Palm, Inc.'s Treo series of smartphones have regularly made the list of the "it" gadgets favored by the digirati. But while the Treo has heretofore been available only with the Palm operating system (OS), the new Treo 700w—available exclusively from Verizon Wireless—has the distinction of being the first Palm device that runs Windows Mobile.

(Let's pause briefly for Palm partisans to regain their composure.)

Hardware
At a glance, the dual-band Treo 700w (800 CDMA/1900 PCS) looks almost identical to its Palm OS-based predecessor, the 650. The 700w's dimensions of 4.4 x 2.3 x 0.9 inches are the same as the 650's, though at 6 ounces even, the 700w is lighter by a few tenths of an ounce. The 700w's Lithium Ion battery is rated for up to 4.7 hours of talk time or 15 days on standby.

The brain of the 700w is an Intel XScale PXA272 running at 312 MHz, a CPU also used by other Windows Mobile-based phones in this class. There's 128 MB of internal memory, of which a little less than half, or about 60 MB is available to the user. If you need more storage, an expansion slot atop the 700w accepts Secure Digital (SD) or MultiMediaCard (MMC) cards.

The 700w includes Bluetooth for connecting to wireless headsets but doesn't offer built-in Wi-Fi. Chances are that you won't miss the latter if you're in an area served by Verizon's Broadband Access service (EV-DO), which is supported by the 700w and boasts average download speeds ranging from 400 to 700 kbps. In testing, Web pages downloaded at an admirably quick clip.

If not, you can still access the Web using the 1xRTT-based NationalAccess, which will work almost anywhere the phone does; albeit at a noticeably slow 1/10th the speed of EV-DO. At the moment, you can't use 700w as a modem for your PC, though that capability may be offered later as part of a software update.

The 700w shares its predecessor's well-regarded QWERTY keyboard, though the Palm OS-specific function buttons are, of course, replaced with Windows-appropriate keys. This consists of Windows logo ("Start") and OK buttons in addition to the obligatory D-pad, left/right action, and send and end keys.

Unlike some other Windows Mobile-based smartphones, the 700w doesn't have Home or Back buttons, but the Send and OK keys serve their functions—the send button always returns you to the Windows Today screen, and the OK key minimizes the forefront window. (Volume controls and a customizable action button are found of the unit's left side.)

The 700w's display is capable of 16-bit color and 240 x 240 pixel resolution, a square format that may cause compatibility problems with some applications designed for the rectangular 240 x 320 (QVGA) format of most other Windows PDAs and prior Pocket PC Phones. However, given the growing use of the 240 x 240 displays (it's also used in the Hewlett-Packard iPAQ hw6500 series devices) this ought not to be a problem for current and future applications. Treo 700w's display is also a step backward's from the Treo 650's higher resolution 320 x 320 pixel resolution type.

A 1.3 megapixel camera is built into the 700w (for the moment, there's no sans-camera version available for those corporate customers concerned about the potential security risk), up from a mere VGA camera in the Treo 650.

The camera takes decent snapshots (and video) by cell phone standards, but it's best for outdoor or other well-lit environs given that it lacks a flash. Occupying the space next to the camera lens where the flash would normally be is a polished metal disc to be used as a mirror when snapping self-portraits.

Windows...Palm-Style
Recognizing that earlier Palms owe their popularity to more than just good hardware design, Palm decided against simply slapping the standard Windows Mobile interface on the 700w and instead augmented it in several genuinely useful ways.

Some of the best enhancements can be found on the 700w's Today screen.

For example, instead of having to open and sift through your contact list to find a number, you can look up a name directly from the Today screen. As you type, the unit looks for matches and when one is found you can initiate a call with one button.

Along similar lines, the 700w's Today screen also provides a field that you can type into to conduct a Google search. This saves the trouble of having to first launch the Web browser and go to the site; though it would be welcome if recent search terms were retained. That's a minor complaint, however.

Far more significant is the fact that phone numbers found in Google Local results (or e-mails) are automatically hotlinked and can be automatically dialed via a script. (It could presumably be done in a single keypress, but it takes three since there are security warning and confirmation dialogs to contend with.) Much to the likely chagrin of Verizon, this feature can be a tempting alternative to paying a buck-and-a-half for each use of operated-provided directory assistance services.

The 700w provides several ways to help you identify incoming calls through the use of audio and visual cues. Since you're not always in the position to look at a phone when it rings, a synthetic voice can announce the caller's name and ostensible location (home, work, etc.) in a fairly intelligible voice whenever that caller is in your contact list.

Dial By Name

Speed Dial

Photo Dial

Keyboard Dial-pad

If you don't want to answer an incoming call, an "Ignore with Text" option lets you send a canned or customized message of explanation ("Can't talk now-I'm testifying before Congress").

Another option for caller identification is through customized ringtones you can apply to individual callers. You can even use a video file as a ringtone, but this feature seems more gimmicky than practical.

Somewhat handier is the ability to include photos with your contacts, which are displayed along with the name and number whenever a call from that person is incoming. The 700w's self-portrait mirror makes it easy to create these snapshots for your contact list, provided you periodically get face time with most of your contacts and they're willing to have their photo taken.

In addition to conventional key-assigned speed dial, the 700w also features a photo speed dial feature that lets you horizontally place five photos representing frequently-called numbers on your Today screen, and select from them to place an outgoing call.

Onscreen Dial-pad

Voicemail Controls

Picture Caller ID

Ignore SMS

If you regularly call multiple voice mail systems, you might appreciate the 700w's voice mail control feature, which lets you pre-program voice mail commands for a series of VCR-like on-screen buttons. Manipulating the on-screen buttons isn't necessarily any easier than pressing numeric keys like 1 for back, 3 for forward, 7 for delete, or 9 for save, but the feature can be useful if you use voice mail systems with different command structures.

The Treo 700w takes advantage of the Windows Mobile 5.0 platform in multiple ways—offering Outlook Mobile, Office Mobile and Internet Explorer Mobile built into the smartphone, as well as direct access to Exchange Server 2003 for mobile access to information.

It also brings Windows Media Player Mobile to the handheld.

Pricing
As is befitting of a "latest and greatest" product, the new Palm 700w doesn't come cheaply. Buying one will set you back $549, though you can get the price down to a more reasonable $399 by committing for two years and signing up for Verizon's $44.99 a month unlimited data plan; a must for Web access, e-mail, etc. Another nit to pick is that the 700w doesn't come with a belt-clip or carrying case, which seems hard to forgive in a top-shelf phone like this.

Conclusion
The 700w is an excellent phone, but if you own or were planning to buy a Treo 650, there isn't much about the new 700w that should make you switch. (Indeed, the "mature" 650 is now bargain-priced relative to the 700w.) On the other hand, there's no question that the Palm Treo 700w will be palatable to Microsoft-centric organizations that may have resisted outfitting employees with previous Treos.