Click to View

The saga of the Treo 700p ROM update continues: First, it took forever for Palm to post it, and then the update was pulled down almost as soon as it went up. This time there's good news, however: The software upgrade is once again on Palm’s Web site.

Unlike the original version of the ROM upgrade, this one is only installable through an SD card. According to a posting on Palm's official blog, however, the company is working to resolve an installation issue with the desktop updater, which it hopes to make available as soon as it can.

In addition, the update is still only available to Sprint Treo 700p users. As with the desktop updater for Sprint users, Palm says it will make a Verizon Wireless version of the ROM upgrade available as soon as possible.

Treo 700p users have waited a long time for this ROM update, as many have reported a number of bugs and performance issues concerning the smartphone since its release a year ago. Meanwhile, Sprint has already released the Treo 755p, the follow up to the Treo 700p, and Verizon is supposed to follow suit with its version of that smartphone shortly.

Here's the full list of enhancements in the Treo 700p ROM upgrade:

Performance improvements to phone application

System improvements to minimize skipping during music playback and eliminate audio delays experienced on some games

Performance improvement to minimize delays experienced when loading Blazer® browser

Support for new daylight savings time legislation, plus a simplified Date/Time preference panel

Increased expansion card support including 4GB SD cards and SDHC cards

Resolution of certain "wake up" issues that may occur with certain third party push email solutions

Improved handling of SMS messages to lessen stalling of messages.

For customers using Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 with SP 2 and above, an update to VersaMail client now includes an update to Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync which adds Microsoft's Direct Push Technology for push email, calendar and contacts. Also adding other EAS functionality such as remote wipe, policy support, and global address lookup

Bluetooth wireless enhancements:

Increases list of supported/compatible Bluetooth wireless carkits, including BMW and Toyota/Lexus (Denso)

Improves overall user experience with supported Bluetooth wireless carkits and headsets (e.g. allow user to manually connect / disconnect to a Bluetooth device)

Additional Bluetooth wireless functionality (e.g. audio routing to Bluetooth headset even when wired headset is plugged in)