New Treo has GPS, Wi-Fi capabilities

NEW YORK (AP) — Palm Inc., which has been struggling to maintain its position in the hot market for smartphones, introduced a new Treo model with Wi-Fi and GPS capabilities.       

The Treo 800w is the first major new model from Palm since last year’s introduction of the Centro, a smaller version of its flagship Treo.      

As with the Centro, Sprint Nextel Corp. is the first carrier to sell the Treo 800w. The phone can take advantage of Sprint’s mobile broadband network with a so-called EV-DO Rev. A chip, for faster uploads.      

The Treo 800w runs the latest version of Microsoft Corp.’s Windows Mobile software and has a sharper screen resolution than previous Treos with that operating system.      

It is also the first Treo that can connect to Wi-Fi hotspots, a common feature on competing smartphones for the corporate market. The Global Positioning System chip, a first for Treos, is also becoming standard.      

The Treo 800w costs $250 after discounts and rebates with a two-year contract. It requires a Sprint service plan for at least  $70 a month, plus taxes and fees.

The Treo 800w launch comes three days after Apple Inc. introduced a new version of its iPhone. Apple has surpassed Palm and become No.  2 in the US smartphone market, though both are well behind BlackBerry phones from Research In Motion Ltd.