Palm is going direct-to-consumer with one of its key handsets: the Treo 750, which runs on Windows Mobile 6. The unlocked GSM handset will cost $549 at Palm's online and retail stores. The phone also runs on 3G networks both in the U.S. and Europe. The phone includes all the standard features you've come to know and love from the Treo and WM6 and then some:

• Stylus-friendly touchscreen (natch)
• Threaded chat view for text and MMS messages
• Today Screen enhancements, such as the ability to "dial by name," search the web directly and perform one-touch dialing with personalized photo speed dials
• Call and voicemail control from the Today Screen with VCR-like icons, such as rewind, delete and fast-forward
• Ability to ignore a call and quickly send a text message such as "In a meeting" or "Can't talk right now" by selecting the "Ignore with text" option from the incoming-call screen.

In other Treo 750 news, if you happen to have a Treo 750 that's still rocking Windows Mobile 5, you can now head on over to Palm's website for the official WinMo6 upgrade ROM. Just don't forget to backup your device--the upgrade process will wipe your Treo clean.

For more on the Treo 750:
- see Palm's website
- and this CrunchGear article on the WM6 upgrade