By now you’re all familiar with the Palm Centro, so I’ll save all of you from having to read through a list of specs again. Today, Palm announced that an unlocked GSM version of the dainty smartphone is available on the Palm site for $299. Available for free beginning tomorrow for Palm Centro owners is Google Maps for mobile with My Location, which basically approximates your location on the map when you fire it up.
Full release after the jump.
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jun 23, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq:PALM) today announced that the popular Palm(R) Centro(TM) smartphone is now available unlocked for U.S. customers. Now offered on Sprint, AT&T and Verizon Wireless – the nation’s three largest carriers – and in an unlocked GSM version, Centro gives U.S. customers the ability to choose the mobile phone that’s right for them.(1) Palm also announced that Google(TM) Maps for mobile with My Location on Centro is available for Centro starting tomorrow, giving customers faster access to local maps and driving directions.(2)
The unlocked Palm Centro retains the smartphone’s compact, modern design and is dressed in a new white color with grey accents. Centro offers customers more choices to stay in touch with friends, family and co-workers by using voice, text messaging, email or the web. Also available in 25 countries worldwide, Centro is Palm’s smallest and lightest smartphone to date.
Google Maps for mobile with My Location makes it easier and faster for Centro customers to get mapping and direction information by approximating the user’s current location on the map. This saves time and keystrokes for people trying to find where they are, what’s around them, and how to get there.
In addition to My Location, Google Maps offers:
— Comprehensive information on traffic conditions in more than 30 U.S. major metropolitan areas, and partial information in many others;
— Detailed driving directions with traffic estimates to avoid congestions;
— One-touch recall of favorite locations and routes;
— Integrated search results for business locations, including directions and contact information;
— Ability to scan and drag maps using Centro’s touch screen for a PC-like experience; and
— Satellite and aerial views.
Pricing and Availability
The unlocked Centro smartphone is available online at http://www.palm.com/centro for $299.
Google Maps for mobile with My Location will be available tomorrow free of charge for Palm Centro smartphones at http://www.google.com/gmm. Please check the site for details on the download process and carrier availability.