Palm, Inc.has released the Wireless Database Access Server (WDBAS) which allows developers in IT departments to create wireless applications that access corporate databases in real time. It lets developers use Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) -- such as AppForge and Metrowerks' CodeWarrior -- to develop mobile applications that can access corporate data wirelessly. This app will help Palm k\hold onto its position as the preferred handheld platform in the enterprise.

The Hong Kong webstore Brando is offering the Bluetooth Memory Stick. It isn't listed on the site but the price is $212 USD, which includes shipping to US via FedEx.. This is the Japanese version so all software is in that language. -nicos

While long-time readers may recall that in the past PIC has celebrated April Fools Day with joke articles, sorry, there won't be any this year. -Ed

Earlier this month, Senator Fritz Hollings proposed a law which would require companies to include copy protection in all types of electronic devices, including handhelds, MP3 players, cell phones, and anything else capable of copying or storing a copyrighted file. If the Consumer Broadband and Digital Television Promotion Act (CBDTPA) becomes law, all software would also have to include copy-protection methods approved by the FCC.

Last month, AvantGo announced a new policy under which it limited the number of subscribers to custom channels to just eight people for each channel. It has now discarded this policy and announced a new one. AvantGo will still limit access to some custom channels but the company will look at each channel individually before making a decision on it. Channels that become popular by word of mouth will not be restricted. Channels that advertise for subscribers and offer products or services for sale will need to sign a contract with AvantGo.

Early last month, PalmSource announced that the final version of OS 5 would be sent to the licensees in late spring or early summer. Yesterday, company executives said they expect to ship the final version in June, according to CW360. While not a tremendously exciting announcement, it's a good sign that, almost two months later, the next generation of the Palm OS is on schedule.

Neither Steve Sakoman, chief technology officer for PalmSource nor David Nagel, the CEO, would comment on when the first models running OS 5 would be available.

Blue Nomad has released new versions of WordSmith and TimeSync for Macintosh users that add OS X compatibility. -Bobby Genest

mypalmboy.com has a series of pictures of a partially disassembled Sony NR70. -UTP

In testimony today in the penalty phase of the anti-trust case against Microsoft, PalmSource's Chief Competitive Office, Michael Mace, said that Microsoft prevented Palm from entering the VSIP, Visual Studio Integration Program, for two years, according to Reuters. According to Mr. Mace, Visual Studio is the industry standard for developers and, by blocking Palm from the program, put the company at a serious disadvantage with enterprise developers.

A Taiwanese company named Spectec has developed two digital cameras for the Palm m505 and m515 that use the SD slot. One model sits entirely on top of the handheld, while the other has more of a sled shape. Either can take 640 by 480 JPEGs in 24-bit color. Spectec is a manufacturer but not a distributor. It is not clear whether these are available for sale yet, who will sell them, or at what cost.

The Pocketop Portable Keyboard has been designed to work with almost any handheld with an infrared port. It consists of a folding keyboard and a universal stand that has a small adjustable reflector. This reflects the infrared signals coming from the keyboard into the handheld's IR port and vice versa. It will be available soon for $120 with a $20 rebate.

The Spidar PDA Protector lets the user access the screen, buttons, and stylus while providing impact and drop protection. A version for the Palm V series is available now for $13. Versions for the Visor and m500 series are in development. -PR

SonyStyle Japan has posted a selling price of 19800 Yen (about $150 USD) for the PEGA-MSB1 Bluetooth Memory Stick. -Nicos

Sony has just announced that the PEG-NR70 and PEG-NR70V will be released in the U.S. in early May. The NR70 will cost $500 while the NR70V will be $600. Sony will begin taking pre-orders on SonyStyle, its webstore, today. In a departure from its previous policies, the U.S. versions will have the same names as the Japanese ones.

For the benefit of those who have recently been living in caves, the NR series was announced just over two weeks ago in Japan. It includes a 320 by 480, 16-bit color screen that has virtual Graffiti. It also has a clam-shell design, a built-in keyboard, 16 MB of RAM and is the first Palm OS model to use the 66 MHz Dragonball Super VZ. In addition, the NR70V has a built-in digital camera.