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June 1, 2007

Palm has reportedly launched a new smartphone companion device that pairs its handset with a thin client laptop computer.

Dubbed the Foleo, it stays synchronized with its smartphone automatically throughout the day using Bluetooth.

Even edits made on the Foleo are instantly reflected on the smartphone, and vice versa.

Overall, the Foleo turns on and off instantly and features a battery that lasts up to 5 hours. Its applications mirror those of the smartphone, including email, a full-screen Web browser and editors or viewers for documents such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and even PDF files.

Though it comes with built-in Wi-Fi, the Foleo also can use the smartphone's radio for general Internet connectivity.

Jeff Hawkins, founder of Palm said in a statement "Smartphones will soon be the most prevalent personal computers, ultimately able to do everything that desktop computers can."

He added "but there are times when people need a large screen and a full-size keyboard. As smartphones get smaller, this need increases. The Foleo completes the picture, creating a mobile-computing system that sets a new standard in simplicity."

The Foleo mobile companion unit is designed to work with Palm's Treos, both the Palm OS and Windows Mobile versions.

Palm also believes that the Foleo should easily work with most smartphones based on Windows Mobile.

The company expects Foleo to be compatible with smartphones based on operating systems from Research in Motion, Apple and Symbian with a little software effort.

Since Foleo runs on an open source Linux-based operating system, Palm hopes to work with third-party developers to support as many smartphone platforms as possible.

Foleo also includes a 10-inch screen, USB port, video output port, headphone jack and slots for SD and compact flash cards.

Palm's new Foleo device is expected to be available later this summer and should sell for about $499 after a $100 rebate.

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Source: Wireless Week