According to preliminary figures from Gartner, worldwide PDA shipments declined of 0.2 percent in the third quarter of 2003. This was the eighth consecutive quarter the handheld market experienced a year-over-year decline in shipments.

PalmSource has unveiled a new software store which offers more than 20,000 Palm OS software titles and on device wireless apllication downloads.

PalmSouce has announced the launch of the Palm Powered MobileWorld program. The new program connects mobile operators, infrastructure providers and software developers in a wireless ecosystem that capitalizes on the growing smartphone market.

PalmSource today announced that PerComm, a leading manufacturer of ReFLEX messaging devices, has licensed the Palm OS platform. Through the agreement, PerComm plans to integrate Palm OS 5 to create new smart mobile devices that operate on wireless networks including ReFLEX, GSM and CDMA.

A new application allows Palm OS handhelds to recieve and store any type of file. The application accepts all documents and files from any device to an expansion card via Bluetooth or IR.

Guest PIC reviewer, Richard J. Dalton Jr., takes a look at the recently updated KeySuite application from Chapura. KeySuite offers expanded data and functionality for the calendar, contact, memos, and tasks for handheld users who rely on Microsoft Outlook as their PIM.

Mobile Digital Media (MDM) today announced the dual platform Secure File PDA Backup for Palm OS and other devices with expansion slots is now available at retailers nationwide and online. 

Certicom Corp today announced that Security Builder GSE, Certicom's core developer toolkit for government, has earned the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140-2 certification for the Palm OS 4.1 platform (cert No. 351). It is the first toolkit to provide a FIPS 140-2 validated module for multiple handheld operating systems.

After a recent $50 price reduction, Sony is now offering an additional $50 off with a mail in rebate. The offer applies to Sony's higher end Clie's, the NX80, NX73 and the UX series. Also, the VR100K Clie video recorder has started to ship.

A new utility for Macs and Palm OS handhelds, that allows users to easily share an internet connection with their handheld and also finally brings AvantGo support to the Mac OS. The app allows the handheld to access the internet via a pass through USB connection.

SanDisk has again confirmed the delay of drivers for the SD Wi-Fi card for Palm OS 5. The company originally promised to release the 802.11b SDIO wireless card in the Spring.