Carmen Nobel

Palm Inc. on Wednesday announced that it is laying off 250 employees, the latest in a series of cutbacks for the handheld computer and operating system company. Layoffs will come from information technology, finance and human resources according to officials at the Santa Clara, Calif., company. The cutbacks follow the ousting of CEO Carl Yankowski […]

Wireless Web software maker Openwave Systems Inc. on Thursday confirmed that the company will lay off at least 300 workers this week. The total number of employees will go from “2,300 to less than 2,000 by the end of the year,” according to company spokeswoman Michele Landry. She declined to say where those cuts would […]

Microsoft Corp. on Wednesday announced the availability of Windows XP Embedded, a scaled-down version of the Windows XP operating system that runs on devices ranging from gaming systems to automated teller machines. The Redmond, Wash., software company is offering a free evaluation kit and a 90-day promotional price of $995 for the XP Embedded tool […]

Owing to the downfall of the dot-com economy and the companys own tough economic situation, Palm Inc. is getting rid of the MyPalm Web portal that enables customers to store their personal data on the Web. Beginning January 10, Palm will no longer offer the My Palm portal services, which include Date Book and Address […]

Nokia Corp. is backing a number of efforts in support of the Symbian operating system, part of the phone makers push for mass adoption of the OS in the industry. The Espoo, Finland wireless equipment manufacturer this week kicked off the Nokia Mobile Challenge, a series of contests to encourage developers to build applications for […]

Nokia Corp. is plugging away at pushing for industry adoption of the Symbian operating system and multimedia messaging service. The Espoo, Finland, wireless equipment manufacturer this week at its Mobile Internet Conference in Barcelona, announced that Borland Software Corp. will support Nokias Series 60 voice and data platform with its Jbuilder and Jbuilder MobileSet developer […]

Nokia Corp.s multicompany initiative to make cell phone platforms compatible with one another via an open architecture has the potential of making communication easier for customers. But critics say the initiative smacks of a Microsoft Corp.-like desire on Nokias part to control the industry. The initial members of the initiative, which Nokia announced last week […]

LAS VEGAS—While the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers has finally accepted a new high-speed wireless LAN standard, the current reigning standard likely will continue to reign. After a drawn-out process complicated by voting battles and technicalities, the IEEE late last week agreed to terms for the 802.11g standard. 802.11g, which can run at up […]

LAS VEGAS–In his keynote here at Comdex Monday, Nokia Corp. Chairman and CEO Jorme Ollila announced a multicompany initiative to make cell phone platforms compatible with each other via an open architecture. But critics say that the initiative smacks of a Microsoft-like desire on Nokias part to control the industry. The initial members of the […]

LAS VEGAS—NEC Computers Inc. on Monday will introduce a handheld computer based on Microsoft Corp.s Pocket PC operating system. The NEC MobilePro P300 Pocket PC includes both a CompactFlash Type II and a Secure Digital expansion slot, meaning customers can use add-on memory and add-on accessories such as modems or wireless LAN cards at the […]

Microsoft Corp. has been delivering mixed messages about its support for new WLAN technologies, pushing for all products to be backward-compatible even while certifying gear that supports only the latest standard. Late last month, Microsoft Wireless Architect Mike Foley announced at two wireless conferences in London that Microsoft will not grant its WHQL (Windows Hardware […]

In an effort to evolve its multiplatform enterprise server strategy, wireless middleware manufacturer Wireless Knowledge Inc. last week severed its relationship with Microsoft Corp., buying back all shares held by the software company. Wireless Knowledge will become a subsidiary of Qualcomm Corp., which co-founded Wireless Knowledge with Microsoft in 1998. “I dont think the cooperation […]