International Data Corporation (IDC) has announced that since April 2000 when Microsoft released their revised PocketPC OS (Windows CE) that they have risen from 10% market share in the handheld market to 18%. Palm OS based devices currently hold a 74% share, but IDC is predicting that Microsoft will "claim" 40% by 2004 and Palm's share will "shrink" to 51%.

Radiata and ShareWave have announced a new partnership to build new wireless LAN solutions based on IEEE-802.11a running at 5-GHz making it possible to offer maximum data rates of 54-Mbps.

C-Com Satellite Systems has announced "TurboCell" -- a new high-speed external CDMA modem that can support data rates from 56-Kbps to 156-Kbps. You can learn more via this online article at "Canada Computes".

Dooney & Bourke offers via Palm's Online Store new Palm V series leather portfolio cases that can hold a Palm V, a pen, notepad, and credit cards.

Thinque has announced v2.6 of their Mobile Solutions Platform (MSP) that now supports Pocket PC clients for doing "advanced field force automation" solutions. Costs for the server backend can run between US$10-35K, and client seats are US$500-1500 depending on client type and number of seats.

DCI's Expo Mobile & Field Force Automation Conference will be held February 13-15, 2001 in Chicago, IL. Sponsors include: Conita Technologies, MobileVilliage, SellingPower, PC Magazine, and Wireless Review.

-Steve Holden (sholden@pencomputing.com)