Press Room
Palm Delivers Affordable Wi-Fi with New Palm TX Handheld
Large Bright Display, Integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and Powerful Document Management - all in a single device
HONG KONG, October 13, 2005 – For a generation of professionals on the go who want affordable Wi-Fi to access the information that matters to them, Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq: PALM) today introduced the Palm® TX handheld. At an aggressively priced HK$2,480 (recommended retail price), the Palm TX handheld features integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® wireless technologies; a large, high-resolution 320x480 color screen; and all the power needed to efficiently access and manage information conveniently on the road away from the desktop.
[NOTE: Video and images of Palm TX are available from Business Wire (www.businesswire.com) and from Palm’s Multimedia Library (www.palm.com/MultimediaLibrary).]
From professionals to students to home-networking enthusiasts, more than 100 million people worldwide will use Wi-Fi by 20061. Palm sees this number as a huge market of potential buyers for the Palm TX handheld. Palm TX customers can check email, browse the web2 and download media and documents anywhere they have Wi-Fi access -- from corporate offices, networked campuses, parks, hotels, airports, museums, sport stadiums, cafes -- even from living-room couches in wirelessly networked homes.
“The Palm TX handheld speaks directly to what our customers want – fast, integrated wireless access, a large color screen and 128MB of memory3 - all in a sleek and professional form factor,” said Paul Blinkhorn, vice president for Palm Asia Pacific. “This is the wireless device customers have been waiting for. There is no other handheld on the market today with the same capabilities at the same affordable price.”
Wi-Fi Integration
With the Palm TX handheld, Palm continues to improve on the company’s signature ease of use with the following improvements to the overall Wi-Fi user experience:
• Added ability for the device to scan for available networks;
• Improved connection logic to automatically connect to available compatible networks; and
• Three steps to easily set up a new network connection
Customers in Hong Kong who purchase a Palm TX handheld from now to December 31, 2005 will receive a free 3-month Netvigator Wireless and Wireless Takeaway service from Netvigator, worth of HK$264. Palm TX users will be able to use the handhelds’ in-built Wi-Fi capability to surf at more than 350 Netvigator hotspots in Hong Kong to retrieve and send emails, and download news and entertainment content.
Customers Stay Connected at Work, Home and on the Road
With the versatility of two integrated wireless technologies -- Wi-Fi and Bluetooth -- Palm TX handheld customers can enjoy the convenience of information they want readily at hand, whether relaxing at a cafe with compatible Wi-Fi service or using their compatible Bluetooth-enabled cell phone with data service to connect to the Internet. New mobile applications optimized for use over Wi-Fi -- such as Avvenu -- give Palm TX users additional versatility. With Avvenu for Palm Products, users can view, download and share their media and documents they left on their desktops at home or at work.
Additionally, Bluetooth offers the freedom of connecting without cables to a range of compatible Bluetooth-enabled devices, such as a desktop for wireless synchronization, a Bluetooth phone to check email or search the web4, or a Bluetooth GPS system for navigation.
Office Documents on the Go
With DataViz® Documents To Go®, Palm TX handheld users can view, edit and create Word and Excel compatible files, and view and edit PowerPoint files -- rehearse a presentation or check an Excel spreadsheet for sales numbers before a business meeting. The 128MB (approximately 97MB user available) of non-volatile flash memory protects users’ documents and information, even if the device is not charged and the power runs down.
For mobile professionals, the Palm TX handheld provides all the conveniences of managing email on the road. With Wi-Fi access or Bluetooth technology, users can do all of the following:
• Check corporate or campus email as well as personal accounts5;
• Download, read and edit a Word or Excel report on the fly;
• Send a photo wirelessly;
• Synchronize email on the device with desktop email;
• Synchronize Outlook contacts, calendar, tasks and memos; and
• Work with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync®, using VersaMail® software, to synchronize email and calendar.6
Music, Video and Photos
The handheld’s large 320x480 screen provides a stunning color display for documents, web pages and media such as photos and video. Users can view a movie in landscape mode, and then easily switch to portrait to view Word documents or a schedule.
With a 312MHz processor, the power of the Palm TX handheld means mobile professionals can enjoy songs, photos and video clips to go7. The handheld comes bundled with Pocket Tunes for playing music files or Podcasts. Users can create and edit play lists, shuffle songs and navigate by album, artist or genre.
The expansion card slot for MultiMediaCard, SD and SDIO formats lets users insert a card from a digital camera and view photos on the large, color display; they even can add transitions between photos and present them as a slideshow. The Palm TX handheld’s compatibility with SD Cards up to 2GB lets road warriors carry a few favorite home videos and be entertained on long trips.8
Pricing and Availability
The Palm TX handheld has a recommended retail price of HK$2,480 and is available by middle of next week at selected retail stores and resellers.
(1) A Brief History of WiFi, Economist, June 10, 2004.
(2) An Internet service provider account, email account and subscription may be required for Internet and email access. These services may need to be purchased separately and additional charges may apply. Email account not included.
(3) Approximately 97MB user available.
(4) Works within wireless service coverage area only and requires compatible GSM mobile phone with Bluetooth wireless technology, data service from a mobile service provider and ISP, sold separately.
(5) VPN may be required.
(6) Requires Exchange Server 2003 and access enabled by IT administrator.
(7) Expansion card required for most MP3s and video. Sold separately.
(8) SD card sold separately.
About Palm, Inc.
Palm, Inc., a leader in mobile computing, strives to put the power of computing in people’s hands so they can access and share their most important information. The company’s products for consumers, mobile professionals and businesses include Palm® handheld computers, Palm Treo™ smartphones, Palm LifeDrive™ mobile managers, as well as software, services and accessories.
Palm products are sold through selected retail, reseller and wireless operator channels throughout the world.
More information about Palm, Inc. is available at http://www.palm.com/hk/ie
Broadcast Video and Other Palm Materials
Broadcast video and other materials are available online from Palm’s Multimedia Library (www.palm.com/MultimediaLibrary ). Press can register at the site, which is hosted by The NewsMarket (www.TheNewsMarket.com), a web-based news and video archive, to browse and preview an extensive content library and order footage directly from their desktops. Registration and ordering on the site is free.
Palm, VersaMail, LifeDrive and Treo are among the trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to Palm, Inc. The Bluetooth word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc. and any use of such marks by Palm, Inc. is under license. All other brand and product names are or may be trademarks of, and are used to identify products or services of, their respective owners.
