Palm Computing yesterday unveiled a new version of its PalmPilot
handheld PC that offers users wireless connectivity to the internet for
the first time. But those expecting full blown net access will be
disappointed. Rather Palm, a subsidiary of networking giant 3Com, will
offer customized access through a series of partnerships with content
providers including, among others, ABCNEWS.com, Bank of America,
ESPN.com, Fodor's, MasterCard and Moviefone. The Palm VII organizer, priced below $800, is scheduled to enter field trials in
early 1999, with widespread availability in the US later next year.
Internet access service will be available from less than $10 per month,
3Com said. As part of the announcement, 3Com said it was launching its
own internet service, called Palm.Net, using infrastructure from
BellSouth Corp. Lucent Technologies Inc will provide the communications
chip for the device. The handheld PC also includes a two-way radio with
integrated antenna, bundled as part of Palm.Net service. To access
Internet data on the Palm VII organizer, a user raises the antenna,
which calls up a screen containing a list of applications. By tapping on
one of these applications, the user calls up a screen called the Palm
query application. This allows the user to define the specific type of
information required, for example a stock quote, flight schedule or
restaurant listing, by selecting from pre-installed options. After
processing the query, by tapping on a built in stylus, a web
"clipping" is returned with a page of results catered to the
user's specified requests. All e-commerce transactions are secured
using built in technology from Certicom Inc, 3Com said. As well as
internet access, the company will also offer an instant messaging service, called iMessenger. The application is used in the same way as
the standard Palm Mail application, 3Com said, except that iMessenger
mail is sent instantaneously via the wireless radio connection. To check
for new messages, the user raises the antenna and presses a button, and
all messages waiting in queue appear on the Palm VII screen. Janice
Roberts, senior vice president of 3Com and acting president of Palm
Computing described the device as the "beginning of a new era of
personal communications." She added: "The Palm VII organ izer
is our first step in enabling a new class of information access and
e-commerce solutions for the handheld computing industry." Roberts
said the Palm VII organizer is designed to address the needs of the
mobile workforce who want quick and easy access to the internet. But the
Palm III and PalmPilot organizers will continue to serve as the
company's mainstream offerings, she said.
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