The Palm Treo 600 is a combination organizer, camera, cell phone, QWERTY keyboard, and also boasts Palm OS 5. It isn't as small as some cell phones but it's certainly smaller than some of the other products that combine all the conveniences of a PDA with the practicality of a cell phone.

PDAs — personal digital assistants — are palm-sized computers which typically feature calendars, Internet access, address books and sometimes word processing or spreadsheet capability. PalmOne Treo 600 SmartPhones boast fast data transmission speeds as well as the ability to sync to your desktop or laptop. This makes it easier to transfer information to and from your Palm Treo 600 while you're on the go — a necessity for the business professional.

If you need a phone with organizational capability, consider the following:

1. Competitors of the Palm SmartPhone Treo 600

2. Features of the PalmOne Treo 600 cell phone

3. Newer versions and when they will be available

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Consider the competitors of the PalmOne Treo 600 handheld

It may be that there is a similar product on the market that may be more cost effective, especially since all mobile service providers offer deals on new phones if you renew or sign up for service. Also, if you decide on the PalmOne Treo 600 SmartPhone, make sure your own mobile phone service provider doesn't offer it along with a service contract which could save you lots of money. The phone was first unveiled by Verizon Wireless but is now offered by a variety of mobile service providers.

I recommend: Smartguider.com compares features of 61 PDAs. Comparison shopper NextTag compares Treo prices through different retailers. Treonauts offers a blog with both the number of online stores and prices for the Palm One Treo cell phone.

Make sure you need all the features of the PalmOne Treo 600 cell phone

The PalmOne Treo 600 SmartPhones pack a lot of power, so familiarize yourself with all of its applications. Its design is meant to aid the business executive, but you may already have someone to handle your email inbox. Or it may be that text messaging, offered on most cell phones, is all you need to send important messages to clients or partners. Think the Palm Treo 600 offers what you need? Accessorize to make the most of your PalmOne Treo 600 SmartPhone.

I recommend: For a full list of technical specs and consumer reviews, check out Mobiledia. The TreoCentral Stores carry all of the available accessories.

Upgrade your Palm Treo 600 as new technologies emerge

It seems like every time you buy a new computer or cell phone, there is a newer version with more memory and updated software just around the corner. Go online and look for older or different versions of the phone and consider how fast the maker cranked out a new version. If it was only a matter of months, chances are there is a new version of the 600 just around the corner, which means you'll soon be facing dated software or constant upgrades.

I recommend: Palm features a menu for browsing the latest versions of the Treo SmartPhone, while NexTag offers a price comparison for different versions of the PalmOne Treo cell phones and accessories.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Get detailed opinions on the Palm Treo from Treonauts.com or Epinions.com before you buy.