Not sure what something similar to a traditional Palm device is (I assume you mean the Treo phones, not an ancient Palm V or similar).
If you mean a Treo phone, then a Motorola Cliq might be better, although it's not nearly as nice hardware-wise as the Nexus One.  Blackberries are the only smartphones that really look like the Treo phones anymore.

AT&T is the only major carrier that I know for certain can do voice and data simultaneously.
For contact sync at close range, I think most Android phones are at least capable of this, but you might need to add an app for it from Android Marketplace.
For other small transfers, I think you may have to use a web-service or email (which would work over WiFi, but not bluetooth) as an intermediary (unless you write your own application for it).
Any phone-to-phone contact would probably not work unless both phones are unlocked and have the capability (e.g. two unlocked Android phones with an app for sync via bluetooth).


der.hans wrote:
> Am 16. Mär, 2010 schwätzte Joseph Sinclair so:
> 
>> For your wife, a Nexus One from Google is probably the best choice, as
>> it is the most iPhone-like and will blend in well with her colleagues'
>> iPhones.
> 
> She'd most like something similar to a traditional palm device.
> 
>> A few notes:
>>  The Android O/S can do voice and data simultaneously if the phone
>> radio and network support it (the Nexus One radio is capable), but as
>> I understand it T-Mobile's network can't do data and voice at the same
>> time due to a limitation of their 3G network.  Verizon cannot do
>> voice/data together either, not sure about Sprint.
> 
> Ah, maybe it's ATT that can do simultaneous.
> 
>>  An unlocked phone will get most of your features, go to
>> google.com/phone for the Nexus One (cannot be purchased anywhere
>> else), which is unlocked, and has the best CPU (Snapdragon at 1GHz)
>> and screen currently available.
> 
> Yeah, I was planning on getting one there.
> 
>>  I don't think bluetooth tethering is available on any current phone,
>> but you should be able to write an app for it on an unlocked phone.
> 
> OK, I'll check.
> 
>>  All Android phones can connect to your mail server if you load an
>> appropriate application from the Marketplace.
>>  All newer Android "Google Experience" phones can play vorbis and
>> theora AFAIK.
> 
> Cool.
> 
>>  Sync depends on software, look through the Android Marketplace for
>> sync apps that match what you use on the desktop, or you could write
>> your own (it's not very difficult).
>>  All "Google Experience" Android phones should have GPS, camera w/
>> video, full function while charging, bluetooth, WiFi, compass,
>> accelerometers, external storage (mostly SDHC-micro).
>>
>> I don't think any current Android phones have external display capability
>>
>> One of your desiderata confuses me:
>>  Phone-to-phone via bluetooth/wifi (do you mean walkie-talkie, phone
>> calls, contact sharing, or other?)
> 
> I mean contact, data, etc. when in proximity. I'd love to be able to ssh
> back and forth over a local network :), but I'm mostly interested in being
> able to trade small pieces of data such as contact info, a picture or a
> URL.
> 
> ciao,
> 
> der.hans
> 
>> der.hans wrote:
>>> moin moin,
>>>
>>> I need to get new phones. Which of the t-mobile android phones best meet
>>> the following requirements?
>>>
>>> Required features:
>>> . bluetooth tethering
>>> . ability to turn off GPS if one is available
>>> . ssh out
>>> . bluetooth
>>> . connect to my own mail servers
>>> . root access
>>> . play ogg-vorbis
>>> . contact, etc. syncing w/ GNU/Linux
>>>
>>> Desired features:
>>> . tether and call at the same time
>>> . on phone internet connection and call at the same time
>>> . ssh in across cell network
>>> . USB tethering
>>> . fully functional while charging
>>> . root access w/o jailbreaking
>>> . wifi
>>> . tetherable via wifi
>>> . phone to phone communication via bluetooth
>>> . phone to phone communication via wifi
>>> . GPS
>>> . camera and video
>>> . external storage card, prefer sdmc
>>> . can use external display ( monitor and/or TV )
>>>
>>> Any features that I forgot?
>>>
>>> t-mobile has Motorola CLIQ, Samsung Behold II, t-mobile myTouch and G1.
>>> Which is the better phone? I will be trying to do this w/o a
>>> contract, so
>>> deals don't matter and all phones appears to be almost equally
>>> expensive.
>>> I am interested in consumer ready, easy to use as this one is for my
>>> wife.
>>>
>>> What services/features are included in the service plan? If not, what is
>>> the add on cost?
>>>
>>> . cell phone calling?
>>> . internet access ( not just web )?
>>> . tethering?
>>> . gps?
>>>
>>> I still haven't completely decided whether I will go with the Nexxus One
>>> or N900 for my own use. Will the N900 work with t-mobile? I believe it
>>> will.
>>>
>>> I could consider ATT if I go with the N900 and it works well with
>>> ATT, but
>>> as I understand it the Nexxus One currently will not work fully with
>>> ATT.
>>>
>>> Does t-mobile carry a Linux-based, large numbered, low-cost phone? This
>>> one just needs to be able to make and receive calls on the family plan.
>>> Receiving text messages on the family plan would also be good.
>>>
>>> ciao,
>>>
>>> der.hans
>>
>>
> 
> 
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