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Palm Furthers Initiative for a Hands-free, Fashionable Lifestyle with New Accessories

ORLANDO, Fla.--Reaffirming its position as a leader in mobile technology, Palm, Inc. today announced the newest additions to its line of hands-free accessories, including three car kits and a new combination GPS/hands-free speakerphone solution available for a variety of Palm® Treo™ smartphones. These accessories further Palm’s initiative to provide customers with tools to make their mobile experience simple and safer, especially while driving.

Approximately 25 percent of accidents in the United States are caused by driver distraction(1), which includes cell phones and other handheld devices. Five states, including New York, California and Washington, D.C., are currently enforcing, or intending to in the near future, a ban on the use of cell phones without hands-free features while driving. Six other states, including Michigan, New Mexico and Ohio, have the same law in place for certain jurisdictions.

In August 2006, Palm announced it would support the California bill and believes the bill responsibly addresses evidence that wireless-phone use increases the risk of accidents. As the first handset company to support the California bill, Palm felt that its passage could be instrumental in leading other states to follow suit and improve driving safety.

Available immediately are a number of hands-free, installation car kits for use with a variety of Palm Treo smartphones. These kits offer clear voice performance and such functions as Auto Answer. In states that have hands-free laws, these car kits also meet the legal standards for use while driving, and the professionally installed cradle holds the Treo smartphone securely in place.

  • The Comfort Plus DSP Hands-free Car Kit: An affordable option for Treo 680 and Treo 750 customers, this kit has an estimated U.S. street price of $199.
  • The Take&Talk DSP Cradle + CarTalk Hands-free Car Kit: This kit enables Treo 680 and Treo 750 users to enjoy many functions, including DSP (Digital Signal Processing) technology, which cuts noise and echo for clear voice performance, and an extended antenna for greater network sensitivity. This product has an estimated U.S. street price of $259.
  • Take&Talk DSP Hands-free Car Kit Cradle: This product is for existing THB Bury UNI System 8 car kit users who are ready to switch over to a Treo 650 or Treo 700 series smartphone. This product has an estimated U.S. street price of $149.

Palm also announced the GPS Navigator Car Kit, which includes an integrated GPS and a hands-free speakerphone. Treo 680 and Treo 700p smartphone customers can get voice-guided, turn-by-turn directions, or keep in touch with friends and family, all the while keeping their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel. With this simple-to-use device, users just pop in a 1GB memory card preinstalled with a map of the continental United States and Canada to launch TomTom NAVIGATOR. The estimated U.S. street price is $299.(2)

“Palm is committed to accessorizing Treo smartphones with technologies that promote a hands-free and safer lifestyle,” said Jim Schwabe, senior director for handhelds and accessories at Palm. “Palm creates its accessories so that they are both functional and fashionable, appealing to Treo users around the world.”

Palm will also have available new cases to dress up and protect customers’ Treo smartphones:

  • Treo Air Case and Holster – Compatible with Treo 680 and Treo 750 smartphones, this case is strong yet lightweight, and practically invisible. It is made of durable polycarbonate and is sleek, smooth and strong. It can be used alone to protect the Treo smartphone or with the holster for easy access. This product has an estimated U.S. street price of $25.
  • Vaja Classic Pouch – Compatible with Treo 680 and Treo 750 smartphones, these stylish cases come in a variety of colors, have magnetic snap closure and slots for SD and Mini SD cards. The Vaja cases are made of full-grain Argentine leather. Pricing starts at $65.
  • eNOVO by EB – This top-loading case was crafted especially to hug the contours of the Treo 680 and Treo 750 smartphones to provide sleek, semi-rigid protection. It is made from supersoft, fine-grain leather, and the removable cover and belt-clip system give customers multiple options for use.

A social media news release version of today's announcement is available at http://socialnews.palm.com/. The social media news release contains “Web 2.0” features, including subscription via RSS, multimedia downloads, commenting, track-backing, links to social bookmark sites and other resources.

About Palm, Inc.

Palm, Inc., a leader in mobile computing, strives to put the power of computing in people’s hands so they can access and share their most important information. The company’s products for consumers, mobile professionals and businesses include Palm® Treo™ smartphones and Palm handheld computers, as well as software, services and accessories.

Palm products are sold through select Internet, retail, reseller and wireless operator channels throughout the world, and at Palm Retail Stores and Palm online stores (http://www.palm.com/store).

More information about Palm, Inc. is available at http://www.palm.com.

(1) Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

(2) GPS Navigator available in North America and Western Europe only.

Palm and Treo are among the trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to Palm, Inc. All other brand and product names are or may be trademarks of, and are used to identify products or services of, their respective owners.