List Price: $599.99 Our Price: $599.99 You Save:

Product Description

To keep your smartphone's applications up to date, and to optimize the performance of your device, you may need to perform firmware and/or software updates just as you would on your PC. To learn more about updates for your device, please visit Palm's support site. Note that by clicking this link you will be leaving Amazon.com.

Design

Click the image to get a closer look at the Treo 650's features.

Under the hood, the Treo 650 features Palm OS 5.4, 32MB of RAM (23MB available for end user storage), and an Intel PXA270 312 MHz processor. The design retains the same popular form factor as the Treo 600 with a few subtle, yet significant, changes. The unit's screen has been dramatically enhanced to support 320 x 320 resolution and the full QWERTY keypad has been redesigned for greater ease of use. The top of the unit features an expansion card slot for SD and MMC-based memory and expansion cards. There's also an infrared port here for line of sight data transfers, as well as a handy switch for turning off the phone's ringer. A five-way navigator controls most of the phone's menus and operating system functions, while quick application buttons on either side of the navigator get you to your favorite applications in a snap. The left side of the unit features a volume up/down toggle plus a handy user-customizable button that can be assigned to any phone or PDA function. The rear of the Treo 650 houses a loudspeaker, as well as the VGA (640x480) camera unit. A touchscreen stylus can be tucked away on the right side of the phone. Meanwhile, a combined charging, data, and accessory attachment port is housed on the bottom of the unit, as is a standard 2.5 mm stereo headset jack.

Calling and PDA Features
All the of the Treo 650's phone and PDA functions are designed to provide an integrated, seamless experience. For instance, you can type in the name or initials of a contact on the keypad to dial them. Or, use the touchscreen and stylus to copy information from an email and quickly paste it into another email or text message. All of the latest phone features folks expect are built-in, too, like a handsfree speakerphone, polyphonic ringtones, a vibrate mode and picture caller ID. The capacity of the unit's address book is only limited by the amount of internal and expansion memory available. Use the Treo 650's Bluetooth capability to wirelessly sync your contacts with your PC or Mac (yes, Mac!). Headsets, car kits and other wireless peripherals can also be paired with the unit via Bluetooth.

The Treo 650 is also a fully functional Palm OS device. That means that a huge library of applications, from spreadsheets to word processors to games, can be added to the Treo 650. It's easy to perform multiple tasks like checking your calendar while talking on the phone or dialing calls directly from your contacts list. Familiar Palm OS software ships with the handset including calendar, calculator, clock, contacts, memo, and task management applications. Real Player for video and MP3 playback, VersaMail email client, and DataViz Documents to Go for mobile access to spreadsheets and text documents, are also included.

The unit's memory expansion slot allows you to transfer music, photos, and video from your desktop. Or, use it to load additional games and applications.

Messaging and Internet
The device fully supports SMS and MMS messaging for rapid exchange of pictures, text and video via Cingular's instant messaging system. Other Cingular services are also supported, such as mobile email and web browsing. The Treo 650's web browser supports full-size web pages, and you can enter secure pages with 128-bit SSL encryption. POP3 email accounts provided by SBC, BellSouth, Yahoo, Earthlink, Comcast and AT&T Worldnet are all compatible with the 650's email client application. IMAP and Exchange-based email systems are also supported, and you can view photos, HTML, Word, Excel and PowerPoint attachments.

Vital Statistics
The PalmOne Treo 650 weighs 6.30 ounces and measures 4.40 x 2.30 x .90 inches. Its lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 6 hours of digital talk time, and up to 300 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 800/900/1800/1900 GSM/GPRS frequencies. The phone comes with a one year limited warranty.

What's in the Box
Treo 650 handset, lithium-ion battery, USB HotSync cable, headset, AC charger, user manual, software CD-ROM.

Customer Reviews:

• Treo 650 Outperforms Windows-PDA
  I've worked with Windows-based PDAs for years. Cingular's Treo 650 solves so many problems I experienced with Windows devices (including making it very simple to answer phone calls).
  
  I depend upon the Treo for e-mail, Tasks management, Calendaring (appointments) and Contacts. I don't need it to run PC Anywhere or remotely administer an enterprise network (features Windows systems are capable of supporting). It synchs very well with my Windows desktop (I could not get the integrated Bluetooth to sync with my Mac) and makes me more effective in the field by simplifying access to e-mail send/receive and strong integration with Microsoft Outlook).
  
  The call quality is acceptable; the keypad is outstanding; ease of navigation is top notch.
  
  However, know that Palm/Cingular's a little cheap with this model; the included headset is corded (therefore worthless to me) and no case is included. How do you not include a case on a $400-$500 (without contract) telephone? Doesn't matter, as I use Timbuk2's cases anyway, but still, it would have been nice to have a simple belt-case as an option.
  
  My only other complaint is battery life. Turn on Bluetooth and check e-mail regularly and I only get a day out of it (but I suspect that's understandable on some level).
  
  All in all an excellent phone that I'm much, much happier with than Windows versions I've tried, including an SMT5600 and 8125 (which was clunky, made answering telephone calls awkward and required that the phone be pressed apart whenever I needed to access the keyboard, which was frequently)....more info
• Cool but a little dissapointing; terrible sound quality
  At first glance, the Treo 650 has everything the mobile professional could want but there are several complaints including:
  1) Almost impossible to hold and type comfortably (I have medium-sized hands). Text complete software should be included for streamlined input.
  2) Slippery as a greased pig. The thing just wants to jump out of my hands all the time. Only a matter of time before it crashes to the floor.
  3) Terrible sound quality (lots of extra noise) and inadequate loudness in all modes (speaker, handset, or headset).
  4) Hard to get email running and documentation/website and customer service "help" (Cingular and Palmone) is not helpful.
  5) Desperately missing a scroll wheel.
  6) Painfully slow internet access although I realize this is not completely the fault of the device.
  7) Instability: unit crashes and resets a few times a week and sync software crashes every time (using MS XP and Outlook).
  8) Causes radio interference with nearby radios, speakerphones, etc.
  
  Things I like
  1) The screen is bright and clear. Touch screen works fine.
  2) All the functions in one device: camera, phone, email, SD card slot, etc. Have not tried Bluetooth or MP3 player yet.
  3) Easily-accessed ringer silence button.
  4) Battery life seems reasonable so far but I haven't had a real test.
  5) Slightly better reception than my old Nokia.
  
  Bottom line: I am a surprised how much everyone raves about these things. My reaction is "slight disappointment". Is it worth the $400 I paid? Barely, and I am dismayed by all the great deals I keep seeing that I was somehow unable to take advantage of. Certainly not worth double the price of a blackberry 7100.
  ...more info
• No WiFi
  I was going to buy one of these but then realised there is no WiFi support which is crazy since the LifeDrive from Palm has WiFi.
  
  My guess is that they have decided not to put WiFi in to please cellular operators. I've watched others with Windows CE WiFi phones place free Skype calls over WiFi. I wanted the same facility.
  
  Without WiFi you are locked to the operator for expensive and slow data transfer, and massively high data roaming rates.
  
  I'm so sick of waiting for Palm to release a combined PDA+phone that can access the Internet via WiFi (or WiMax later) that I am now considering going against my principles and buying a Windows CE based phone.
  
  And going by the other reviews of the 650 it seems Palm have not fixed the problem I have with my current Palm phone+PDA (Tungsten W) the SIM card is held by a trap door which is a terrible design. It means you are plagued with dropped calls or the device being disconnected because the SIM has lost contact.
  
  Update-> Yes you can buy a WiFi adaptor but the cheapest is $150USD. And yes I was right they disabled the WiFi to please operators (just Google for the issue). I do not like being forced into "walled gardens" by operators and reject a product that is helping them....more info
• World's worst phone
  I have had seven (yes seven) Treos; four Treo 600's and three Treo 650's. My mental health would no longer allow me to deal with these devices. Since 600's are no longer available, this review will focus on the 650's.
  
  1) I upgraded to the 650 in the hopes that problems would be solved. If anything, they got worse. First of all, it is darn near impossible to convert data from the 600 to the 650 without crashing the phone. It took 9 hours and 3 telephone calls to get it done. (You have to ask for a level 2 tech and scream until you get one.)
  
  2) The phone is horrible. Can only hear while holding it to your ear and not well then. There is a 3rd party program that you can buy to increase volume, but it creates such an echo that the other party can't hear you. Earphone jacks never work. Out of all the Treos I had, only 1 had an earphone that worked. Bluetooth is no better; I had 3 different Bluetooth devices and you can't hear out of them either. When I finally got smart and got another kind of phone, it was like a miracle! I could hear! The earphone worked! The Bluetooth was crystal clear! But on the Treo, you can forget any of that.
  
  3) The phone crashes constantly, even while just sitting on the desk.
  
  4) With each of the 3 Treo 650's, tech support finally gave up and just told me to go get another one. I drew the line at getting number 4 in a 2 week period.
  
  Do yourself a favor and get a real phone. Don't mess with the Treo. It's a great device, but so poorly manufactured as to be useless.
  
  ...more info
• Love/Hate relationship.
  As much as I hated my Treo during the last couple of months I had it I must say I miss it a bit now.
  
  It was my first PDA style phone that surely spoiled me. I adored the keybord. It was easy to use and made texting really fast. The screen is quite good. Pictures where quite amazing on it. The phone in general was a looker.
  
  I didn't use many of the business features on it though, I had no use for them.
  
  The thing that made me hate this phone was talking on it and the fact that it loved to freeze up. Hearing on this phone was a task. I do agree that it made a better PDA than an actual phone. I hated being in the middle of saving something and the thing freezing up on me. It did it almost once a day for a while. I would have to remove the battery to make it work again.
  
  I went through a Slvr L7 ((which was junk)) and now have a Cingular 2125. I still consider the Treo a piece of junk ((for freezing purposes)) and am glad I didn't pay money for it. However, I do still keep it in a drawer for a back-up phone....more info
• Better than I expected
  I have to say...I was a little nervous about purchasing the Treo 650, but it had all the options I wanted and when I upgraded my phone through cingular, it was the right price, so i went for it!!! I have to say, I have not been disappointed. I have had it for 2 weeks now. The sound quality is great. I have been using the headset that came with it and I have had no complaints from clients that they could not hear me! I love Palm and this is my 3rd Palm. Overall....I am very happy with it!!!!!...more info
• PDA CASES
  Magnetic Cases cause damage to phones internally, alot of people don't know this but it is true. If your case for the PDA is held together by a magnet that might be the reason for frequent dropped calls. My suggestion is if you want the PDA to work to its full potential, when buying a case buy a non-magnetic one. ...more info
• Disappointed
  I've owned the Treo 650 for a better part of two years. The first six months was nothing but a struggle as the poorly designed PalmOS crashed repeatedly and "hard." As a person who has owned a Palm III and Palm V and loved both, it looks to me that the PalmOS is on its last legs, and is showing its age. Multitasking isn't available, and little things like receiving a text message while on the phone confuse the thing.
  
  It tries to be a PDA, it tries to be a phone. It excels at neither.
  
  This will be my last PalmOS device. There are better designs and more modern software out there on other platforms.
  
  Jeff Hawkins' "Zen of Palm" is truly RIP with this device. ...more info
• Both Palm and Cingular STINK !!!
  If you have a palmTreo 600 do NOT feel obligated to upgrade to a 650. The 650 is an inferior product. I am coming from a palmTreo 600 with AT&T service (see my review of that product) to a palmTreo 650 with Cingular service.
  
  First, the phone. I originally gave the Treo 600 three stars. The PDA was great, but the reception was just o.k. I did not experience any of the dropped call problems or crashes, but maybe I got lucky with the unit I bought. The 650 in comparison constantly crashes and drops calls. However, the main reason I am giving the new Treo 650 only one star is because palm is cheating their customers for no reason. In designing the Treo 650, palm has changed everything from the 600. While change is ordinarily good, here the phone is pretty much the exact same (at least in function). There are no new bells and whistles that require an upgrade from the 600 to the 650. (I had to change phones because my AT&T plan ran out and Cingular would not let me use AT&T "equipment" - rip off !!!) What really bothers me about the Treo 650 is that nothing from the 600 is compatible with it. They changed the interlink port so that the battery charger, car charger and anything else that hooks up to the phone is different. Absolutely nothing between the 600 and the 650 is compatible. They even changed the dimensions of the 650 slightly ... just enough so that the expensive sleeve I bought for the 600 does not fit on the 650. How ridiculous is that??? What a waste. Palm shafted its returning customers with sand paper. I will never buy another palm product.
  
  As for Cingular, the poor performance of their customer services is only outdone by the quality of their phone services. How can they purchase all of the AT&T equipment and yet offer poorer service. Do not believe their adds, I never had so many dropped calls and poor reception as I have with Cingular. Further, the customer service people are useless in helping the consumer resolve problems. I was on the phone for 2 hours explaining that I did not need two family plans simultaneously that charged $89.99 and $49.99 per month. Duh ! Why was this so hard for them to comprehend. Part of the problem is that each phone has its own contract. So, even though you sign up for a family plan, your phone needs to be separately negotiated from your wives phone. What genius thought this system up. Anything to make life more difficult for the consumer.
  ...more info
• I like the Treo, but there are still bugs being worked out...
  It works pretty well. I got used to typing things (instead of Graffiti that I used on my old Palm) pretty quick. It's annoying when using an app that requires the stylus, now that I'm converted. I LOVE the fact that I now have my Palm and my phone all-in-one. They've done a really good job of making it possible to do most things from the keyboard. (The shortcut to alerts by holding down the center button was annoying, until I figured it out.)
  
  It *is* a little too big for a phone, and I sometimes find it hard to hear, if I'm not using a headset. (Get a wireless headset!!)
  
  My big problem, though, is that the software is still flaky. I put the latest OS on it (v1.15g), and it now likes to slow to a crawl and lock up every once in a while. (So far, about 3 times in the past week.) They also *still* haven't gotten it to work with my car, a BMW. The handsfree part works fine, but then the car tries to download the address book, and the Treo reboots.
  
  Overall, I still rate this device high. I just hope they fix the bugs. It would also be nice if they would provide the means to more easily debug which app is causing the problem....more info
• Doesn't live up to the hype!!!
  I purchased the Treo 650 in March. Several weeks after I had it it began freezing up. I received a replacement phone, it ended up doing the same thing. I received a third replacement phone, same problem. Avoid this phone and along with it the headaches. ...more info
• takes a little while, but worth it
  so i had a number of the problems already stated about this phone 1) the phone function turned off when i would do anything a little physical with it. 2) the phone would soft reset when a few "select" people would call me with them ending up with a "network failure" response. The first problem was solved by cutting out the outline of a sim card from an index card and placing it between the sim card and the tray to give it better support. the second problem was fixed by updating the firmware and clearing out the third party trial software. (may have been due to a trial version of ringo or agendus. would rather not speculate any further as my phone works fine now). So really, the phone isn't a problem, there may be a couple of bugs here and there from third party software, but the functionality of the phone is great, i love reading the ebooks i download on this phone while i'm on the train. MMplayer is a must if you download tv shows, avi movie files, etc. real player does come with the phone but theres nothing like watching entourage on your phone to impress your friends. a HUGE sd card is recommended as you would probably like to install the third party software directly onto the phone and leave your entire music/video collection on your sd card. I am contemplating on buying a 4gb sd card cuz i already have 1gb worth of music i rather not delete from my phone. Wifi is available for 150 more with a sled like device. Worth it if you don't want to enroll in a data plan and are constantly working around hotspots. I bought an extra battery cuz i thought i might need it but it lasts all day for me, even with above moderate consistent usage. (contact me if you want a spare). Overall, i am very satisfied with my phone...more info
• An excellent "one box" solution for busy executives
  My workplace wanted me to get a cell phone so that they could contact me when in transit between meetings. I had been fascinated by the idea of Blackberrys and Treos for quite awhile. One of my coworkers was upgrading to a Blackberry and was willing to let me use his Treo 650.
  
  I learned about Palm by using a Zire 72s (see my review). The Treo's applications were just enough different that it took me a few weeks to feel comfortable with it. However, I have come to enjoy the Treo and really like the capabilities.
  
  The real power of the Treo is that it allows you to combine your PDA and cell phone into one combined package. If you don't mind lugging around multiple gadgets, then the Treo may not appeal much to you.
  
  In no particular order, some of the issues that I have had are:
  * The price is just too high. If my work place hadn't "lent" me one, I never would have paid this much for a cell phone/PDA combo. The Treo must get its base price below $300 before I would consider buying one with my own money. Indeed, if the prices don't go down (or my workplace won't sell me the current phone at a discount when I leave); I will probably buy something like a TX and try to make "Skype" VOIP calls!
  * You really need to buy a screen protector especially if you have oily skin or wear lots of make-up.
  * As another reviewer has noted, the "Dint" sound every time there is a change in network status is really annoying. If you turn the sound off, then the vibrating mode is too weak for you feel it if the phone is in a coat pocket.
  * The amount of memory with this phone is a joke. You really need an SD card. The bigger the better. I plan on buying a 2 GHz SD card. I would buy a 4 GHz card if they made them yet. While this could have been alleviated if Palm had added a life drive, it may be that SD technology is growing at a faster rate than one would care to replace hard drives.
  * Data is just too pricey for now. Moreover, the times that I've played around with it, it is very slow like a 28.8 (or less) modem. On Palm's web page, you can buy a WiFi "Sled" - whatever that is - for between $129 - $149 dollars depending on sales and rebates. I'm not sure yet, but that might be something worth pursuing if you like data connectivity but don't want to use the pricey cell phone data plans.
  * There has been a lot of discussion about 2.5MM port for the headset. Apparently, 2.5MM is the standard for cell phones while 3.5MM is the standard for virtually every other portable device. In my case, this is not an issue. I'm not an "audiophile" so I simply use my cell phone ear piece to listen to MP3's. If that is an issue for you, you may consider getting a 2.5MM to 3.5MM conversion jack - they are sold at most Radio Shacks.
  
  Having used a Zire 72S and now a Treo 650, I find that I'm developing an opinion on what the ideal personal electronic device might look like in terms of capability. My completely subjective opinion of what the ideal personal electronic device would look like and some comments about how that compares to the Treo 650 are:
  * Ability to download and read books on-line: The Treo provides this via adobe acrobat reader. I find that I'm able to read a lot of material while riding the bus/subway or during other odd times just by keeping research materials on the Treo.
  * Ability to connect with printers, PDAs, cellphones, and computers wirelessly.
  o WiFi: Lack of WiFi is a real weakness of the Treo. I don't want to be locked into paying for an overpriced data network via the cell company. Even if I was willing to spend that much money for convenience sake, as a consumer, I should be able to switch to the faster WiFi networks when I happen to be in a hotspot.
  o Blue tooth: The Treo has this. I use this mostly to send files to between my Zire 72S. However, it is clear that if you give a little thought, one could cheaply use Bluetooth to build a wireless network in the home to tie cell phone, printer, and computer all into one tool. Moreover, some of the cars these days are coming out with blue tooth navigation systems that make this an intriguing option.
  o VOIP: Currently VOIP is growing in popularity because it is cheap. Again, as a consumer, I would like to be able to use WiFi hotspots to make free phone calls when possible. It may be possible to do this now with the right software, but I don't know how.
  * Personal scheduling information that can be shared with Outlook and other PIM programs: Palm has this down cold, the Treo is no exception.
  * Camera and Video Camera capability with a reasonable resolution. Treo has a 1 Mega pixel resolution camera. No flash. It is an interesting toy. I use it to take pictures of my luggage when I fly - "It looks like this, see." To take pictures of where I park and anytime I want to take an impromptu picture of something.
  * Contact information that can be shared with Outlook and other PIM programs. Again, Palm, including the Treo, has this down cold.
  * Ability to create, edit, modify, and view MS Word, Excel, and Powerpoint files. Documents to go on the Treo does this. If you are upgrading from older versions of Documents to go, you might accidently corrupt the files. This results in documents to go restarting your Treo every time you try to open a file.
  * Ability to synchronize all data files with work and home computers. The Treo does this well. However, I'm considering the efficacy of an external SD card reader for home or for work. Just seems that it takes most of the time hot synching to move adobe and word files.
  * Cell Phone: This is the real plus of having the Treo.
  * Ability to download audio and video clips and then listen/watch while on the go. I have yet to get a video file to work on the version of Realplayer on the Treo. Not sure what I'm doing wrong. I will continue to try and see what happens. There is some decent freeware for the videos and some third-party software, but will try that at some later point. In terms of audio files, I use itunes to download CSPAN, NPR, and PBS shows that I like. Once they are on the desktop, I use Realplayer to move the files to the Treo's SD card. Note: This is not intuitive, but strangely enough there are directions if you hit the help button on Realplayer on the Treo.
  * Capability to make long (eight hours or more) of digital voice recordings for seminars meetings or just to capture your bosses latest guidance on a project. This really bothers me. If the Treo could do this, I would be down to one and only one electronic device.
  
  Bottom line: I really like the Treo. I have learned how to do most, but not all the things that I need it to do. However, until it gets below $300, I do not think it is a good buy.
  ...more info
• Got a Lemon, but no problem exchanging it.
  The first Treo sent to me had problems with the touch screen and buttons. I was told, it was just a lemon. Some Treos are. Amazon was great about axchanging it, at no cost to me....more info
• Think carefully before buying Treo 600/650 phones
  I've been a Palm fanatic since the original Palm (then a Palm III, then a Palm V, then a Handspring Edge). When the Treo 300 came out, I got it with Sprint service. Loved the phone (still love the concept of these phones), but hated the Sprint service. The flip cover of the 300 was (and still is) probably one of the best features for protecting the phone, as well as a more comfortable fit when talking on the phone.
  
  Along came the Treo 600. Wow, I thought I was in heaven. With Cingular service it worked great for 7 months, then I had people ask me not to call them anymore because the phone buzzed and hummed and popped and crackled -- let me repeat that last bit: PEOPLE ASKED ME NOT TO CALL THEM FROM MY CELL PHONE, and they stopped calling me on my cell phone.
  
  Palm was great in sending out a replacement. Got replacement #1, it worked for about 4 months and then the buzz/hum/pop returned with a vengeance. Replacements 2, 3, and 4 did the same (averaging 2-4 months before failures). At about the time to replace #4, along came the 650.
  
  Wow, I was enchanted. Look at that resolution! Look at that wonderful color! What a GREAT improvment to the keyboard (yep, I've got big hands), and the directional button -- WOW, I was in love with a device. From a user interface perspective, the directional button was a quantum leap forward -- I hardly used the stylus anymore.
  
  The enchantment lasted for about 7 months. Then the phone would start to power off at random intervals. It seemed that I could cut off a call if my cheek came into contact with the screen (and yes, I had disabled the touch screen during calls). Now? Now the speaker works when it wants to (which seems to be getting more and more rare). I also have gotten back in touch with my "reset the Treo on a daily basis to make it work more consistently" -- a habit I'd hoped I'd left behind with my 600s. It also developed the habit of answering the phone as I removed it from its case (yes, the touch screen *is* disabled during calls) -- removing the option of deferring a call until later.
  
  Another issue I found from the beginning was that I would ask my daughter if I could borrow her phone (a low end Samsung) if I was having trouble getting a call through on my Treo 650. Her phone would consistently outperform connecting and holding the call.
  
  I LOVE the concept of the phones. The Palm philosophy of keeping things simple is wonderful. I've got it syncing with my Mac using iCal and Address Book and its life as an organizer is good. I just wish it would work as a phone.
  
  I'm now looking at replacing the phone it with a Sony Ericcson Z520a and keeping the 650 as an organizer -- an expensive organizer, but a good one.
  
  Perhaps if you're considering the 650, you'll think about saving money and getting a decent phone and a less expensive phone-less organizer....more info
• don't listen to the complaints - this phone rocks!
  I am in love with this phone!
  
  First off, the Palm functionality is wonderful! The address book and calendar all work excellently, and the cross-functions are great
  
  Improvements include SMS messaging, which is much faster and now includes hyperlinks for phone numbers and web addresses, unlike the Treo 600
  
  The web on here is faster ---- the screen is crisper
  
  However, BlueTooth is the BEST new feature ----- wireless data transfer is, usually, quick, and the wireless headphones are great
  
  Lastly - many have complained that the phone is too slow with its functions and unstable --- however, ever since the system software was updated to 1.12, it has made the phone much quicker and much more stable!
  
  Ordering a new phone today should come with that 1.12 software built into it, already
  
  I am a former Treo 300 and 600 user, and the 650 is a wonderful upgrade and worth every penny, considering the bluetooth and software improvements
  
  so buy it!!! - you won't be sorry
  
  PS - the Cardo Scala bluetooth earpiece is the best earpiece out there for this phone...more info
• Be careful
  You are probably better off buying this phone from a cingular store that will give you better support. If a serious phone problem comes up, amazon doesn't seem to provide much support like a store will.
  
  I've had the phone for 6 months:
  
  1) The PDA functionally is great.
  2) Phone volume is chronically too low.
  3) Phone reception is worse that what my roomates get with other phones. (They use the same Cingular service.) I added an external antenna to my phone so it would work in my room reliably.
  
  I think it's one of the best pda+phones on the market. I just wish palm would make the phone functionally better.
  
  Also, I don't like being tied to a single phone company for 2 years. If I were to buy the phone again, I would probably pay extra the unlocked kind that work with any company. ...more info
• A NOTE ON COMMON SENSE.....
  I've decided to write this in response to the numerous number of complaints in regards to the Treo 650 on Cingular Wireless.
  
  First, the Treo 650 is a wonderful pda/phone. It utilizes almost everything an individual might need. The only option that could be added to increase functionallity would be built in WIFI support or support for a WIFI SD slot adapter. That being my only complaint, and that I would say is hardly a complaint.
  
  Second, most of the issues people seem to have with this pda/phone seem to stem from the service provider (Cingular Wireless) and not the equipment itself. If you are having trouble w/ your service provide, please have the COMMON SENSE to at least complain appropriatly.
  
  Third, many of the ACTUAL equipment issues that people seem to have can be easily corrected. For example, many have complained about a low volume issue, this can be easily corrected by installing a volume management application from [...] . Also, as with any type of operating system, whether pda based or PC based, there is the issue of END-USER ERROR, meaning a vast majority of individuals experience problems due to their own lack of patience and inexperience.
  
  To sum it up, place blame where blame is actually due: The Service Provider & End-User Ignorence!!!!!!!!!!!!...more info
• Its the Swiss Army Knife of PDAs.
  Update: 05-12-2006
  ==================
  Six months and this phone is still going strong. I spent about a week visiting some family in Puerto Rico a few months back, and this phone worked very nicely down there. I even bought some small speakers so I could plug them into the Treo and listen to some music. (You'll need an adapter to go between regular headphone jack and the headset jack in the unit.) I used Documents-to-Go to write a review of a book I had read. And I'm really starting to like eBooks. I could buy several books and read them on the plane or when I had time to myself. Since my phone is almost always on me, some good reading is always there.
  
  Even with all these uses, (in addition to also being a cell phone) the batteries were almost always around 50% by the end of the day. There have been a few instances where I could safely skip a night of charging. And most importantly, Pocket Money is working extremely well on this unit.
  
  I did have rash of freezes and crashes earlier on the trip while I was using TomTom Road Navigator for the Treo. Eventually the TomTom program stopped even opening and I had to give up on having GPS navigation down there. But after I stopped using the program, the Treo didn't suffer any more problems. I've since come to the conclusion that the file that contained the road map for Puerto Rico must have been corrupted. I'm working with TomTom to hopefully resolve this.
  
  The one minor headache I get with my Treo is that about once every two weeks, the phone completely freezes. I'm not sure what causes this, and it requires that I push the reset button. (Pushing the reset button is not suppose to harm your data, and pushing it has never harmed any of the data stored in my Treo.) Once the unit restarts, everything runs fine and I forget about it... until it happens again.
  
  This phone is like a Swiss Army Knife and I can honestly say, I haven't thought of getting a new cell phone in the last 6 months. (Definitely a new record.)
  
  
  Update: 12-28-2005
  ==================
  It's been over a month since I got my Treo and I'm still pleased with its performance and usability. Some things I've found out since my first review:
  
  + The reason the backlight was turning off at 30 seconds (despite my setting of 2 minutes) was because of an update Cingular released this past summer. A new update has since been released (1.17cn? for Cingular customers) and details about the updates are on the PalmOne website. This update corrected the backlight issue.... well, almost. The backlight still reverts if I use my Bluetooth headset. Palm said it is aware of this so I guess we'll see what happens. I'm thinking this only affects certain models of headsets.
  
  So far, I've only had one reset and no freezes. The sound quality is still great and I think it got a little louder after I updated the firmware. Call clarity is still clear. People say they can hear me clearly and I can hear them fine. I wasn't expecting the speakerphone to work well, but it was great during a conference call I had recently. And the phone picks up Cingular's towers clearly.
  
  Even with all the features I use, battery life hasn't been an issue yet. With normal usage I average about 2 days before I need charge the phone. I've gone three days between charges at times. I keep the backlight at about 1/3 brightness, and it still makes it easy to read the screen.
  
  I've since installed a few other add-on programs, such as Documents-to-Go, eReader, and PDF Reader. Even with these programs the unit still has 9.3Mb of free space. All the documents, pictures, ebooks, videos, and music are kept on a 128mB SD Card. I'm amazed at how useful this device is becoming when I'm away from home.
  
  I also receive the PalmOne GPS Navigation program for the Treo and so far that's been a very interesting gadget to use. But that's a review for somewhere else. Some advice, though, if you get the navigation program (or a similar program), make sure to get a separate SD card for it and make it large. I got a 512mb card for that program and the Southeast US map alone ate almost 230mb. You can run palm programs from SD cards.
  
  I've had my run in with Cingular's customer service, and while it seems some of the folks there don't seem to know what they're doing, I've called a few who have been extremely helpful and courteous. And there are a ton of resources and user groups online. Prepare to be proactive in researching possible problems you may run into. I've found many answers to questions on those forums and learned a few interesting things too.
  
  I'm still very excited and pleased by this product and I'd definitely recommend it to anyone.
  
  
  === First Review === 11-16-2005 ===
  So far I've used this phone for just over a week, and there isn't much I can complain about. It's replacing my Nokia 6820 and my Handspring Visor, but now I won't need to carry both the Palm and phone around. The main, and pretty much only reason I even had a Palm PDA to start with was to use Handmark's Pocket Money program. I started using this program with my first PDA back in 2001 and it's become indispensable. With Pocket Money I can keep a running record of my financial activities. Its very useful for budgeting and having it portable means I can enter the information right after a swipe my debit/credit card. It has helped clear a few discrepancies with my bank.
  
  I was weary of getting the Treo because most user review sites feature a lot of polarized views with this product. People seem to either really like it, or hate it. But I couldn't resist when I noticed Cingular selling refurbished Treo 650 on their site for a great price. Once it arrived I simply popped my SIM card in and carefully transferred my files from the Visor to the Treo. Everything went well. I even got the email programs working nicely so that it transfers from my work POP email account.
  
  Except for a few minor scratches in the bottom of the unit, I haven't noticed anything wrong with the unit.
  
  
  The stuff I like about the Treo 650:
  
  1. The screen is very bright and clear. Almost painfully bright. I keep it at 1/3 brightness all the time.
  
  2. The auto key-guard feature is nice. Works just like a `keylock' on most cell phones.
  
  3. The audio quality on the Treo is very good, which surprised me. And people say they can hear me clearly.
  
  4. It works well with my "Logitech Mobile Freedom Bluetooth Headset." The sound quality on this headset is actually better when used on the Treo then on the Nokia. But the headset acts differently when used on the Treo. The Treo seems to connect to the headset only when a call is on or during the Bluetooth setup, but during phone standby, it disconnects from the headset. It will automatically reconnect when a call is made/received. The Nokia always kept the connection, regardless of call status. Either way, I can still answer calls from the wireless headset with the Treo.
  
  5. So far, the battery life has been good. I charge it every night, and usually the battery meter is over 3/ 4 full.
  
  6. I don't use this much, but the camera is one of the clearest and sharpest I've seen on mobile devices.
  
  7. I was surprised to find I could watch videos on this unit. Wow.
  
  
  The stuff that could use some improving on the Treo 650:
  
  1. I've noticed this several times on my unit, in certain applications, my unit automatically turns off the PDA after 30 seconds. This doesn't affect the phone part (the phone stays on and runs normally), but my auto-off for the PDA is set for 2 minutes. Sometimes it shuts off at 2 min, but I've caught it shutting down at 30 seconds. Its kind of annoying if I'm reading something, turn to enter info into the PDA and its already off. I'm not sure what this is though. I haven't read about it anywhere else.
  
  2. No voice dialing via Bluetooth headset. This disappointed me a bit. I could do it with my Nokia. Just push a button on your Bluetooth headset, speak the name and the Nokia would dial it. No need to touch the phone. The Treo doesn't have this feature. There is an add-on program, but you have to initiate a call to use the voice feature. Kind of defeats the purpose. Thankfully, the speed dial screen is large enough that a call can be started with minimal keystrokes. And you can answer calls on the Treo by pushing the button on the headset.
  
  
  I've had the Treo for about week and haven't encountered any situations where I would need to reset. Nor have I seen the unit try to reset itself. With my other palm units I was always trying out interesting programs like Hackmaster and DA Launcher to further customize the units. But I removed almost all of the programs and the only program that transferred over was Pocket Money. I'm hoping that not adding this apps to the Treo will keep it running better. I don't have much experience with corporate email programs either, so I'm not sure how they work on the Treo.
  
  I went from using a Handspring Visor with 8mb of memory to the Treo with 22mb (internal user memory) so memory hasn't become an issue for me, at least not yet. I'm sure video and picture files, not to mention Word documents and MP3s will change that, but there is SD card slot, so I don't see why.
  
  I know I haven't owned it for long but so far, I can't complain about the Treo 650. But I will keep updating this review as I continue to use this unit. If you're planning on getting one, do your research though. Check what people are saying here and in other user review boards. As a wireless service, the Cingular network is great, but their custom service is a bit lacking.
  
  If you are looking into getting one, I recommend giving this model a shot.
  ...more info
• Does NOT WORK with Vista 64bit
  I have a Treo 650. I just bought a new laptop that came with Vista 64bit. Little did I know that NO PalmOne product is compatible with Vista 64bit and they (by the words of one of their customer reps today)are not working on a fix. Now I'm going to have to buy a new phone if I want to be able to sync. More and more new systems are shipping with Vista 64bit and many people are caught unaware of this fact. Please know if you buy this phone, it will not work with Vista 64bit as of the date of this review....more info
• Great
  good coverage good mail programs good data network better address book and contacts than most phones the sky is the limit...more info
• For cell phone function it rates as one star.
  The good thing about the Treo 650 is that it does so much. The bad thing is that it functions as a phone rather poorly and the help with problems of which there are many is also poor whether from palm or cingular. Some of the many problems for which there is no "help" include;
  The phone function will turn itself off if it is jarred ever so slightly and if it is on silent mode you will not know your phone is off.
  It locks up frequently so that you have to open the battery cover and hit the reset button then wait for it to reload, then turn the cell phone function back on and wait for it to find a signal.
  It frequently turns itself off after hitting the send button when trying to dial a call.
  Once a week, the screen doesn't turn on, again having to resort to the reset button.
  So before you buy one consider a couple times a week going through all this to make a simple phone call. It is almost comic to watch.
  Also the internet is too slow to be practically useful.
  The product should have had these issues already worked out prior to bringing it to market. Any other product in other than the computer business would never be considered acceptable for sale in such a poor stage of development. The Treo 650 pales in comparison to all previous basic cell phones I have owned when it comes to the reliability of making or receiving a call. ...more info
• One of the best phones ever.
  I recently recieved my TREO from Amazon a few days ago and like it but not love it as much as I would like to. First and foremost I took the "im extending my contract route" which is very much worth it considering that you preety much get the phone for penny's as apposed to going to an actual Cingular store and throwing $200-$300 dollars away, the only catch to this is that your stuck with Cingular for 2 years.So I receive my phone sooner than what was expected which was a plus and I had a few unanswered question in my head so (I HATE doing this) called Amazon customer service, and just as I suspected they were not as knowledgable as one would like them to be. Amazon then reffered me to Cingular customer service and they were probably worse!for a second I thought the lady I spoke to was mentally challenged, she didnt really give me straight answers and just kept agreeing with me. Anyhow I figured out what I had to do. One thing I did like was that it arrived before schedule which I was more than happy to receive. Changing from a regular phone to a PDA phone will take some time getting use to, I was use to using one hand, this phone is a bit bulkier than a regular phone so text messaging will deffinitely consist of using two hands. This phone is deffinitely worth getting if you like your phone to have alot of bells and whistles, I recently installed an NES/GB emulator in it and am loving it. This phone has everything you need for entertainment and is recommended especially for the price. One thing I am going to say that occasionaly it does soft reset,why? I dont know. It takes about 10 seconds to reset, I wish it wouldnt but other than that this could be the best phone arround.And lastly use third party programs/software at your own discretion! my buddy gave me a program called "ringo" (ringtone maker)for my Treo and I almost had a cardiac arrest when it wasnt accepting calls! after reading the manual I did a system reset and come to find out it was ringo that was causing the inconvenience. Ringo apparently doesnt work for the Cingular Treo 650 but does with my buddy's Sprint Treo 650. If anyone has questions/comments you are more than welcome to let me know....more info
• Very Disappointed
  The most expensive cell phone I have ever owned, and the worst cell phone I have ever owned. Yes, I know it is a PDA, but I had thought that of all the functions, the easiest to get right would be the tech piece that is the most mature.
  
  Reception is routinely poor, regardless of the number of "bars" indicated. The phone has to be reset frequently, usually doesn't ring when there is an incoming call, often drops calls (again, even with a good signal).
  
  I have no third party applications running, the latest firmware (had high hopes for the last version; no improvement) and a new SIM tray with a ridge built in to ensure good contact. Still have the same problems.
  
  Lastly (and this is entirelly a matter of personal preference), if you have great expectations for internet access, you might want to try it out first. Slow doesn't begin to describe it, even for PDA friendly sites (Cingular's included).
  
  Although I really want to like the phone due to the fact that the potential is ideal for my business needs, it is becoming too problematic to deal with.
  
  One Note though: Some nice person has mentioned about some Cingular SIMS perhaps working better than others. I will give that a try...but for the money, I shouldn't really have to....more info
• Cingular Service is great, but the phone...well....
  I have had the Treo 650 for quite some time, and if the following were changed, I could live with it...
  1) Volume, can't live with it being this low and crappy. I have a 3rd party program on here to try and fix the issue and it is no help. 3 different bluetooth headsets, no help either.
  2) Stability, this thing does a reset for literally no reason other than it wants to.
  
  If/when the 700p or the rumored Hollywood makes it's debut on GSM, then I might consider it, otherwise I might switch to a blackberry 8700c, but paying 44.99 for the blackberry data plan is highway robbery vs the 19.99 I play for the unlimited media plan, and it is the same thing...
  
  I will say this, if you are thinking about getting a Treo, it is a crap shoot on whether you are getting a stable phone. It is a great device that allows you to have everything in one place: phone, contacts, data, email, etc...however the platform stability is horrible...
  Good luck if you buy one...
  ...more info
• I found it very easy to use.
  I am not a gadget person, and I was a little put off when my husband bought me this PDA, But I have come to love it! It does take a bit of a learning curve. but once you figure it out you wont want to be with out it!...more info
• TREO 650 REVIEW
  Treo 650
  
  Design - The deisign of the phone is awesome, not to large, and the keypad is small but still very easy to use. With the screen being 320px it's large enough to see anything just fine.
  
  Features (Text Messaging, Multimedia Messaging, Ringtones, Games, etc.) - This phone is packed with features. Anything I basically want to download I can put on this phone. Anything that a computer has, my phone can get. I use Text Messages, and Email the most.
  
  Battery Life - The battery life isn't so bad, due all the features on the phone. You would think that the battery wouldn't last a day. Although i do charge it every night, it will last 2 - 3 days without needing charged. Even if i watch a movie with the SD card.
  
  Call Quality - This could be improved, but I am sure it is with the update that i have not done yet. I get great reception at times, but then it just drops.
  
  Overall Opinion - The phone is great. I can't wait for the windows version to come out. Right now it's only available for Verizon, but hopefully Cingular will pick it up....more info
• How to set the volume to "outdoor?"
  My Treo's volume is really low (even the speakerphone can be hardly heard). I have heard that the volume could be set as an "OUTDOOR" model. HOw can this be done? Thanks....more info
• Good but could be great with a few changes..
  I've had my treo 650 for about 8mos, so I wanted to share my experience. I won't go over all the specifications, because you can see those anywhere. Instead, I'll give my impression. First, the treo is very easy to navigate; even the less technically-saavy could pick one up and operate it well in a short time. The phone aspect is very good, but you MUST purchase the Volume Care software at mytreo.com or some other provider. Without it,I could barely hear the person talking to me. With it, the speakerphone is extremely loud, too. Treo has no voice control, which I missed, but you can purchase software that may work well for that purpose. Battery life is about 5-6 hours, but I rarely used the power-draining internet or bluetooth. As for web searching, forget it. The browser is s-l-o-w. The camera takes decent pictures outdoors, but the quality really suffers indoors. I do like the sim drawer and the SD card slot on the top of the phone - very easy access to both. I filled up the internal memory of the device in little time, so a hefty SD card would be advisable. I did not download any songs, but the Real player feature is nice. I had a little trouble connecting the bluetooth to my computer, but that may be because my puter is older and I had to use a USB bluetooth adapter. Eventually, it did connect. Syncing with the computer is a breeze with the sync cable provided. I eventually bought the cradle -it can charge an extra battery. The device fits comfortably in my hand, but is very smooth and heavy; thus can be a little slippery. I always feared dropping it, but haven't yet. The keyboard is cramped but that's not really an issue for me although I have large fingers. The stylus is conveniently placed on top of the device. All in all, I have enjoyed my treo but am switching to a Torq P120 for voice controls, Windows Mobile, and wi-fi. I've had the Torq for a few days, and so far, I like it better than the treo.
  Pros: - wow factor (my kids' friends were impressed)
  - good quality phone and decent camera
  - Looks and feels very substantial and 'rich' looking
  - reliable for me - very few 'crashes' and no other issues
  - lots of Palm treo software available
  - ease of use
  Cons: - No wi-fi or voice control
  - Pricey to replace if lost, stolen, or dropped
  - No Windows Mobile (although that's debatable as a con)
  
  Impression: excellent phone for an individual, but for heavy business use it might not be the best choice.
  
  Hope this helps; I know how agonizing a cell-phone choice can be.
  ...more info
• Not a good phone
  I have owned this phone for about four months now. The signal quality is poor. I have to strain to hear. The calls drop out regularly. Often after a couple of rings the phone stops ringing. I am quite seriously unhappy with this phone. Now here is the really awful part, there is no easy way to dial someone from the contact list. No easy way to scroll and dial. The dial button is often not available on the contacts. Basically the Palm part is not integrated with the phone, they are two separate devices. ...more info
• Cell phone
  I've had this phone for a little over a year. Never got the promised rebate. It died. ATT refuses to fix it. Only solution is to buy a new one. Yeah right! It is a pitty but ALL US cell phone companies are the pond scum of American business. I've had a cell phone form the start of the technonlgy,1984, and ha ve had several carriers. All dishonest....more info
• Worst phone ever **DO NOT YOU BUY***Two cans and a string work better!!
  I read all the negative reviews and thought, "how bad can it be?" Answer, worse then you can ever imagine. This is not a PDA phone, its a PDA. The phone simply doesnt work, so dont waist your time trying. It gets NO reception anywhere, drops calls when it does get reception, and has horrible sound quality. The speaker phone is great, if you have superhuman hearing abilities and you dont mind if the person on the other can't hear you.
  
  If you plan on getting a Treo get ready for a whole lot of "ha", "what did you say," "sorry, I cant hear you" let me call you back on a land line.
  
  I make and recieve 125+ calls a day, take it from me, it doesnt work. Oh, and dont bother calling treo, worst customer support in the world.
  
  Oh, and for those of you who say I just got a bad phone, try again - I purchased my first 650 10 months ago and I am on MY FOURTH REPLACEMENT PHONE!!! They are all worthless. You would be better off with two cans and a string. ...more info
• Phone Is Plagued with Problems- Don't Buy!!!
  I do not recommend this device to anyone looking for a reliable phone. As a PDA, it's fine. As a phone, it is the worst I've ever experienced...except when in Europe where for some unexplained reason, the phone works flawlessly. In the US, it's useless.
  
  The voice quality is terrible. Speaker phone is useless. Calls cut out and drop CONSTANTLY. No one can hear you.
  
  Cingular's customer service is hopeless. No one knows anything and no one including supervisors cannot make decisions on how to rectify problems with this phone.
  
  After spending countless hours on the phone with Cingular pleading to them to replace my phone, they finally did. They sent me another TREO that was R-E-F-U-R-B-I-S-H-E-D and worse than the original TREO I had.
  
  After a second phone I gave up!!!! I came so close to smashing this phone against a wall! After pleading with Cingular they finally agreed to send me an HP iPAQ 6515 (NEW) which I absolutely love.
  
  Cingular will not admit problems with this phone. Save yourself a lot of time and aggravation...don't buy a Treo 650. Get yourself an iPAQ 6515 which comes with the added bonus of a GPS built in. Navigation system is great and the phone actually works!
  
  ...more info
• Great PDA Phone
  this phone does all I ever wanted: contact management. I tried the 8125, and the Sidekick. Both were a waste of time. Warning: if you have a Palm-based PDA and you are going to U/G to this of the 700(w/p) remove the old palm software first. Just trust me. OK the only reason why I give this 4 not 5 stars?
  
  1) the sync cable should be USB 2.0...period!
  2) the speakerphone is the worst.
  3) no flash on the camera.
  
  All are minor but need to be stated.
  ...more info
• Be careful about the amazon mail in discount
  First things first - this is a great phone/pda. However, the phone locks up sometimes (i.e. you cannot dial becasue it is frozen.). It comes alive after few minutes. This happens rarely but is frustrating.
  
  Also, dont depend on the amzon mail-in gift certificate. After painstakingly assembling all the required information over several months and mailing it in, I get a one-line response saying I cannot get the check because "palmone cingular service cancelled, product returned, or ineligible". This is BS. Buy the phone from a cingular store instead of amazon....more info
• great PDA/phone for 200 bucks
  i just upgraded from a palm 505 to this PDA.
  So far I'm impressed.
  PDA: easy to get around programs without stylus, best screen i've seen yet, reads memory card very fast, easy to use keyboard
  
  Phone: good reception, no complaints about sound quality, easy to speed dial, easy to manage contacts, speakerphone adequate.
  biggest complaint, more slippery than wet fish, prone to doing nose dives out of your hand....more info
• The worst phone ever
  The Treo 650 is a great connected PDA, but it does not cut it as a phone.
  
  I have been using my Treo 650 with Cingular service for quite some time. When it comes to using it as a regular phone, it is the worst phone I have ever owned. The quality of the line, the number of dropped calls and the user interface are all significantly inferior to any other phone I have used.
  
  If all you care about are data services and / or PDA functionality, go for it. If, you mostly need a phone, go for another device.
  ...more info
• Jameson Thottam review on Palm Treo 650
  Jameson Thottam review on Palm Treo 650
  
  I feel comfortable writing a review on this thing now that I've owned/used it for a couple months.
  
  I have several friends who own the 600, and they are envious of my model. They say the camera is way better (actually usable). They LOVE the screen - easy on the eyes. They also appreciate the bluetooth.
  
  Personal Thoughts by Jameson Luke Thottam
  I personally think it's great. I've carried a top notch phone and Pocket PC (a bio-secure IPAQ) for years, and I love having this "all-in-one." It HAS had a few hickups - mostly when it was brand new and I was pressing buttons and loading software like a schoolboy at Christmas.
  
  Jameson L Thottam regarding Applications on the Palm Treo 650
  All of the applications have worked reliably. I pop my GMAIL through Versamail, and it works well. I've received pictures, Word docs, and Excel sheets that all work fine. I've use my camera to take pictures of water damage on my ceiling to get the service folks to fix it. I've connected without trouble to several different bluetooth headsets. I've even used the wireless keyboard to chat with an IM program while listening to streaming audio with a media program. I bought movie tickets over the web while at dinner, saved the barcode on screen, and had the movie ticket attendant scan my electronic ticket purchase right off the screen of my Palm. I've checked the balance of my bank account while out to eat. I pulled a defenition of a word that we couldn't agree on the meaning of. Awesome.
  
  Experiences with Customer Service by Jameson Thottam
  Customer service is going to be tough, it seems, whether you go to Cingular or to Palm. However, most of the info you need is posted on the PalmOne website.
  
  Summary points by Jameson Thottam
  I'm a huge tech fan. I'm the guy who had the Laptop hardwired into the car for GPS and Movies. I'm the one that always had the newest Palm cellphone. I've dealt with a ton of failed products. - But this is not one of them. Educate yourself, go to the web when you have trouble, be patient, and this powerfull tool will prove to be one of your favorites!
  
  Jameson Thottam...more info
• Good phone, but the carrier branding detracts from it.
  I contributed a review for the "Unlocked Treo 650", but I felt compelled to add a few thoughts specific to Cingular branded version.
  
  Because it's Cingular branded, that means you will only be able to use it on the Cingular network until your initial contract is up. Then, with some tooth pulling, Cingular will give you the codes to unlock the phone so you can use it on any GSM network worldwide by swapping the SIM card. All carriers engage in this annoying behavior.
  
  A word about Carriers: I only use GSM because I travel abroad frequently - in the USA, this limits me to Cingular and Tmobile. I have used both, and I have found that Cingular's network coverage is more complete, especially in rural areas, but Tmobile's network sounds better. It's a tradeoff - with Tmobile, you'll drop the call more often, but with Cingular you'll say "what?" more often. Their coverage is about equal in big cities and along major highways. International roaming is less expensive with Tmobile, plus Cingular has a few hurdles in place that prevent you from enabling international roaming on your account if you've been with them for less than 6 months. Verizon and Sprint use a cellular technology that is US-only, their phones are therefore useless abroad.
  
  The Cingular Treo 650 and the Unlocked Treo 650 are identical from a hardware perspective. But in exchange for a heavily subsidized smartphone, you have to accept a few intentional software shortcomings: Cingular has disabled the ability for you to use the phone as a (Bluetooth or wired) modem for your computer. Also, the Cingular branded phone has applications that must be paid for if you want to use them, and you can't delete them from the phone. I resent that.
  
  To briefly talk about the phone, when it was released, it was very unstable, but recent firmware revisions have significantly improved the phone's stability and dramatically improved its Bluetooth functionality. I would now recommend the phone.
  
  The following data is copied from my review of the "Unlocked Treo 650":
  
  Here are the phone's pros: in your pocket, you have your address book, datebook, notes, e-mail, a low-res still and video camera, a very nice sms interface that threads sms exchanges by contact, a web browser, and an mp3 player. The QWERTY keyboard makes typing much faster than a standard phone. The interface is unique and you will need a little time to get used to it, but once you do you will be as efficient at quick-dialing and keeping up with daily use as on any other phone. Also, this phone is a quad-band GSM which means that it will work very well abroad, unlike the more common tri-band GSM phones, which don't perform as well. (Remember, if you get a Treo Smartphone from Verizon or Sprint, it will not work abroad.) The screen on the Palm version is brilliant. The Windows version is not as sharp - a limitation imposed by the operating system. Also, GSM technology uses "SIM" cards, which means you can simply change out the "SIM" and use your phone on another network or another phone number, either domestically or while abroad. (You might have a phone locked onto a carrier's network until your contract commitment is complete, but that's something you can sort out on your own).
  
  Here are the phone's cons: I said "in your pocket" because if you mount this thing on your belt, the bulge may force you to make alterations on your sport jacket. Also, in an age of identity theft and information security, you should think long and hard about just how much information is in there. Believe me, the phone quickly becomes a place to store passwords, account information, customer information, etc. Consider how you will feel if you leave it in a restaurant, or if it's stolen.
  
  Here are lesser cons that can be worked around: The beauty of these palm phones is that they're so popular; other people have had whatever problem you might encounter, and they've written software to address / fix / work around the issue. For example, I found that the phone's volume is not loud enough. There is 3rd party volume software to fix that, as well as software that allows you to use the phone as a Bluetooth modem for your computer. Some software is freeware, some is shareware, and some is for purchase. The key is that there are so many forums and resources on the Internet that you can search around and find the answers that you need, and the phone allows you to install and uninstall with as much ease as with your home PC.
  
  Thoughts about newer Treo phones: The 650 now costs a little less because the Treo 700w and 700p have come out. This is a good thing, because I don't see the 700 having any new features that make the upgrade a "must". Other than a slightly redesigned appearance and interface, and higher resolution camera, the phone's features are basically identical. Also, as of the Summer 2006, the Treo 700 is only available on CDMA networks. The Treo folks have staggered the release of GSM and CDMA models to give the all carriers a turn at exclusivity.
  
  Looking to the future, there is speculation that the next generation Treo phone will be a GSM, it will be thinner, lighter, and the antenna will be internal - basically, it will more resemble a blackberry on the outside. These are much sought after features by Treo users. Maybe I'll upgrade then.
  
  In conclusion, only 3 stars for this phone because of the Cingular branding and also because the product wasn't ready for market when they released it. It's much better now; if they had initially released the current product without Cingular branding, I would have given it 5 stars. Going forward, the intensifying competition in the smartphone market will prevent them from releasing a marginal product - there are now too many feature-rich alternatives with Blackberry, Motorola and Nokia. That being said, there will always be a loyal base of people like myself who have used and have relied on palm devices since they first came out 10 years ago. I hope my perspective helps you with your decision....more info
• Good Instrument - with significant imperfections
  I have been using Palm Treo650 (Cingular) for the last 2 months and I should say I don't have any major regrets about my choice. But palmTreo 650 certainly fails when it comes to quality of the calls - the volume is very low (Even at the highest volume setting) and in most of the cases you would have issues in hearing to the other person clearly(vice versa). This is really pathetic for an expensive product like palmTreo. But there is a solution - installing a 3rd party s/w called VolumeCare (which costs you around $20).
  
  What really bothers me is - When palmTreo has an issue with the volume (which is very well identified by 99% of the consumers), why can't palm have a s/w like - VolumeCare installed in the instrument as a default app. Why consumers need to suffer, then reserach & find some 3rd party s/w for an additional $20? It's hightime palmOne recognizes this volume issue and fixes it on thier end rather than indirectly promoting a 3rd party s/w product!!...more info