Qualcomm has agreed to buy $10 million worth of Handspring stock. The timing of this might be significant, as Handspring is about to release the Treo, a wireless handheld with voice and data capabilities. Qualcomm is the leading company behind the CDMA wireless standard, while the Treo will use GSM/GPRS. According to a Qualcomm VP, the company is using this investment to encourage Handspring to release a CDMA version of the Treo, which Handspring is already working on.

In a possibly related development, Handspring's share price has shot up tremendously today. So far it is up $1.34, an increase of almost 22%.

One of the most frequently asked questions among Palm users is, "When will OS 5 be out?" In a recent interview with the SD Times, David Nagel, who is in charge of its development, shed some light on this. "We’ll have a broad range of platforms in mid-2002 that licensees can choose from depending on their specific design goals." This seems to indicate that while Palm's Platform Solutions group will be finished with OS 5 in mid-2002, how much longer consumers will have wait to actually see any handhelds running OS 5 will depend on the licensees.

Update: According to Palm's chairman and interim CEO Eric Benhamou, a beta of OS 5 will be available during the company's March to May financial quarter.

Electric Pocket has released BugMe! Office, a new version of the note-taking and reminder alarm application that includes a set of 50 templates to help professionals enhance the style and impact of their handwritten notes and reminders. Once a template is selected and the note is handwritten directly on the handheld's screen, the user can set a timed alarm that will display the correct message. Users can share their notes with co-workers via infrared. It costs $30.

Robert Jen has announced a new Christmas Complete songbook for BabyMelodyPilot. The complete lyrics to 19 holiday classics are presented karaoke-style for your caroling pleasure. BabyMelodyPilot is $5 and proceeds are being donated to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund through the end of the year. -RJ

3DAGames has released 3D Star Fighter Pilot. It is now available for $14.50. -Alan

rileydog has developed the SD/MMC Card Holder, which is the size of a credit card but is made of a laminate strong enough to protect the cards when carried in a wallet. This allows two memory cards to be carried almost anywhere without adding to the size of the handheld itself. The holder is 3.3 by 2.1 inches and less than three credit cards thick. It sells for $10.

Palm Inc. will be called as a witness against Microsoft in the ongoing trial accusing the software giant of non-competetive and monopolistic practices, according to the British news site The Inquirer. Though the U.S. Department of Justice has settled its case, nine states that are still carrying on. The hearings are scheduled for March. -Ed

Energy Dimmer 1.0 allows IIIc and Prism owners to reduce the brightness their screen after a given time to save power, rather than having the whole handheld shut down. -PR

Palm's Solutions Group has selected Texas Instrument's OMAP processor platform to power a set of next-generation wireless handhelds that will use GSM/GPRS technology. Palm branded handhelds that incorporate OMAP processors are expected to be introduced in approximately one year. Palm's contract with TI isn't exclusive so it might use processors from other companies on its non-wireless models. Todd Bradley, Chief Operating Officer of the Solutions Group, said only that TI is his company's preferred source.

The SmarterCase is a low-cost hardcase that offers a large selection of exterior coverings, like leather, snakeskin, or cloth in various patterns. It fits all Palm OS handhelds. News Editor Ed Hardy brings us a review.

The Handspring Foundation has made cash and product grants to eleven nonprofit organizations. These include $40 thousand donated to various organizations that help under-privileged children. Also, Visor handhelds were donated to groups that help children and others were given to organizations to assist in ecological projects.

"The mission of the Handspring Foundation is to improve communities, and with each round of grants, our cash and product donations are addressing a variety of needs'' said Gisela Bushey, worldwide manager of the Handspring Foundation. "We're delighted to not only support these organizations financially, but also to supply Visors and other products that will help nonprofit organizations achieve their goals.''

The Nasdaq Stock Market announced today its annual re-ranking of the Nasdaq-100 Index and several technology companies, including Palm Inc., have been removed. This index is made up of the 100 largest non-financial stocks listed on Nasdaq. With the bursting of the tech bubble, the market capitalization of many tech companies have dropped precipitously causing several of them to no longer qualify. Other well-known companies being removed from the list include CNET Networks, 3Com, Novell, and RealNetworks.

In the December issue of the Palm Tipsheet, they share ideas and software applications to help transform a Palm handheld into a powerful language reference tool. In the Tipsheet Interview, Cornelis Steinitz provides a Swiss perspective of Palm handhelds as well as thoughts on their popularity in Switzerland. -Mike Rohde

Purple Data Cables has released a Serial HotSync Cable for Sony Clié handhelds. It allows the handheld to connect with a PC to do a serial HotSync instead of a USB one. -PR