Verizon Wireless has just announced that it will begin offering the Palm Centro today. This is a low-cost, consumer-oriented smartphone that will support this carrier's high-speed 3G network.
This is one of the smallest and lightest smartphones Palm has ever offered. Nevertheless, it still includes a full QWERTY keyboard and a 320 by 320 pixel touchscreen. The Centro a Palm OS-based device, and comes with a suite software for personal information management.
This model will run on Verizon's EV-DO data network, which will let users quickly send and receive email messages and attachments and browse the Web. Customers will also be able to use this device as a modem for their laptops when they subscribe to this carrier's BroadbandAccess Connect service plan.
Pricing and Availability
The Palm Centro will be available June 13 at verizonwireless.com and in Verizon stores. It will cost $100 after a $70 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement, and will come in a blue casing.
Customers may want to pair their voice plan with this carrier's E-mail and Web for Smartphone service for $29.99. This is an unlimited monthly data plan for Web browsing and support for up to eight personal email accounts. The BroadbandAccess Connect plan is an additional $30.
Palm's Big Hit
The Centro was first introduced by Sprint last fall, and was picked up by AT&T earlier this year. It passed the 1 million mark early this spring, and is well on its way to 2 million.
It is credited with giving its maker a big jump in its share of the smartphone market. According to market-research firm IDC, Palm had 13.4% of the market in the first quarter of this year, up from 7.9% in the previous quarter.
PC World recently ranked the Centro as one of the best 100 products of 2008.