Palm launches unlocked Centro, gets Google Maps "My Location"

by Joshua Topolsky posted Jun 23rd 2008 at 4:53PM

We've seen the Centro in its Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon (to name a few) iterations, but global roamers and free agents of all sorts will be delighted to know that Palm's increasingly popular little smartphone is now available in a delicious unlocked GSM flavor. The device sports all the same specs as AT&T's model, but clocks in with a $299 price tag and plain gray numberpad instead of the telco version's shocking lime green variation. Alongside the carrier-free phone, Centros will also be nabbing a version of Google Maps with its "My Location" feature (long absent from GMaps on Palm phones). Current AT&T and Verizon customers as well as new unlocked owners will be able to download the app tomorrow, with a software update for Sprint later this Summer. Finally, you'll all know where you are.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Handsets, Software, Palm, ATT, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, GSM, EDGE

Tags: breaking news, BreakingNews, centro, google maps, GoogleMaps, my location, MyLocation, unlocked

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

backbeat @ Jun 23rd 2008 5:41PM

Since Centro users can now obtain "My Location", it's theoretically possible they can realize just how lost they are. One can only hope!

Neutral

haX0r @ Jun 23rd 2008 6:19PM

They should rename it "Palm El Crasho". Hence, why they need Google's "My Location" to find the bug in the appz.

Neutral

badqat @ Jun 23rd 2008 6:40PM

I'd go $149.99 for it, but $299...no thanks.

Palm OS is old and busted, no matter how pretty the phone is, not that the Centro is pretty...

Neutral

BKWatch @ Jun 23rd 2008 9:45PM

wow. does anyone care anymore. A year late and a hundred dollars short....

Highly Ranked

keithwwalker @ Jun 24th 2008 2:14AM

Unlike the locked subsidized Centro, I don't think this will sell at $300.

Of course, a lot of people thought that the original Centro wouldn't sell period, and how wrong they were....

Neutral

c|ak @ Jun 24th 2008 3:02AM

Eeew have Palm ever heard of Helvetica?

Neutral

haX0r @ Jun 24th 2008 8:40AM

How about renaming it the Palm Fugly?

Neutral

backbeat @ Jun 24th 2008 9:01AM

@keithwalker: For free ... or virtually free ... shit-on-a-stick sells well in the US. Enter Sprint and Palm!

Neutral

kookoobirdz @ Jun 24th 2008 10:20AM

We Palm thread commenters should use the system they used to use in the old version of Prime Minister's Question Time over in the UK. When Engadget Mobile makes a Palm post, instead of posting our usual automatic "who cares" and "teh suxxorz" and "just give up the ghost already" comments, we could just say, "Number 7, Mr. Speaker," where 7 refers to one item on a numbered list of stock, prepared insults, nasty statements, predictions of demise, and bitter nostalgia. It'll save everybody time since they are the same comments each time. If the editors respond at all, they can say, "I refer the honorable commenter to the press release Palm issued some moments ago." Very tidy.

Neutral

SoulinEther @ Jul 1st 2008 5:53PM

I lol'd. So true.

Neutral

backbeat @ Jun 24th 2008 12:05PM

@kookoo: Isn't your pulpit missing you on other forums or did you leave it in the care of Senator Larry Craig?

Neutral

kookoobirdz @ Jun 24th 2008 1:17PM

Hey I'm including myself in this proposal. I join the chorus of weary, crabby comments whenever Palm posts are made. But lately I can't even get the energy up for that. What more can really be said? Thus the efficiency measures. But I note your... wide stance on the matter.

Neutral