at: http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9028763
and notice the quote: "We're partnering with carriers, _manufacturers_ and content providers around the world to bring Google search and Google applications to mobile users everywhere"
If it is indeed true then that means they have made both GSM and CDMA versions, something which hasn't happened since the Treo 650!
Thinking about it we did see leaked photos of a Vodafone branded Centro, but that was running Windows Mobile so would be different to the Sprint branded one shown.
There are two version of Centro: GSM and CDMA (Gandalf/Gnome).
No idea why people are writing about the centro. It is in the same category as the folio in my mind.... Palm killed the folio - due to lack of interest. Centro is below folio interest in my mind. That said..I am sure someone will buy centro but...it seems that the people who read treo forums are power users and would be waiting for a next gen smart phone - not a youth phone?
Centro ain't the same type Foleo. The latter is "companion" the smartphone, while the Centro is a self served smartphone. I guess there's no much use for Foleo w/o a smartphone, but still no need for it at all to use Centro. And a youth phone? Not fully agree. Does not look much like business phone - true, but if you are not a CEO of Fortune 500 then you may not really care and instead like its low weight and small size factor while still having a full featured Treo (almost, with except for the keyboard - I strongly hope that they fix it prior final release).
And life brings corrections. "The latter *was* a "companion" is now a valid phrase...
I understand the power user train of thought. I am currently using the P955 on Sprint and I am excited about the Centro. I have used Palm since I was in college with the PALM Pilot and have a great hope that the Centro draws some of the young adults in my age group (late 20's-early 30's) into the fold. The problem is that the Garent OS is a bit buggy, especially when using AOL or other instant messenger services. While the centro is a step in the right direction to draw in the messenging and young adult crowd who'd rather pay $ 25.0 a month to Sprint for data than $40.00, I don't know if it is THE answer to Palm's recent failures. If the I.M. features work well, it has a chance of being a great funnel to new customers with the updatd phone features and the good, simple organizer. Still, it is not flashy-but it is smaller and I will likely get one because I am not the typical power user who straps something to my belt. If anyone but TMO sold the Sidekick line, I'd have that in a heratbeat. Still my kind and I are certainly a niche market, but perhaps an untapped market for PALM.
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