Hands-On: Palm Centro for AT&T

Today AT&T announced the availability of the Palm Centro, a device that was initially released on Sprint's CDMA network. We reviewed the original Centro in-depth already, but we wanted to go over a few of the differences that users can expect when they pick up one of the AT&T flavored models.

For starters, the AT&T version runs on GSM/EDGE networks - all four of the major GSM frequency bands, that is. What is lacking, though, is 3G support of any kind, something that the Sprint Centro had thanks to EV-DO compatibility. So while AT&T Centro users can roam the globe and get a signal most anywhere, they will be limited to relatively slow data rates. That might be a good tradeoff for folks that travel internationally often, but it could make AT&T's Centro a harder sell for those people that tend to stay in North America.

The most obvious, and perhaps least significant, change that people will see in the new Centro variant is the white with green accents color scheme. Initially this is the only color that AT&T will offer the Centro in, but we have been told that a black version of the Centro will be available within a month or so. From my perspective, I'm pretty pleased with the white version when compared to the garish red that Sprint offers.

The rest of the differences between the Sprint and AT&T Centro devices are in the software. Mostly in carrier related services, to be exact. For example, the AT&T version has links for downloading the MobiTV and Music ID applications. There is also support for AT&T's Xpress Mail, which lets users link up with personal mail accounts (e.g. IMAP, Gmail, Hotmail) as well as get access to corporate email accounts that use Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Domino. XpressMail can also synchronize calendar entries with the Centro. It is worth noting, however, that the include VersaMail application can already synchronize with Exchange servers, though it doesn't support folders very well. Two other services worth mentioning that the AT&T Centro supports are push to talk and the AT&T Music service.

Specifications for the Palm Centro
Operating System Palm OS 5.4.9
Band GSM 850/900/1800/1900MHz
Data GPRS/EDGE
Size 107mm x 53mm x 18mm
(4.2" x 2.1" x 0.7")
Weight 119g (4.2oz)
Battery Life Up to 12.5 standby
Up to 4.5 hours talk time
Main Display 2.2" 65k color TFT LCD touchscreen, 320x320 pixel resolution
Camera 1.3 megapixel
Video Video capture/playback
Messaging MMS/SMS/IM
Email POP/IMAP/SMTP
Bluetooth Yes, v1.2
Memory 64MB RAM, microSD memory card slot
Availability Now
Other QWERTY keyboard, speakerphone, web browser