[Update - more images] YES! Verizon subscribers will no longer feel left because they will soon be able to purchase the Treo™ 600 Smartphone. SlashPhone just got the breaking information reported here, thanks to an anonymous tip!

Verizon's explanation:

The reason is we test devices more than other wireless carriers to make sure they perform to our standard. That process is multi-faceted and quite scientific down to what we call a "user trial." At any point in the process, if something is discovered that isn't up to our standard, we have the manufacturer correct the problem and the testing essentially starts over. All too often one corrected problem can create issues with other aspects of the device. There are devices that have gone through the testing process that we have decided not to sell them because they didn't meet our standards; others have gone through testing with a due date that ended up 6 months past the original date. For that reason, we find we can provide customers with better service by simply telling them when they can purchase a device. After all, we are a wireless service provider, not a device manufacturer so our primary interest is in making sure that the service on the device meets the expectations of our customers because if it doesn't perform to our standards, they don't blame the manufacturer, they call Verizon Wireless.