Palm Centro
Encyclopedia
The Palm Centro smartphone
has been marketed by Palm, Inc.
since its release on October 14, 2007 — offering the functionality of the larger Treo 755p
in a smaller size.
As of August 2008, the Palm Centro was the second-ranked US smartphone based on internet traffic, responsible for 78% of the traffic on Palm devices; it fell to fourth in February 2009, responsible for 86% of Palm traffic .
The Centro is among the last devices released with the Palm OS
operating system, superseded by Palm's webOS, which debuted on the Palm Pre
in June, 2009.
keyboard. The phone is available with either CDMA technology supporting EVDO Rev 0 for network access, or GSM. The stock battery allows for up to 3.5 hours of continuous talk time. The phone also offers internet connection tethering to laptop or desktop computers.
Included with the phone is an A/C travel charger and USB data cable.
Palm has subsequently upgraded the available memory to 128 MB. The updated models are available only on Sprint .
The Palm Centro also has support for (Java) MIDP 2.0, though Palm has discontinued distributing it due to licensing.
The product SKU on this model is PTR690HK, which is aligned with products in the Trēo family of Palm smartphones. The Verizon Wireless SKU is CENTRO690P.
5.4.9, and as a result of the backward compatibility
aspects of this operating system
, many applications released for previous Palm PDA/smartphones work with the Centro. This phone has been streamlined to work with many popular applications and services.
version is available in black, white and electric blue. It uses the GSM cellular network for connectivity and does have some differences from Sprint's CDMA version. The GSM-based device is quad-band (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and supports both GPRS and EDGE data protocols. Even though the Sprint and Verizon versions of the Centro supports 3G (EV-DO), the AT&T version does not. AT&T customers with quad-band devices such as Centro can place calls in more than 195 countries and access data in more than 140.
PC Magazine writes: "The Centro for AT&T
sacrifices the Sprint version's high-speed data access, but you get more battery life—though not quite enough. Nonetheless, the low price makes it a good first smartphone."
The AT&T
Centro also offers a Push-To-Talk Walkie-talkie
like service not available on the CDMA device. This allows you to instantly see the availability of your contacts before calling them and make individual or group Push-To-Talk calls.
Good Gear Guide writes: "The first smartphone with a full QWERTY keyboard to be sold in Australia on pre-paid". The device is white but unlike the green number pad seen on AT&T's Centro, this version has a grey number pad.
network
. The phone will begin selling for $49.95 with a new activation on a 3 year $45+ voice and data package. This version runs on a 1xRTT/1xEV–DO (Rev.0) 3G network.
, called "Claus
", and complemented the TV spots with a Facebook page, viral videos and original music in download form.
Smartphone
A smartphone is a high-end mobile phone built on a mobile computing platform, with more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary feature phone. The first smartphones were devices that mainly combined the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone or camera...
has been marketed by Palm, Inc.
Palm, Inc.
Palm, Inc., was a smartphone manufacturer headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, that was responsible for products such as the Pre and Pixi as well as the Treo and Centro smartphones. Previous product lines include the PalmPilot, Palm III, Palm V, Palm VII, Zire and Tungsten. While their older...
since its release on October 14, 2007 — offering the functionality of the larger Treo 755p
Treo 755p
The Treo 755p is a smartphone developed by Palm, Inc. It was released on May 15, 2007 as the first CDMA Treo without an aerial antenna. This Treo has a form factor similar to that of the GSM Treo 680, and is equipped with the full Palm OS. It has been described as a Treo 700p in a Treo 680's body...
in a smaller size.
As of August 2008, the Palm Centro was the second-ranked US smartphone based on internet traffic, responsible for 78% of the traffic on Palm devices; it fell to fourth in February 2009, responsible for 86% of Palm traffic .
The Centro is among the last devices released with the Palm OS
Palm OS
Palm OS is a mobile operating system initially developed by Palm, Inc., for personal digital assistants in 1996. Palm OS is designed for ease of use with a touchscreen-based graphical user interface. It is provided with a suite of basic applications for personal information management...
operating system, superseded by Palm's webOS, which debuted on the Palm Pre
Palm Pre
The Palm Pre is a multimedia smartphone designed and marketed by Palm with a multi-touch screen and a sliding keyboard. The smartphone was the first to use Palm's Linux based mobile operating system, webOS...
in June, 2009.
Specifications
At a weight of 119 g, and dimensions of 4.2″ (h), 2.1″ (w) and 0.7″ (d), the Centro was the smallest smart phone offered from Palm up to its introduction. It includes a 1.3-megapixel digital camera with video capture capabilities, microSD card slot (supporting up to 8GB microSD cards), touch screen navigation and a QWERTYQWERTY
QWERTY is the most common modern-day keyboard layout. The name comes from the first six letters appearing in the topleft letter row of the keyboard, read left to right: Q-W-E-R-T-Y. The QWERTY design is based on a layout created for the Sholes and Glidden typewriter and sold to Remington in the...
keyboard. The phone is available with either CDMA technology supporting EVDO Rev 0 for network access, or GSM. The stock battery allows for up to 3.5 hours of continuous talk time. The phone also offers internet connection tethering to laptop or desktop computers.
Included with the phone is an A/C travel charger and USB data cable.
Palm has subsequently upgraded the available memory to 128 MB. The updated models are available only on Sprint .
The Palm Centro also has support for (Java) MIDP 2.0, though Palm has discontinued distributing it due to licensing.
The product SKU on this model is PTR690HK, which is aligned with products in the Trēo family of Palm smartphones. The Verizon Wireless SKU is CENTRO690P.
Operating system
The Centro runs Palm OSPalm OS
Palm OS is a mobile operating system initially developed by Palm, Inc., for personal digital assistants in 1996. Palm OS is designed for ease of use with a touchscreen-based graphical user interface. It is provided with a suite of basic applications for personal information management...
5.4.9, and as a result of the backward compatibility
Backward compatibility
In the context of telecommunications and computing, a device or technology is said to be backward or downward compatible if it can work with input generated by an older device...
aspects of this operating system
Operating system
An operating system is a set of programs that manage computer hardware resources and provide common services for application software. The operating system is the most important type of system software in a computer system...
, many applications released for previous Palm PDA/smartphones work with the Centro. This phone has been streamlined to work with many popular applications and services.
Sprint
Sprint has marketed the Centro in red, black and pink and released new colors in October, 2008, Olive Green and Vibrant Rose. The new model has double the user accessible storage as the preceding model. It also features a rubberized soft-touch coating.AT&T
The AT&TAT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
version is available in black, white and electric blue. It uses the GSM cellular network for connectivity and does have some differences from Sprint's CDMA version. The GSM-based device is quad-band (850/900/1800/1900 MHz) and supports both GPRS and EDGE data protocols. Even though the Sprint and Verizon versions of the Centro supports 3G (EV-DO), the AT&T version does not. AT&T customers with quad-band devices such as Centro can place calls in more than 195 countries and access data in more than 140.
PC Magazine writes: "The Centro for AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
sacrifices the Sprint version's high-speed data access, but you get more battery life—though not quite enough. Nonetheless, the low price makes it a good first smartphone."
The AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
Centro also offers a Push-To-Talk Walkie-talkie
Walkie-talkie
A walkie-talkie is a hand-held, portable, two-way radio transceiver. Its development during the Second World War has been variously credited to Donald L. Hings, radio engineer Alfred J. Gross, and engineering teams at Motorola...
like service not available on the CDMA device. This allows you to instantly see the availability of your contacts before calling them and make individual or group Push-To-Talk calls.
Verizon
The Verizon version of the Centro, available in dark blue only, was released on June 12, 2008 for $99 with a two year contract and a $70 mail in rebate. This version runs on a 1xRTT/1xEV–DO (Rev.0) 3G network.Claro
Claro introduced the model to Brazilian market by the beginning of 2008. Curiously, the price for the Centro model is still above the old Treo 680 Palm model (as of June 2008).Telstra
Telstra Australia sees the Centro offered via PrePaid only.Good Gear Guide writes: "The first smartphone with a full QWERTY keyboard to be sold in Australia on pre-paid". The device is white but unlike the green number pad seen on AT&T's Centro, this version has a grey number pad.
Rogers Wireless
Rogers Wireless (Canada) announced they would be carrying the Palm Centro as of June 10, 2008. It comes in "Cobalt Blue", the same colour as Verizon's Centro. It is selling at $299.99 for new activations with any three-year voice and data plan activation with minimum $45 monthly service fee or $199.99 with any three-year voice and data plan renewal.Unlocked GSM
On June 25, 2008, an Unlocked GSM version of the Centro was released for use on all 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM telephone networks. It was released in Glacier White with grey keyboard accents.Bell Mobility
As of February 2, 2009, a CDMA version of the Palm Centro in Midnight Black was released on the Bell MobilityBell Mobility
Bell Mobility is a CDMA and HSPA+ based wireless network and the division of Bell Canada which sells wireless services in Canada...
network
Telecommunications network
A telecommunications network is a collection of terminals, links and nodes which connect together to enable telecommunication between users of the terminals. Networks may use circuit switching or message switching. Each terminal in the network must have a unique address so messages or connections...
. The phone will begin selling for $49.95 with a new activation on a 3 year $45+ voice and data package. This version runs on a 1xRTT/1xEV–DO (Rev.0) 3G network.
Advertising
In December 2008, Palm created a holiday advertising campaign, introducing a new version of Santa ClausSanta Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
, called "Claus
Claus
-People:Given name*Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg, the officer who, along with others, attempted to kill Hitler in 1944.*Claus von Amsberg, Prince Claus of the Netherlands, Jonkheer van Amsberg...
", and complemented the TV spots with a Facebook page, viral videos and original music in download form.
External links
- Palm Centro for Sprint specifications (pdf from palm.com)
- Palm Centro for Verizon specifications (pdf from palm.com)
- Sprint Centro website (moreyous.com)
- Verizon Centro website
- Featured in PCWorld.ca's round-up of Top Canadian Smartphones and Cell Phones
- Palm Centro at WikiSpecs
- Image of Palm Phone
- Inadequate Palm Centro Warranty in Argentina
