IBM, 3Com Release New Palm PCs

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February 22, 1999 (12:00 AM EST)

By Jennifer Hagendorf Follett ,

IBM plans to unveil new palm-size PC companions on Tuesday, according to sources close to the company.

The two new WorkPad models run on the Palm operating system from 3Com, which announced new versions of its Palm handheld devices Monday.

The new Palm-based devices come just three weeks after competing vendors introduced palm-size PCs based on the latest version of Microsoft's Windows CE operating system, which now includes color-display capabilities.

While over 40 percent of handheld units shipped worldwide in 1998 supported the Palm operating system, according to recent research from Dataquest, the proliferation of CE-based devices is expected to chip away at the platform's dominance.

The IBM WorkPad C3 model 40X will feature a new slim, light-weight form factor along with a brighter, clearer monochrome LCD display. It will include 2 megabytes of RAM and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that provides up to two weeks of battery life, sources said.

Based on the same form factor as the previous generation model 20X, WorkPad model 30X offers double the memory capacity with 4 MBs of RAM, sources said.

Model 30X will be available immediately at an estimated reseller price of $369. The C3 model 40X will ship in March with an estimated reseller price of $449.

Armonk, N.Y.-based IBM's announcement will follow Monday's unveiling of Palm Computing's Palm V and Palm IIIx.

The 4-ounce Palm V features a new streamlined form factor nearly half the thickness of the Palm III. It has an aluminum case, curved edges, recessed buttons, and a removable embossed leather front cover, according to 3Com. Instead of AAA batteries, the unit runs on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The device is available immediately for a suggested retail price of $449.

The Palm IIIx, also available immediately, includes 4 MBs of RAM and an internal expansion slot for a suggested retail price of $369.