Games Gadgets n Technology

Palm Treos once came in any color you wanted as long as it was silver. With the new Treo 680, however, trend-setters can also get their smartphones in red, orange and white.

The 680 is considerably smaller than earlier Treos and does not have an external antenna. It has a full alphabetic keypad, a basic camera and a color touchscreen. The device is less than an inch thick and weighs 5 ounces.

The 680’s battery lasts for about four hours of talk time and 300 hours of standby. It has Bluetooth and infrared wireless networking, as well as a slot for memory cards, and it can synchronize contact information with Macs and Windows PC’s.

Palm has not said which wireless company will sell the 680 or how much it will cost when it is released in the next few weeks. Its G.S.M. technology means it is compatible only with the networks of T-Mobile and Cingular Wireless in the United States.

The Treo 680 is aimed at casual users and, thanks to its flashy colors, it is more likely to end up in a backpack or a purse than strapped to a chief executive’s hip.