Palm m105 Officially Announced
Palm, Inc. today began selling the Palm m105 handheld computer -- an extension to the award-winning and stylish Palm m100 handheld, but with Internet connection software included, extra memory for additional applications and data, and a
stylish cradle.
For an estimated U.S. street price of $199, the Palm m105 handheld combines the simplicity of the Palm m100 handheld with 8MB of memory -- four times the memory of the m100. In addition, the Palm m105 handheld comes with connectivity software in the box, so customers can use a compatible mobile phone to access the Internet and check email. The Palm m105 handheld also comes with a removable faceplate, and 14 new colorful faceplates are now available separately in addition to the original five colors launched with the Palm m100 handheld.
Women and younger buyers were especially attracted to the Palm m100 series, expanding Palm's reach into new markets beyond its traditional mobile
professional customer base. "These new buyers immediately loved the innovative design and low price, making the m100 the fastest-selling product in Palm's history. And our research indicates m100 handheld owners are extremely happy with their purchases," said Byron Connell, vice president, Consumer Markets Group, Palm, Inc. "The m105 builds on that foundation and lets customers stay up-to-date with news, email and the more than 550 available web clipping applications."
Staying Connected
The Palm m105 handheld offers people several options for keeping in touch. The included Palm Mobile Internet Kit software (1) allows customers to connect wirelessly to the Internet, email and instant-messaging features via a compatible mobile phone or modem (2).
Web clipping technology enables Palm m105 handheld users to access popular web content in a format tailored for fast, comfortable handheld viewing. More than 550 web clipping applications can be downloaded for free at the Palm.Net
website (http://www.palm.net).
For email, the kit includes Palm MultiMail(R) software (POP3, IMAP4), providing access to personal Internet email, such as Earthlink and AT&T
Worldnet.
The kit also includes the Short Messaging Service (SMS) protocol, which lets users send and receive messages to pagers and cellular phones using a
data-enabled mobile phone. In addition to the Mobile Internet Kit, the Palm m105 handheld includes AOL for Palm OS(R), which gives Palm m105 handheld users and AOL members
access to AOL Mail, AOL Instant Messenger and personalized Buddy Lists. The Palm m105 handheld also comes with Palm HotSync(R) Mail, which enables users to read and reply to desktop email offline while on the go.
Individual Style
Faceplate styles range from funky to classic, Blue Boa to Burl Wood. Palm's five original colors are now complemented by 14 new looks. To add
personality and pizzazz, customers can simply snap on and off these faceplates to match their mood or outfit. Faceplates can be seen in the Accessories
Catalog that comes in the box, or online at http://www.palm.com.
Desktop Style
As an additional value, the Palm m105 handheld comes with its own HotSync(R) cradle in a new, contemporary design -- vs. the HotSync cable that
comes with the m100 handheld.
More Memory and Cool Add-ons
With four times the memory of the Palm m100 handheld, the m105 can take even greater advantage of the thousands of third-party software applications available from the Palm Economy.
Users can also add on hardware accessories to the Palm m105 handheld,
including the following:
- The Kodak PalmPix(TM) camera, which snaps onto a Palm m105 handheld, captures vibrant, color, VGA-quality digital pictures. It is small, sleek and ergonomic, and photos can be uploaded to a computer via a HotSync operation.
- The Palm Portable Keyboard is a best-selling collapsible keyboard for typing on the go. Users can take notes and manage email while on the move with its full-size QWERTY key layout.
- The MemorySafe by Northstar Mobile is a small snap-on accessory that lets users easily and instantly back up and protect data on a Palm handheld while they are away from their home or office. Users can transfer individual files or back up an entire database through a simple software interface. The MemorySafe driver is installed on the Palm handheld, and the MemorySafe module plugs into the serial port.
In addition, Shinei International is planning to issue several products for the Palm m100 series handhelds. The porteson(TM)OMP3 Player for the Palm
m100 series handhelds, expected to be available by the end of April, will allow users to download and transfer their favorite MP3 and AAC files to the
porteson MP3 Player. And the clipmodem(TM) 56K modem for the Palm m100 series handhelds, expected to be available by the end of March, will offer customers the capability to connect their Palm m100 series handheld to the Internet at speeds up to 56Kbps.
Global Availability
The Palm m105 handheld, which features Palm OS 3.5, is available now in the United States, with expected worldwide availability beginning in
mid-March. Outside the United States, users can choose from six languages -- English, French, Italian, Spanish, German and Japanese. Wireless Internet access via the Palm Mobile Internet Kit will vary among regions.
Macintosh
The Palm m105 handheld includes a dual-platform PC and Macintosh CD-ROM with desktop software. Macintosh users may request a serial connector directly from the Palm website. The PalmConnect USB Kit is available separately for
$39.95 (U.S.).
Palm m105 Officially Announced
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