Big news on the handheld scene today as Palm announced that Nokia, the world's largest maker of cellular phones, is licensing the PalmOS to use its interface and applications with Symbian's EPOC platform. PMN and C|Net have articles on the news. Nokia will be the first to create a device that uses a combination of both the EPOC and Palm OS. This is another big smack in the face for Bill, and Microsoft is scared.

This article on C|Net talks about the upcoming TRG Palm clone. They also discuss the problems that HandSpring has been having getting Visors shipped. Has anyone had any luck getting info or heard anything from HandSpring on an approximate shipping date? Update: Seems as if HandSpring is listening, they posted a Shipping news page.

It's been a crazy couple of weeks in the handheld market as this allNetDevices analysis points out. They take a look at recent developments in the market and declare HandSpring the big winner. "It now is obvious that Microsoft's miscalculations mean that Windows CE will never dominate handhelds. Shaking things up even more is the wild entrance of upstart Handspring, which stole the show at last week's Internet World."

Despite the rumors that the new Palm Vx will only be available in 'brick and mortar' resellers, it can now be found on at least two internet locations. www.ecost.com has them listed in stock for $399.99 (one or two people on the newsgroups have already received them from ecost, so they are shipping), with free shipping. And, www.mypilot.com has them as well, for $409, but they seem to be backordered.

Sprint has a press release on their site at saying that the Qualcomm pdQ phone using the Palm OS is avalible for $799.99. This is the first place I've seen this listed as being available. Airtouch also has info on their Web site listing the pdQ as available in Q4 here.

Jon C.A. DeKeles of ZDNet discovered a security flaw in Palm.net that could leave Palm VII owners vuneralble to attack. He describes how he found it in this article. 3com pulled the script and is working on a permanent fix. This flaw could allow anyone to change your password and have access to your iMessenger Mailbox.

The Mac Observer is speculating on comments recently made by Oracle CEO Larry Ellison. "A hint was dropped that appears to support long standing rumors that Apple was planning to release a handheld computer." We've speculated on this before, and there was no announcement at the latest MacWorld, but Steve Jobs does have a well documented interest in the PDA market.

Ever wish you could see the highway traffic before your rush-hour commute home? Check on your kids while your at work? Or you just want to spy on Jenni? Well now you can with a Palm VII of course. EarthCam has developed a technology that transmits live real-time images to be received on a handheld wireless device. Here's a PC World article on it and for more info see this Press release and for the PQA go to EarthCam mobile.

It's now official TRG announced in this press release, that they will produce devices based on the Palm platform. They will announce their first product at PalmSource in late October. It's rumored to be a Compact Flash enabled Palm. Good things are on the horizon. Watch this website for updates.

There's an article on Wired on the benefits of shopping with a Palm VII. At first the author was disappointed with the Wireless services but has new hope with the new shopping apps from ebay and Amazon.

A new Palm Users Group has been started. The Nashville Palm Users Group (NPUG) has officially launched! NPUG is a volunteer organization whose mission is to support Nashville Metro area Palm owners. The group consists of new users, power users, programmers and everything in between. Membership is free and everyone is encouraged to join. Visit their website for more info. I'd also like to take this chance to Plug my PUG, the PhilaPUG check them out if your in the Philadelphia area. -@tomic212