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For the past year or so, Palm OS fans that are Sprint customers have had to make to with the Treo 700p, a capable device but one whose design was getting relatively long in the tooth. Now the aged 700p is off Sprint's menu and has been replaced by the 755p, a redesigned (or more accurately, enhanced and refreshed) version that is - for the moment anyway - exclusive to Sprint.

The 800/1900 MHz CDMA 755p runs Palm OS 5.4.9 (Garnet) and is kin to the GSM Treo 680 (and Windows-based 750) available through AT&T. Basic hardware specs are similar to the outgoing 700p—the 755p sports the same 312 MHz Intel XScale CPU, 128 MB of memory, and 2.5-inch 320 x 320 display.

It packs these components in a somewhat leaner package, however; at 2.3 x 4.4 .8 inches and 5.6 ounces slightly thinner and almost an ounce lighter than the 700p. About 60MB of the 755p's memory is user-accessible, and storage capacity can be increased via a miniSD slot conveniently accessible behind a hatch on the right edge of the unit.

Ergonomically, the 755p employs the standard Palm QWERTY thumb-keyboard and 5-way navigation control with dedicated function buttons. The left side of the 755p features a large, easy-to use volume control plus an additional button you can configure as desired.

In a subtle but potentially useful improvement, the numeric dialing keys are white to contrast better against the darker keys surrounding them—the opposite used to be the case—and which also allows them to completely light up in the dark. We're less enthused about the included stylus, which is mostly made of plastic and doesn't seem as sturdy as an all-metal type (plus it doesn't telescope down in size).

Available in either burgundy or blue, the 755p is clad in a velvety soft-touch plastic, and like the 680 and 750 models, jettisons the stubby external antenna found on earlier Palm devices.

Shutterbugs hoping for a more up-to-date camera will likely be disappointed with the one built into the 755p, which is decent but the same 1.3 megapixel version found in prior models (except for the 680 which includes a lesser VGA-resolution camera).

During our time with the PalmOS 755p (spent in the Tampa and Ft. Myers, FL metro areas), the phone exhibited good connection and call quality. We especially appreciate Palm's loud-and-clear speakerphone (helped by a large speaker) and the fact that you can easily switch it on and off during a call via an on-screen button.

Connectivity
The 755p includes the now obligatory Bluetooth (1.2) support for synchronization and wireless hands-free calling, but like all previous Palm devices, it lacks built-in Wi-Fi. This is a fairly minor liability considering the 755p does allow speedy data connections via Sprint's Mobile BroadBand EV-DO Rev. 0 network.

You can also use the 755p as a modem for your laptop (albeit, for an additional charge), either through a USB connection or untethered via Bluetooth.

There are lots of ways to make use of the 755p's broadband capabilities, starting with Palm's familiar Blazer Web browser. Communications options abound on the 755p; for starters, the included VersaMail utility works with personal POP/IMAP e-mail accounts and also supports Microsoft's Direct Push Technology, so a corporate Exchange server can send mail and other information down to the device. (The phone also comes with Good Mobile Messaging support, as well as an instant messaging application that works with AIM, Windows Messenger, or Yahoo! IM services.

The 755p lacks an integrated GPS feature, but you can get maps and driving directions using Google Maps, which is built-in to the phone's ROM. You can also view a wide variety of recorded clips and live programming via Sprint TV; though the quality is tolerable but not great—we experienced lots of audio/video synch issues.

Software
Aside from the standard complement of Palm applications and those mentioned above, the 755p comes with additional built-in software like DataViz's Documents to Go 8 that allows you to view and perform basic editing on Microsoft Word and Excel files, and PocketTunes for listening to audio files (MP3 only).

You can also download a trial version of Sprint's MobileVoiceControl (a.k.a. NuanceVoiceControl) from the 755p, which lets you voice-enable a wide variety of phone functions like dialing calls, creating e-mails and calendar entries, use the Web browser or obtain snippets of information like stock quotes and local weather.

On the plus side, MobileVoiceControl was remarkably adept at accurately deciphering speech (even in the presence of ambient noise like a nearby television or running water) and doesn't require any advanced voice training. On the other hand, it utilizes a remote recognition database, which means it relies on the phone's broadband connection.

Talk
As a result, response time after issuing commands can be somewhat lackadaisical (up to 30 seconds in our tests) and it would not accept commands at all in cases where signal strength was only one or two bars. The network-centric nature of the application means you can't just buy MobileVoiceControl—it carries a $6.00 monthly subscription fee.

The 755p's 1600 mAh Li-Ion battery is rated for up to 4.2 hours of talk time or 240 hours on standby. Our experience with the phone suggest that those figures are reasonable, though they assume you don't make liberal use of features that rely on the display and broadband connection (like SprintTV). Unfortunately, you'll have to get a carrying case on your own dime because the 755p doesn't include one (it does come with generic cut-to-fit screen protection film, though).

Cost
The 755p is available from Sprint for $279 after discounts and a mail-in rebate that you get when signing up for a two-year subscription. Sprint offers a truly Byzantine array of data and TV subscription plans starting at $15 a month. All include unlimited e-mail and Web access, but many of the TV channels carry separate monthly fees. (To use the 755p as a laptop modem you must opt for Sprint's $39.99 Phone as Modem plan.) Verizon is supposed to get the 755p soon.

Ultimately, the 755p isn't the great leap forward many Palm devotees are waiting for because it doesn't deliver any earth-shattering new features over it's predecessor. Nevertheless, while the 755p probably won't compel many upgrades from the 700p, it's still a worthy successor to it.