Bowing to pressure from some of its corporate customers, Sprint PCS today officially confirmed the rumors: It is offering a palmOne Treo 600 without a camera. "Businesses that want to provide mobile employees with the best tools for productivity while still balancing corporate security concerns now have a simpler task," Sprint's press release says.
The camera-less handset retails for $599.99 (certainly no bargain) and is available through Sprint's business direct sales forces and the Sprint PCS Business Solutions Program. Sprint will continue to sell the original Treo 600 with the camera through all its distribution channels.
Alas, it's sad that the first new version of the Treo 600 is less capable than the original. Of course this helps Sprint and also palmOne expand their corporate market penetration.
Sprint's reasons
Phil Bowman, the vice president of integrated business solutions at Sprint, says in the release, "Camera phones can bring a great advantage to many industries, especially real estate and insurance, but some companies have credible concerns about the devices being used to copy sensitive information.
"Sprint continues to demonstrate its leadership by providing an innovative portfolio of wireless productivity devices that help our customers meet challenges within the business environment.
“This additional version of the Treo 600 gives mobile professionals a way to utilize the high-speed data capabilities of the enhanced Sprint Nationwide PCS Network and remain productive without worry of violating any company restrictions when they are visiting clients or back in their own offices.”
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