By Reuben Lee
13/04/2006
URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/mobilephones/0,39050603,39351123,00.htm

SINGAPORE - Handheld maker Palm has recently announced a collaboration with Research In Motion (RIM) and Singapore operator SingTel to provide BlackBerry Connect (BBC) services on the Treo 650 smart phone.

	BlackBerry Connect solutions on the Palm Treo 650 (click for larger image)

The Palm-RIM partnership, which was announced in 2004, makes SingTel the first mobile provider in the world to offer BBC solutions on a Treo device. Palm reps have, however, clarified that SingTel's exclusivity on the provision of BBC on the Treo 650 in Singapore is for a limited period of time, indicating that the PDA-phone manufacturer may be in talks with the other mobile operators. SingTel spokesperson, on the other hand, has expressed that the company expects more of such collaborations in the future.

Norm Lo, RIM's vice president for Asia Pacific, in a press statement, believes "the Treo 650 with BlackBerry Connect software delivers the power of the BlackBerry architecture with the familiar VersaMail client software that Palm users enjoy today, expanding the overall market opportunity for SingTel, Palm and RIM".

According to Paul Blinkhorn, vice president of Palm Asia-Pacific, BBC is currently only available for the Treo 650. The company does not plan to launch the solution in the other Treos, but does not rule out the possibility of introducing this on its Windows-based Treo 700w smart phone in the future.

	Palm Treo 700w (click for larger image)

Targeted at mobile workers and corporate executives, BBC for the Treo 650 supports push email for the device's VersaMail client as well as wireless synchronization (between PC and handheld) of not just the email browser but also calendar information. Those constantly on the move can access their corporate directory for contact information via Remote Address Lookup (RAL). Attachments in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDFs documents can also be viewed on the handhelds using the Attachment Viewing Service or the native file viewers on the Treo 650.

Like most BlackBerry devices, the Treo's connectivity to the BlackBerry Enterprise Server allows it to take advantage of functionalities such as centralized device management, over-the-air device disablement, password device lock and triple DES encryption.

The BlackBerry Connect service will be immediately available for new and existing Treo 650 customers. Current Treo 650 owners will have to contact SingTel business representatives for information on how to install and activate the BlackBerry client on their handhelds. Corporate customers can also purchase the Treo 650 at S$299 with every subscription of the BlackBerry Enterprise Solution Unlimited Local Data Usage plan at S$61.95 per month. This promotion is valid till May 12, 2006.