3Com's Palm Computing has "licensed" Palm OS technology to Nokia (a member of Symbian), and TRG Products that permit each company to develop and market future handheld products based on Palm OS.

PC World is covering the news: "GATES PUSHES WIN CE PHONES -- Microsoft CEO shows possibilities with Win CE smart phone." Reuters is also reporting that "Microsoft Defends Windows CE" vs. Palm OS & Symbian.

Socket Communications has announced a new "Windows CE savvy" laser bar-code scanner for called "Socket In-Hand Scan Card" that is ideal for use with palm-size PCs.

Symbol has announced: #1.) That they have been awarded their "largest services contract" to provide technology equipment (wireless, handheld, barcode, printers) and services to Kmart; #2.) Symbol will incoporate Microsoft's BizTalk Framework with their WaveWorks Integrated Development Environment (IDE); and #3.) Technologies (a system integrator company) has announced that Ziff Davis Expo is using Symbol's Spectrum 24 wireless LAN technology to demonstrate wireless voice-over-Internet protocol capabilities at NetWorld+Interop in Atlanta this week.

Actioneer has released Actioneer Smart Portal v3.1 service that is geared to imporve Web access and eCommerce transactions for handheld devices.

-Steve Holden (sholden@pencomputing.com) eFax: 978-246-3067