Verizon Makes Treo 700p Available

With competition looming and another hot new smartphone waiting in the wings, Verizon Wireless Monday made the recently announced Palm Treo 700p available to subscribers.

The new Treo is based on the Palm OS platform and supports Verizon Wireless' 3G 1xEV-DO cellular data network, which provides typical speeds of about 500 Kbps. Besides accessing the Internet via EV-DO on the Treo itself, the device also can be used as a modem enabling laptops to access the 3G network.

Verizon's Web site says the cost of the device is $500 with a two year contract and $550 with a one-year contract. Sprint said it would offer the device by the end of the month. Palm announced the Treo 700p last Monday.

Besides the Treo 700p, Verizon Wireless announced Monday that it will begin offering Motorola's Windows Mobile-based Q smartphone on May 31.