Is the Palm Foleo rising from the ashes with WiMAX?

The Register seems to think that the Palm Foleo might resurface, only this time, it could include integrated WiMAX connectivity. Their guess stems from a beta invite that Palm recently sent out to test an "innovative new product". Palm Infocenter has the full wording of the invite but these qualifications do support the Reg's thoughts; the first three are required while the last four are optional:

• Sprint Subscriber
• Bluetooth headphones or car kits
• WiFi Router access
• Existing Smartphone Users
• Heavy to Medium e-mail users
• Heavy phone users
• Travel for work with their phone

My first thought was that the device is the rumored Palm 800w along with support for the Sprint Airave femtocell device for seamless cell to VoIP calls. Now, I'm not so sure because the optional qualifications point towards a device that offers heavy e-mail support.

If this is the Foleo II, there's hope for the device given all the inexpensive, sub-notebooks that are popping up. My advice to Palm if it is: keep the price under $400 for a portable computing device; under $300 if it's just a companion device like the original Foleo was meant to be. Thanks for the tip, Dave!

Comments

[Dave Zatz]

I might be the only one who was sad when Palm killed the Foleo. At first I didn't get the concept and I never got their marketing strategy, but spending some time with the device at a few shows changed my tune. I didn't spend much time with the OS, but I *really* liked the feel of the hardware. If they could make it a little cheaper, it'd be a great blogging companion. ASUS has probably proven with the Eee that there's a market for these devices. (Well, there's press for this devices...;)

[Vance]

I would so buy a Foleo if it came out today, as it does everything that I would ask of an HP mini-note, but with longer battery life and a truly mobile OS. Gad, how anyone can call a Vista-running machine an "ultraportable" is beyond me.

[Ederic]

I was also saving up for the Foleo, and was so disappointed when it was canceled. Indeed, the Asus Eee has proven that there's a market for the Foleo--if only it's cheaper.