New Palm i705 Handheld

Palm's new wireless solution -- the i705 handheld -- features always-on "push" email from up to eight email accounts, secure, end-to-end, behind-the-firewall email, web browsing via Google search or URL entry, plus Date Book and Address Book. More news from the wires:

Growing Mobile Work Force Demands Flexibility and Control
"People today are more mobile than ever, and the Palm i705 handheld was conceived, designed and made especially for mobile business users and corporate IT -- a first for Palm," said Todd Bradley, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Palm's Solutions Group. "The freedom to travel while remaining connected to email and messaging is a key competitive advantage for people and companies. Just as important is the ability to manage and filter incoming information from multiple messaging accounts, and our i705 handheld delivers personal control like no other product on the market today."

The Palm i705 handheld provides the following benefits:

• the ability to consolidate incoming email from as many as eight accounts;
• notification of new email by LED, sound or vibration;
• on-the-fly filtering of mail from different sources;
• multiple forms of data entry, including an optional Palm Mini Keyboard, introduced today, that slips over the bottom of the i705 and provides for "thumb typing;" and
• powerful complementary business software valued at more than $100.

Included inbox is DataViz' Documents To Go 4.0 Professional Edition, providing unparalleled ability to read, create and edit Word and Excel documents while preserving formatting. It also permits viewing of PowerPoint presentations sized for the handheld's screen.

Two software programs are at the heart of the desktop-to-handheld collaboration. On the Palm i705 handheld, email management is made possible by the Palm MultiMail Deluxe application, which supports a business account, an included webmail account at Palm.com, and support for the most widely used email accounts, such as Yahoo!, Earthlink, Mindspring, and other leading Internet email services.

On the desktop, MultiMail Deluxe Desktop Link -- a Microsoft Windows application that works with Microsoft Outlook and runs continuously in the background -- securely encrypts and decrypts email, and redirects messages to users' Palm i705 handhelds.

Classic Palm Benefits, Rich Accessories, Wireless Service
As with other Palm branded handhelds, owners of Palm i705 handhelds have access to more than 13,000 software applications currently commercially available. Plus, it can be expanded easily and in two ways, just like other calendar 2001 entries to the Palm family of handhelds. Internal expansion is provided by Palm's Expansion Card Slot, which can accommodate memory, application and input/output devices via SD Cards and MultiMediaCard media. External expansion is delivered via the Palm Universal Connector, which allows handhelds to be augmented with collapsible keyboards, digital cameras and other hardware.

The Palm i705 handheld is based on the Palm OS v4.1 platform. It features 8MB RAM and 4MB Flash ROM, a 33MHz Motorola Dragonball VZ processor, a rechargeable lithium polymer battery and HotSync USB cradle. It weighs 5.9 ounces, including the battery, and measures 4.65 inches x 3.06 inches x 0.61 inches.

The Palm.Net service for the new handheld is provided via Cingular Wireless' nationwide Mobitex-based packet data network, which lets users roam 260 U.S. metropolitan areas without additional charges. This service is widely used and recognized as being the most accessible service available. Various plans are available, including unlimited use of all functions for as little as $35/month. Access to the Internet is made easier through the completely redesigned MyPalm mobile portal, which offers a range of new services. One-touch access to the Internet, with no dial-up, is provided by pressing one of four "quick access" buttons on the bottom of the Palm i705.

Pricing and Availability
Palm believes the Palm i705 handheld is the most competitively priced handheld in its class, considering purchase price, activation fee, and monthly service rate. The product is available this week in U.S. retail stores for an estimated U.S. street price of $449; a Palm.Net service subscription is required to activate the wireless functionality.

FranklinCovey, one of Palm's top resellers in the United States, is the first Palm OEM to sell the Palm i705 solution through its nationwide retail stores, website and catalog. Based in Salt Lake City, FranklinCovey sells Palm handheld computers bundled with its planning and time-management software and tools.

The Palm Mini Keyboard, 3.25 inches x 2.75 inches, is also available this week at retail stores and online at The Palm Store ( http://store.palm.com ) for $59.95.

Multiple Palm.Net wireless service plans are available:

• Associate -- $19.99/100kb per month
• Executive Unlimited -- $39.99/month, unlimited usage
• Executive Unlimited Annual -- $34.99/month, unlimited usage (allows users to save money with a one-year commitment)

There are never any roaming charges -- the same rates apply in all coverage areas, and there are no extra charges for peak-hour usage. All plans require a one-time setup charge of $9.99.

Software
In addition to the award-winning PIM applications and the industry's leading handheld OS platform, Palm is supplying free business software with the Palm i705:

• DataViz' Documents To Go 4.0 Professional Edition -- lets users read, create and edit Microsoft Word and Excel documents, and read and share Microsoft PowerPoint documents;
• MGI PhotoSuite Mobile Edition v2.23 -- lets users view images and video clips; and
• Palm Reader -- the leading eBook reader for Palm Powered devices; lets users read eBooks and view text files.

In addition, the all-new version of the MyPalm wireless portal provides a set of mobile services for the Palm i705 handheld that is updated automatically through the HotSync operation:

• Full web browsing -- Users can access any URL and conduct web searches powered by Google.
• Directory -- Users can navigate through nearly 50 of the best sites and services on the web, optimized for wireless access (including AOL, Fidelity, E*Trade, BusinessWeek, ABC News, CNN, USA Today, Travelocity, OAG, Fodors, Weather.com, ESPN, CBS Sportsline, Moviefone, eBay and The Palm Store).
• Customizable MyPage -- Users can set up a personal page of weather, stock quotes, news, email and more.

SOURCE Palm, Inc.
www.palm.com