The PhoneBook
PhoneBook has replaced the Address Book application on other Palm OS devices. This new application integrates your contact list with Treo's phone function so that you can quickly and easily dial. You can use a few key taps on the built-in keyboard of the Treo 180 for one-handed dialing by name from the PhoneBook. Alternatively, a jog rocker is positioned on the side of Treo so you can do some one-handed scrolling through the PhoneBook.

Web browsing
The Web browsing button launches Handspring's Blazer Web browser, a fully HTML- and WML-compatible browser. Blazer is designed to dynamically stream Web pages, allowing them to appear on the Treo screen in seconds. This is unlike typical browsers that download an entire page before presenting the information. According to Handspring, this process makes for a much faster overall browsing experience. Blazer also features typical browser functions such as homepage, back/forward navigation, and bookmarking. You can even do online purchasing via Blazer with the security of 128-bit SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption. Blazer is powered by Handspring's BlueSky Proxy Server system, and it supports multiple Web and wireless standards.

Messaging
The messaging button launches an SMS messaging application for sending short messages to other GSM phones or email addresses. Again, mobile numbers and email addresses can be chosen directly from the PhoneBook application. There's also a handy time saving feature that allows you to send commonly-used messages like "running late" or "call me" with the help of a pull-down menu of useful phrases.

Phone functionality
Not only can you instantly dial any of the numbers stored in Treo's PhoneBook, you can also create up to 50 one-touch speed dial numbers. A detailed call history is also included which stores up to 1,000 entries and enables fast redial and callback. A "3-way call" button allows you to set up three-way calls by simply dialing two numbers and pressing the on screen button. There's also a Caller ID function that looks up phone numbers from the PhoneBook and displays the caller by name, as shown in Figure C.

FIGURE C

The Caller ID function displays the incoming call information.

You can view this information through the clear window in the Treo's flip lid. Opening the lid will automatically answer the incoming call.

You can even use your Treo as a speakerphone. The speaker located in Treo's flip lid acts as both a standard earpiece for normal phone calls and a speakerphone for hands-free calls or conference calls. This could also be useful if you want to take the phone away from your ear in order to check information on the device while the call is in progress.

You can silence incoming calls by switching the phone from ring mode to vibrate mode. This is done using a switch on top of Treo, pictured in Figure D.

FIGURE D

You can switch between ring mode and vibrate mode.

Treo is a dual-band phone, so you can use it on your business trips oversees. The device is also compatible with GPRS (General Packet Radio Service), a new industry standard for wireless data transfer.