New Palm PDA could be 'V'

Although the name isn't final, Neville Street, European General Manager of 3Com's (Nasdaq:COMS) Palm Computing division, said: "It's the most likely candidate." The product will launch in Europe before the Palm VII -- already announced -- which remains a U.S.-only project until later in 1999. The Palm V is not expected to debut at CeBIT in Hannover in March; instead, Street predicted an April or May launch.

Street reckoned the device would use lithium-ion polymer batteries, which are flexible and would allow the device to shrink to half the thickness of the Palm III because they become part of the casing. He added that the screen will be improved because of a new film overlay that reduces reflection. The Palm V will cost around #299 ($500).

Street also admitted that Palm Computing had a branding problem with the Palm name: During its two-year life it has been known as a Pilot, a PalmPilot and now just a Palm.

"There's a whole project going on to sort out our branding," he said.