The update is downloadable over the air or through a desktop sync.

To determine if you require the patch:

1 - Press Start . Select Settings.
2 - Select the System tab. Open About. Go to the Phone tab.
3 - Look at the Software Version. What do you see?

If it is TREO700WX-1.13-SPNT, then yes.

The Treo 700wx is a variation on the Treo 700w, the first Windows Mobile Palm smartphone model, which Verizon has been offering exclusively since January. Verizon is reportedly set to pick up the 700wx as well.

Hardware-wise the 700wx and 700w are nearly identical expect for one key difference: The former has twice as much RAM, 64 MB (128 MB of non-volatile memory in total), as the latter. What this does is give the 700wx 60 MB of user-available memory compared to the 700w's mere 25 MB, and leaves more room for applications to run. So when you've got several apps running at once, for example, the performance of the 700wx will be far less likely to slow down.

Out-of-the box the 700wx also delivers Bluetooth dial-up networking (along with USB) to allow users to leverage the Treo as a wireless modem for a laptop through Sprint's 400-700 kbps EV-DO network. The same connection that deliver speedy access to e-mail, the Web, video, audio, handset TV and other content services.

Bundled with the 700wx is Microsoft-based push e-mail through the software giant’s Windows Mobile Messaging and Security Feature Pack (MSFP), which includes Direct Push Technology for messages, calendar, contacts, and tasks; native S/MIME support, certificate-based authentication to all Exchange data; and remote and local device wipe.

Sprint also includes Good's Mobile Messaging and Mobile Defense solutions as well. But you must pay for these.

The Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC Phone, which measures 4.4 x 2.3 x .9 inches (111 x 58 x 22.5 millimeters) and weighs 6.4 ounces (180 grams), runs on a 312 MHz Intel XScale processor, and it has an SDIO-enabled Secure Digital slot for memory and peripheral expansion. There's a square 240 x 240 pixel resolution touch-screen with 65,536 colors, and a 1.3 megapixel camera with 2x digital zoom.

Like other Treos, its QWERTY thumb-keyboard is backlit and it has a 5-way navigator and speakerphone. The 700wx has the same new buttons for 'Start' and 'OK' plus 'right' and 'left' action keys that aim to assist navigation and handset control as the 700w as well.

The smartphone's removable/rechargeable lithium-ion battery specs out to 5 hours talk and 300 hours standby.

Sprint will sell the Treo 700wx for as low as $399 with a service contract.

For more on Treo 700wx, see our review.