Palm, hoping to capitalise on the momentum created by the release of its Pre handset, plans to unveil a smaller, cheaper smartphone called the Pixi.
The Pixi handset is expected to be announced for the US market on Wednesday. It will be longer but slimmer than the Pre and will sport a smaller multi-touchscreen, a full Qwerty keyboard and a two-megapixel camera, Palm said. However, like its sibling, the 3.5-ounce Pixi will have 8GB of memory and GPS capabilities.
In addition to offering a new Facebook application, the Pixi will be able to integrate LinkedIn contacts and Yahoo contacts, calendar and IM in a single view via Palm's Synergy feature.
"With Palm WebOS, we're creating a new, more intuitive smartphone experience," Jon Rubinstein, Palm's chief executive officer, said in a statement. "Palm Pixi brings this unique experience to a broader range of people who want enhanced messaging and social networking in a design that lets them express their personal style."
The announcement of the Pixi comes less than four months after Palm began selling the Pre in the US, where it registered record sales when it went on sale in June, according to Palm. The company did not discuss specific numbers for that first week, but some analysts estimated that between 50,000 and 100,000 units sold in the first weekend.
UK customers will have to wait for the Pixi, as Palm has not announced a release date in Europe. "Palm is not giving any details at this time about Palm Pixi availability in Europe and Canada; however, Palm does plan to bring Palm Pixi to both regions as soon as it can and will announce more when appropriate," the company said in the statement.
In the UK, O2 has landed the deal to be the exclusive carrier of the Pre, but it has not said when the smartphone will become available, other than saying it will be out before Christmas.
Palm did not reveal the Pixi's price in the US, but did say it would be less than the Pre and that it was expected to be available to consumers in time for the Christmas shopping season, through Sprint.
The company also plans to offer artist-designed, limited edition replaceable back covers, which it plans to showcase at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York, which starts on Thursday.
