September 8th, 2009
Report: Second Palm webOS smartphone to debut this week
Palm will unveil its second WebOS-based smartphone this week, internally named “Pixie“ but rumored to be named “Eos,” as part of Fashion Week in New York, reports TechCrunch.
The new phone is expected to sell for far less than the Pre: $99.
Previously reported but unconfirmed specs include:
- Dimensions: 10.6×55×111mm
- Weight: 100 grams
- 2.63″, 320×400 capacitive touch screen
- 4GB of internal memory
- $349 before rebates; $99 expected
- 2MP camera, fixed focus, with flash
- Bluetooth 2.1 w/ A2DP and EDR, USB 2.0 via micro USB
- 1150mAh battery, removable
- SMS, MMS, built-in IM client
- A-GPS
- WAV, MP3, AAC, AAC+ ringtones, MPEG4, H.264, H.263 video playback
The “Eos” has been rumored to have been delayed for some time.
That the launch of the phone coincides with Fashion Week indicates which customers Palm plans to target: consumers. It also shows that Palm’s going to sell the device as chic and desirable (but attainable, at $99).
(TechCrunch wonders why Palm timed it the same week as Apple’s iPod event, but to me, they’re unrelated announcements.)
It’s unclear which carrier the smartphone will arrive on, as Palm devices have appeared in Verizon, Sprint and AT&T’s inventories.
Would you buy a cheaper webOS-based Palm smartphone?
Andrew J. Nusca is an associate editor for ZDNet and SmartPlanet.
See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
Email Andrew Nusca 
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to The ToyBox via Email alerts or RSS.
