Google has just launched Google Local for mobile. The new service supports any xHTML mobile browser. You can retrieve local search results plus maps and driving directions on your handheld or smartphone. The url is: mobile.google.com/local

palmOne has officially lowered the price of the Zire 31 from $149 to $129 and the price of the Treo 600 (with a service contract) from $349 to $299. Price drops have traditionally preceeded new product releases.

Samsung and PalmSource recently held a event in China to announce the Samsung i539 Palm OS smartphone. The SPH-i539 is the first native Chinese Palm OS smartphone.

In a week thats been filled with rumors comes another one out of the UK this time. Apparently a new Treo running Windows Mobile was briefly shown by an unnamed high up Orange executive.

PalmSource has announced it has officially opened nominations for the 2005 US Powered Up Awards that will be given at the PalmSource Mobile Summit & DevCon May 24-26, 2005 at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose, CA. PalmSource also announced the kick-off of its New & Notables program, an opportunity for developers to showcase new Palm OS applications.

A new rendering of the rumored palmOne LifeDrive has been posted along with some additional details. Read on for more details.

According to a new report, Singapore based Oswin Technology, which designs and produces a range of mobile wireless devices, has created what it says is the world's first smartphone compatible with five operating systems, including Palm OS Cobalt.

Verizon Wireless has finally acknowledged that they will soon offer the palmOne Treo 650 smartphone. The company has just put up a new teaser page with a few details, but no time frame.

PalmSource today announced consolidated results for its third fiscal quarter ended February 25, 2005. The company reported a small net loss on lower sales of mobile devices compared to the same quarter last year.

DataViz announced today that it has licensed the Microsoft Exchange Server ActiveSync protocol. DataViz intends to incorporate this technology into RoadSync, a mobile ActiveSync client available both commercially and to potential licensees.

More information on the rumored palmOne LifeDrive has been posted along with two potential images of the handheld. The LifeDrive is said to feature dual wireless and a built in hard drive.