"Smartphones will be the most prevalent personal computers on the planet, ultimately able to do everything that desktop computers can do," said Palm co-founder Jeff Hawkins at the Foleo announcement. "However, there are times when people need a large screen and full-size keyboard. As smartphones get smaller, this need increases. The Foleo completes the picture creating a mobile-computing system that sets a new standard in simplicity."

The 2.5-pound Foleo, formerly code-named "Hawk," is essentially a low-power laptop computer, with a 10-inch display, a full-sized QWERTY keyboard, and both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi wireless technologies.  Serving as an extension of the Treo smartphone, the Foleo will allow users to to compose e-mails, edit Office documents, and browse the Internet in a more traditional fashion. The Foleo is powered by a version of the Linux operating system created specifically for the "Hawk" project; Palm plans to move to a Linux-variant OS for its non-Windows Mobile handsets sometime in the future.

Palm now sells both Palm OS (Garnet) and Windows Mobile Treo smartphones, and although images which show the Foleo working with a Palm OS version of the Treo have been released, there's no similar image of a Windows Mobile Treo.  Compatibility with Windows Mobile smartphones, including Treos, is unknown as of this writing.

Though the Foleo will retail for $599, Palm will offer a $100 rebate for some period following the Mobile Companion's introduction.  A specific release date hasn't been announced, but Palm does plan to begin selling the device in Summer 2007.  

- Pocket PC Central Press