Palm, Microsoft, Vodafone team for 3G Treo trio
According to Palm, the device that will result from the Treo trio's collaboration will be available in the U.K. this year and will be 3G-compatible--a first for the company. Traditionally, Palm has always touted devices that run on GPRS (general packet radio service) and GSM (global system for mobile communication) transmission technologies.
Palm said it and its new partners will be using the alliance to bolster the use of wireless e-mail with corporate users, a market still in its infancy but predicted be worth $198 billion by 2011, according to research company Analysys.
The threesome has also announced that the device will run on the Windows Mobile 5.0 platform. Palm revealed late last year it was opting for the Redmond operating system for some of its devices, when Verizon Wireless, part owned by Vodafone, signed up to carry the first EV-DO version of the Windows Treo.
Jo Best of Silicon.com reported from London.