GSM version of Palm Centro coming to Europe

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Palm, Inc. is releasing a quad-band GSM/EDGE version of its lowest priced PDA-phone, the Centro.

The company is taking pre-orders for the smartphone, which was previously only available from US telecom operator, Sprint Nextel, in a CDMA version.

The GSM version will feature 2.5G standard EDGE, but will not support 3G, although this is available on the CDMA phone.

This is because the GSM version of 3G requires that there be a data and voice connection at the same time - which is not possible with Palm’s Garnet operating system.

Although the Centro is one of Palm’s smallest and lightest smartphones, it features a full QWERTY keyboard, 320 by 320 pixel touchscreen, microSD card slot, Bluetooth, and a 1.3 MP camera.

Palm hopes that the phone will broaden its customer base and encourage consumers to upgrade from traditional phones. The GSM version is the first Centro that can be used internationally.

The Centro will sell in the UK for around £200, and can be pre-ordered from Palm’s web site.