14 DAY TRIAL // Palm has just released its successful Centro smartphone in a new version that comes unlocked with quad-band GSM connectivity (850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz), hence everyone can buy it and use it on any network. More exactly, any GSM network from the US, because Palm is offering the handset only in its home country.
The unlocked Centro has a white case and grey keys, looking exactly the same as the Centro that was released not too long ago in Australia, via Telstra. Anyway, for the US, this color edition is brand new, although the Centro is offered by Sprint, AT&T and Verizon in no less than 6 color versions.
Color aside, the carrier-free Centro also comes with My Location integrated into Google Maps, allowing users to access local maps easier and get driving directions faster. Moreover, all those who own a Centro, be it unlocked or not, will be able to upgrade their handsets with the My Location feature, as of today.
Palm offers the new (yet old) Centro for the price of $299, $200 higher than the price of the smarpthone when bought with a contract agreement, but since users don't have to pay any monthly fees, the unlocked handset seems to be worth the money.
Measuring 4.21 x 2.1 x 0.73 inches (107 x 53.5 x 18.6 millimeters) and weighing 4.37 ounces (124 grams), the Centro is presented as Palm's smallest and most lightweight smartphone. Its features, besides Google Maps, include a 320 x 320 pixel TFT touchscreen display, a full QWERTY keypad, Palm OS 5.4.9, Blazer 4.5 browser, email, document viewer / editor, organizer, Music player, Bluetooth, USB, handsfree, a 1.3 Megapixel camera with video and 64MB of expandable memory.
Sold in well over 1,000,000 units all over the world, Palm Centro is currently available in 25 countries. The US is the only market where the smarpthone can be bought unlocked, but Palm might soon decide to offer unlocked versions of the handset in other countries too.