Palm took another step in its quest to become a staple operating system of
next generation wireless phones with Sprint’s introduction
Monday of the Samsung SPH-i330, a new PCS phone by Samsung
Telecommunications America which combines a full color screen and the
functionality of a Palm OS device.
The i330 builds on the features of its predecessor, the Samsung SPH-i300,
but features new capabilities and enhanced speeds.
“After launching the first color Palm OS-based wireless phone in North
America with Samsung last year, we are thrilled to now introduce the next
generation model — the PCS Phone by Samsung SPH-i330,” said Phil Bowman,
vice president of business marketing for Sprint’s PCS Division. Bowman
added,” The i330 is the latest PCS Vision enabled smart device offered as
part of the PCS Clear Wireless Workplace to help customers make clear
calls, stay connected and be productive anywhere on the enhanced Sprint
Nationwide PCS Network.”
The dual-band/tri-mode phone features a 160 x 240 pixel, 256-color touch
screen panel display for navigating pop-up screen menus and viewing HTML
Web sites with the Handspring Blazer multi-mode browser. It features an
always-on data connection that runs on Sprint’s CDMA2000 network, which
supports data speeds averaging 50 to 70 Kbps.
The phone also features 16 MB of memory and is compatible with nearly all
Palm OS applications, according to Sprint. In addition, Sprint said
customers will have access to PCS Vision applications including:
- Full color Web browsing
- Wireless messaging, including POP 3 e-mail, instant messaging and
wireless chat - PCS Business Connection, which offers secure, remote access to
Microsoft Outlook or Lotus Notes information, allowing customers to read
and compose email, navigate company directories and personal contacts,
access work calendars and send meeting requests.
Users can choose to input data with either the Graffiti writing area or on
the touch screen panel display. The phone comes standard with a CD that
includes Palm OS Desktop software, PocketMirror conduit software for
Microsoft Outlook, Palm OS Game Pack and Phone Off images.