3Com's Palm Computing has announced the release of the Palm IIIe priced at US$229 that comes with 2-MBs of storage and the same screen as found on the Palm IIIx. Other cost cutting moves: less expensive pen, and no Outlook conduit. Palm Computing also release the much anticipated USB to Palm OS cradle cable for US$40. [SOURCE: PalmPower

Motorola has announced plans to open their "next-generation state-of-the-art wireless handset technologies design center" in San Diego, California.

SanDisk Corporation has announced the "FlashPath" floppy disk adapter for MultiMediaCards that enables the transfer of data (documents, images, Internet music) from desktop PCs to a wide-range of MultiMediaCard savvy handheld devices (cameras, handhelds, etc. ...). The device will sample to OEM partners in Q4'1999, and ship worldwide in Q1'2000. SanDisk MultiMediaCards come in the following sizes: 4-, 8-, 16- and 30-MBs.

Reuters and Ericsson have announced tentative plans to joint develope a new "start-up" organization that will be focused on "delivering news and data to mobile phones." [SOURCE: Reuters via Yahoo]

Nikkei English News is reporting that NEC is finishing up their strategy to enter the European PDA marketplace with their new suite of Windows CE devices. The company is reportedly trying to "grab 10% global market share."

IDC (as reported in Asia Computer Weekly) has reportedly created a new marketplace called "smart handheld devices," and that these devices will have a "big impact" in the Asia/Pacific regions with unit shipments rising to 3 million units sold per year by the year 2003.

Honda Connectors has announced a "new range of I/O connectors" that can be used on "the outside edge" of Type 2 CompactFlash cards for many types of applications like those to support camcorders, handhelds, and other computer devices.