Palm Update for Treo 700wx coming this Summer
Overview — Thanks to coolgirl, we've become aware of some upcoming updates for the Treo 700wx, Sprint Centro, and the Verizon Treo 755p (see Centro and 755p details here). Some internal training slides have been leaked onto the internet that detail the updates.
Context & Ripple Effects
Palm's aging Treo line has been kept alive through carrier partnerships rather than new hardware: the Treo 700wx arrived on Sprint back in 2006, and the Verizon Treo 755p launched only months ago. Now leaked internal training slides suggest Palm is preparing summer software updates for the 700wx, the Sprint Centro, and the Verizon 755p — a sign the company is maintaining its installed base rather than abandoning it. The leak itself continues a familiar pattern for this product family, following earlier leaked Treo images that surfaced ahead of official announcements.
First-order effects
- Sprint Treo 700wx owners can expect a firmware/software update this summer, with the same leaked slides pointing to updates for the Sprint Centro and Verizon Treo 755p.
- The fact that internal training materials exist means carrier support staff at Sprint and Verizon are already being prepped for these rollouts — an indicator the updates are near-term, not aspirational.
Second-order effects
- Extended software support lengthens the usable life of Windows Mobile and Palm OS Treos on both carriers, which could slow upgrade cycles and soften demand for replacement hardware in the short term.
- Sprint and Verizon will need to coordinate distribution and support for the updates across their device lineups, making carrier certification and push logistics the bottleneck for when users actually see them.
Third-order effects
- If Palm keeps investing in maintenance releases for legacy devices, it signals a strategy of defending its loyal installed base while the platform's future is decided — buying time, but not necessarily reversing the Treo line's decline against newer smartphone platforms.
- The recurring reliance on leaked internal materials (training slides, product images) to learn about Palm's roadmap underscores how little formal communication surrounds late-cycle devices, leaving enthusiast sites like TreoCentral as the de facto information channel.
The trend: As established mobile platforms mature, vendors increasingly compete on post-launch software support and installed-base retention rather than new-device launches alone.