To regain the diminished popularity of the Treo series, Palm has recently unveiled its Pre handset. According to Palm executives the new device will give users a new feel of web browsing and multi tasking experience. The device runs on a new operating system WebOS, which the company said is a breakthrough for the company to compete in the smartphone market.

The Pre has a 3.1 inch multi touch screen and has a touch sensitive area below the screen that makes browsing extra convenient, letting users turn pages without touching the reading area. To type users have to slide out the QWERTY keyboard from underneath.

One exciting feature about the Palm Pre is the touchstone, the add on wireless charging dock. No wires are required to connect the Pre, users simply need to place the device on top of the charging dock and it gets charged, kind of innovative.

For palm, the announcement is an attempt to regain a foothold in the smartphone market, which it lost to competitors like Apple and Reasearch in Motion. 2007 was not a good year for Palm as the company incurred losses to the tune of $80.2 million. The announcement boosted the stock of Palm 35% up.

The device will be launched in the first half of 2009 in exclusive partnership with Sprint according to Edward T Colligan, president and chief executive of Palm. The price of the device is yet to be announced.

As far as competition with iPhone is concerned, Executive Chairman of Palm, Jonathan J. Rubinstein said that Palm never intent to build an iPhone killer, but to build a killer Palm product. Sources in the company accepts that people willingly switch carriers for innovative devices like the iPhone and said Palm is optimistic that the Pre would be one of those devices.

Industry analysts are predicting tough time for Palm due to the global financial slowdown. Success of the Pre and its capability to compete with the iPhone will only be known when it is launched later this year.