Handspring Makes Treo Available in U.S.

Handspring Inc. today will accept U.S. orders for Treo, its new pocket-sized combination phone and organizer, a move experts say puts it a step up on rival hand-held makers, but thrusts it into the bull’s-eye of the formidable cell phone industry.

Treo will be available from Handspring’s Web site, with the first orders expected to be delivered by the end of February. The device will reach electronics retailers in March, the company said.

Available with either a built-in keyboard or handwriting recognition tablet, Treo will sell for about $400 with a new cellular activation, and $550 without.

Cingular Wireless and VoiceStream Wireless will offer mobile service for the device, which boasts 16 megabytes of memory, and can browse the Web, send and receive e-mail and other messages, as well as store contacts and appointments.