Palm has announced a new mobile device that is designed as a companion to a smartphone. The Foleo has a large screen and full-size keyboard and can be used to edit documents and access email residing on a device, the company said.

Available in the US this summer and in Europe later in the year, the Foleo links to a smartphone via a Bluetooth wireless connection and has built-in applications including an email client, web browser, and editors for Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF files.

Resembling a small laptop, the device has a 10in screen and weighs about 1.1kg. It also has Wi-Fi support, enabling it to browse the web without the smartphone connection. Battery life is quoted at 5 hours.

The Foleo is intended as a new category of mobile device, aimed at productivity-minded business people who want a more complete solution for mobile working, according to Palm.

"Smartphones will be the most prevalent personal computers on the planet, ultimately able to do everything that desktop computers can do. However, there are times when people need a large screen and full-size keyboard," said Palm Founder Jeff Hawkins.

The Foleo links with Palm's Treo phones, both the Palm OS and Windows Mobile versions, but should also work with most other Windows Mobile handsets, according to Palm. The company hinted that handsets from RIM and Symbian might be supported in future.

In the US, the Folio will cost $599 (£300).