Palm, Sprint Release Treo 800wPalm, Sprint Release Treo 800w

On the heels of the iPhone 3G's launch, Sprint announced the availability of a new touch-screen smartphone Monday that's aimed at mobile professionals.

The Palm Treo 800w is powered by Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional, and it's the first Palm smartphone to offer integrated Wi-Fi. Users can check e-mail, or browse the Web with the built-in Internet Explorer browser from any open wireless hotspot.

If a user isn't in range of Wi-Fi, the Treo packs built-in support for Sprint's high-speed EV-DO Rev. A network. This provides mobile workers with a maximum download rate of 3.1 Mbps, and a maximum upload speed of 1.8 Mbps.

The smartphone has Microsoft Direct Push technology out of the box, so workers on the go can have real-time access to their corporate e-mails, calendars, and contacts. It also sports Microsoft Office Mobile suite onboard for creating and editing documents.

A built-in GPS chip makes the smartphone capable of using Sprint's turn-by-turn navigation product, as well as other location-based services. The latest Treo has a full QWERTY keyboard, a MicroSD slot to expand the memory up to 8 GB, and it features Bluetooth 2.0 capabilities.

The phone can be used for more than business purposes, as the integrated Windows Media Player can play multiple music and video codecs. The phone also supports Sprint TV, so customers can watch clips from a variety of shows over the air.

Palm's latest device is slimmer and more streamlined than previous devices in the Treo line, measuring in at 4.4 by 2.3 by 0.7 inches. It also has a 2-megapixel camera that's capable of video recording.

The phone is available now for $250 with a two-year contract. Treo 800w customers have to sign up for a service plan that offers unlimited data, which starts at $70 a month.