PalmOne profits given Treo boost

The Treo 600 smartphone features a number of functions

Strong sales of the Treo line of mobile and digital organisers have led to a 33% surge in fourth-quarter profits at PalmOne to $17.7m (£9.9m).

The strong results were thanks to a sharp jump in sales of the smart phone and other goods.

Sales of the Treo were more than double the same period in 2004 and up 57% from its 2005 third quarter.

The Treo features wireless e-mail and text messaging, a keyboard, web browsing and also a digital camera.

After the news, PalmOne shares were trading up 5.71% at $31.44.

PalmOne's chief financial officer Andy Brown said the firm was anticipating that the strong demand for Treos would continue into the first quarter.

But he said that would be "offset somewhat by the expected seasonality of our handheld business".