The PalmOne Treo 600 was launched locally yesterday on the back of high international sales figures.
"First quarter sales in the US were great. And when Orange launched it in Europe, they said it was the best selling product in that market," says country manager Sean Hayes.
Retailing at R7 000, the smart phone is much more expensive than the company`s entry-level Zire product range, which costs around R1 500. However, Hayes says the functionalities featured on the Treo 600 justify the price tag.
"It is an extension of all your other technology. It is a full phone, has MMS/SMS, e-mail, a camera, is Mac and PC compatible, and has built-in Palm OS applications. It is our first true smart phone."
The phone also features a built-in QWERTY keyboard, which Hayes says has proved popular with users despite initial scepticism.
"When we first showed people the keyboard, most said they would never use it. But, having used it for a while, everyone said they found it extremely useful and efficient." Hayes adds that the keyboard also negates the need for continual tapping on the phone screen.
The built-in camera on the Treo 600 features a 640x480 resolution, which Hayes says will more than satisfy user needs. "You won`t be winning any awards taking photos with it, but for what people will use it for, it is more than enough."
A key feature of the Treo 600 is the seamless functionality, says Hayes. "It really is a simple device to use. It is actually designed in such a way that you can easily operate it with one hand.
"When we looked at statistics from overseas, we found that people are actually making use of all the functions on the phone. We see this as a true indication that it is a seamless product."
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