Palm sees Centro phone sales reaching 2 mln units

A Palm representative demonstrates a Palm Centro during the DigitalLife consumer electronics show in New York in this file photo from September 27, 2007. Palm Inc on Thursday said it is on its way to 2 million units shipped of its Centro smartphone, a low-end device whose popularity may be challenged by Apple Inc's new lower-priced iPhone.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Palm Inc on Thursday said it is on its way to 2 million units shipped of its Centro smartphone, a low-end device whose popularity may be challenged by Apple Inc's new lower-priced iPhone.

Centro, 1 million units of which shipped through the end of March, will be sold through Verizon Wireless from Friday, said Brodie Keast, senior vice president of marketing at Palm, adding that the phone's touchscreen and full keyboard are popular with consumers upgrading from traditional mobile phones.

Asked when the company expects shipments of the Centro to reach 2 million, Keast said: "We are confident we will get there in 2008."

Verizon Wireless is a venture of Verizon Communications Inc and Vodafone Group Plc.(Reporting by Franklin Paul, editing by Gerald E. McCormick)