Palm launched today Foleo, its first smartphone, which offers advanced features and applications. “Foleo is the most exciting product I have ever worked on,” said Jeff Hawkins, founder of Palm, Inc. and the visionary behind the Foleo’s concept and definition. “Smartphones will be the most prevalent personal computers on the planet, ultimately able to do everything that desktop computers can do. However, there are times when people need a large screen and 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.”

Foleo has a Linux-based OS, a WiFI module, a USB port, video-out port, headphone jack, and slots for SD and compact flash cards for memory expansion. Thanks to its a large screen and full-size keyboard, Foleo is ideal for viewing and editing e-mails and common documents such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF files

“As we did with the PalmPilot more than a decade ago, and more recently with the Treo smartphone, Palm is driving innovation and capitalizing on emerging opportunities in mobile computing, a market full of potential,” said Ed Colligan, president and chief executive officer of Palm, Inc. “The Palm Foleo represents our first product in a new line of solutions that will redefine how people work while away from their desks. It starts today with a focus on wireless email, and we expect the Foleo to grow in features and expand its capabilities as the platform grows.”

Weighing 2lbs, with a 10.2 in screen and a five hour battery life, Foleo is intended as a smaller, faster, alternative to the laptop. Also, the Foleo is meant to support a wide array of smartphone products, not just the Treo, like Windows Mobile devices. Palm also believes that it won't be long before there's full Blackberry support, Symbian and even Apple.  The price of the Foleo mobile companion is expected to be $499.

Primary Capabilities and Attributes of the Foleo Mobile Companion

 
    * One-button access to full-screen email
    * Instant on, instant off
    * Rapid access to various applications
    * 10-inch screen and full-size keyboard
    * Web search and browsing via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi
    * Editors for Word, Excel and PowerPoint, plus a PDF viewer
    * Compact, stylish design that fits on an airline tray table
    * Lightweight at 2.5 pounds
    * Fast, simple and intuitive navigation
    * 5-hour battery life
    * Linux OS for easy application development