TORONTO, May 6 /CNW/ - Palm, Inc. (NASDAQ: PALM) today announced that
Palm Pre(TM), the first phone based on the new Palm(R) webOS(TM) mobile
platform, will debut in Canada exclusively on Bell Mobility's 3G high-speed
mobile network in the second half of 2009.(1)
"We're excited to bring Pre to Canada with Bell Mobility," said Brodie
Keast, senior vice president of marketing for Palm, Inc. "We've seen enormous
interest from mobile operators worldwide and fully expect to continue to
expand distribution for Pre, putting it within reach of more and more
customers."
Palm webOS is invented exclusively for mobile use. It's the first mobile
platform to automatically bring your information from the many places it
resides - on your phone, at work or on the web - into one simple, integrated
view.(1) The new Palm Pre and webOS are designed to be so in sync with your
needs that it feels like Pre is thinking ahead for you.
Pre has a breakthrough user interface and hardware design that makes it
the most integrated and user-friendly mobile phone. Featuring a smooth,
rounded ergonomic design and a physical keyboard that slides out only when
needed, Pre is engineered to feel natural in your hand and comfortably small
in your pocket. When closed, Pre is ideal for phone calls, web browsing,
music, photos and videos; when open, Pre is optimized for email and text
messaging. It provides an exceptional experience for phone calls, whether held
to your ear, over speakerphone or via Bluetooth. With its curved slider and
gesture-controlled touch interface, Pre fuses exquisite design with the
revolutionary webOS software for fast access to content on the device or web.
It's an instinctive user experience that seems to anticipate your needs.
"Bell is excited to be only the second carrier in the world to announce
the 3G Pre," said Adel Bazerghi, senior vice president of Products for Bell
Mobility. "With the unique user experience of the world's first webOS phone,
running on the country's largest 3G network, we're confident that Canadians
will embrace Pre as the phone for their lives today."
Your Life, Brought Together
---------------------------
Palm webOS introduces Palm Synergy(TM), a key feature of the new platform
that brings your information from all the places it resides into one logical
view. You don't have to worry about tracking multiple calendars, contacts and
messaging applications - Synergy seems to think ahead to bring you a more
comprehensive and truly representative view of your life.
- Linked contacts - With Synergy, you have a single view that links
your contacts from a variety of sources, so accessing them is easier
than ever. For example, if you have the same contact listed in your
Outlook(2), Google and Facebook accounts, Synergy recognizes that
they're the same person and links the information, presenting it to
you as one listing.
- Layered calendars - Your calendars can be seen on their own or
layered together in a single view, combining work, family, friends,
sports teams, or other interests. You can toggle to look at one
calendar at a time, or see them all at a glance.
- Combined messaging - Synergy lets you see all your conversations with
the same person in a chat-style view, even if it started in IM and
you want to reply with text messaging. You can also see who's active
in a buddy list right from contacts or email, and start a new
conversation with just one touch.
Your Information, Effortlessly
------------------------------
By smartly integrating your information, webOS is designed to think ahead
for you and keep you on top of the things that happen in your life, but that's
just the first step. The platform's unique interface brings your information
to you with the ease that only Palm can offer.
- Run multiple applications at the same time - Palm's revolutionary
webOS lets you manage multiple activities more effectively than any
other mobile platform today. It lets you keep multiple activities
open and move easily between them like flipping through a deck of
cards. You can rearrange items simply by dragging them; when you are
done with something, just throw it away by flicking it off the top of
the screen. (3)
- Web-connected applications - Applications are seamlessly connected to
the web and always active(3), ensuring you have the most up-to-date
information.
- Universal search - Finding what you need is easy with universal
search - as you type what you're looking for, webOS narrows your
search and offers results from both your device and the web.(4)
- Intuitive and unobtrusive notifications - When important things come
up or new updates arrive, you'll receive notifications with a
diplomacy that's a radical departure from other mobile platforms. For
example, if you receive a text message or email, a scrolling
notifications bar at the bottom of your screen lets you address it
right away or leave until later. webOS alerts are one step ahead,
ensuring that you never miss a thing, but never lose your place or
train of thought.
Palm Pre Features
-----------------
- 3G EVDO Rev. A high-speed connectivity
- Integrated GPS(5)
- Large 3.1-inch touch screen with a vibrant 24-bit color 320x480
resolution HVGA display
- Gesture area, which enables simple, intuitive gestures for navigation
- Slide-out QWERTY keyboard
- Email, including Outlook EAS (for access to corporate Microsoft
Exchange servers), as well as personal email support (POP3, IMAP)
- Robust messaging support (IM, SMS and MMS capabilities)(3)
- High-performance, desktop-class web browser
- Great multimedia experience and performance (pictures, video
playback, music), featuring a 3-megapixel camera with LED flash and
extended depth of field, and a standard 3.5mm headset jack
- Bluetooth(R) 2.1 + EDR with A2DP stereo Bluetooth support
- 8GB internal memory (~7GB user available)(6)
- USB mass storage mode
- MicroUSB connector with USB 2.0 Hi-Speed
- Proximity sensor, which automatically disables the touch screen and
turns off the display whenever you put the phone up to your ear
- Light sensor, which dims the display if the ambient light is dark,
such as at night or in a movie theater, to reduce power usage
- Accelerometer, which automatically orients web pages and photos to
your perspective
- Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g(7)
- Ringer switch, which easily silences the device with one touch
- Removable, rechargeable battery
- Dimensions: 59.57mm (W) x 100.53mm (L, closed) x 16.95mm (D)
- Weight: ~135 grams
An array of compelling accessories also will be available for Pre,
including the first inductive charging solution for phones (sold separately).
Simply set Pre down on top of the elegantly designed Palm Touchstone(TM)
charging dock without worrying about connection, orientation or fit. Pre is
active while charging, so you can access the touch screen, watch movies or
video, or use the speakerphone.
Availability and Pricing
------------------------
Palm Pre is scheduled to be available in Canada exclusively from Bell
Mobility in the second half of 2009. Bell Mobility's pricing for the phone has
not yet been determined.
Customers who would like to register to receive additional information
about Pre and be notified when it's available can register at www.palm.com/ca
or Bell.ca/pre.
About Bell
----------
Bell is Canada's largest communications company, providing consumers with
solutions to all their communications needs including Bell Home Phone local
and long distance services, Bell Mobility and Solo Mobile wireless, high-speed
Bell Internet access, Bell TV direct-to-home satellite and VDSL television,
and IP-broadband and information and communications technology (ICT) services.
Bell is proud to be a Premier National Partner and the exclusive
Telecommunications Partner to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter
Games. Bell is wholly owned by BCE Inc. For information on Bell's products and
services, please visit www.bell.ca. For corporate information on BCE, please
visit www.bce.ca
About Palm, Inc.
----------------
Palm, Inc. is a leading mobile products company, creating instinctive yet
powerful mobile products that enable people to better manage their lives on
the go. The company's products for consumers, mobile professionals and
businesses include Palm(R) Treo(TM), Pre(TM) and Centro(TM) phones, as well as
software, services and accessories.
Palm products are sold through select Internet, retail, reseller and
wireless operator channels throughout the world, and at Palm online stores
(http://www.palm.com/store).
More information about Palm Canada, Inc. is available at
http://www.palm.com/ca.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Multimedia materials, including photos and video, are
available at www.palm.com/MeetPre or from Laura Butcher (lbutcher@
environicspr.com) at Environics Communications for Palm Canada.
Please add the tag No.PalmNo.Pre to your tweets or "PalmPre" to your blog
posts about the Palm Pre phone, and follow Palm on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/palm_inc.
-------------------------------
(1) Use of this device requires providing a valid email address, mobile
phone number, and related information for account setup and
activation. Unlimited usage data plan strongly recommended;
additional data charges may apply. Within wireless coverage area
only. Number of applications and actual performance will vary
depending on applications used and actions performed.
(2) Within wireless coverage area only. Requires data services at
additional cost. Microsoft Direct Push Technology requires Microsoft
Exchange Server 2003 with SP2 or Exchange Server 2007. Additional
fees may apply.
(3) Within wireless coverage area only. Use of some third-party web
applications may impact performance.
(4) Searches web and user's applications, contacts, and dialing
information. Web search within wireless coverage area only, requires
data services at additional cost.
(5) GPS requires data services at additional cost. Coverage not available
in all areas at all times.
(6) Storage estimate subject to change based on system software and
application usage.
(7) Within range of 802.11b/g Wi-Fi network. Some Wi-Fi hotspots require
fee for usage.
Palm, webOS, Pre, Synergy, Touchstone, Treo and Centro are among the
trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to Palm, Inc. All
other brand and product names are or may be trademarks of, and are used to
identify products or services of, their respective owners.
/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available on
the CNW Photo Network and archived at http://photos.newswire.ca.
Additional archived images are also available on the CNW Photo Archive
website at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited
members of the media/
For further information: MEDIA CONTACTS: Laura Butcher, Steve Acken,
Environics Communications for Palm Canada, (416) 969-2766, (416) 969-2710,
lbutcher@environicspr.com, sacken@environicspr.com; Julie Smithers, Bell Media
Relations, (416) 528-9409, julie.smithers@bell.ca