Palm, Inc. announced that Palm Mobile Mentor software Collegiate Edition, a collection of organization, productivity, and learning applications, was named a 2002 Codie award finalist for Best Post Secondary application. The Codie awards are sponsored by the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA), the principal trade association for the software and digital content industry. The Codie awards showcase the industry’s finest products and services and honor excellence for corporate achievement and philanthropic efforts. The Mobile Mentor software CD is one of 196 finalists chosen from more than 700 products, Web sites and online services. Finalists are chosen by representatives from the software and information industry trade press, mainstream technology writers, and experts in education technology.

Handspring, Inc. announced that the Handspring Foundation, a fund supporting organizations and programs dedicated to creating positive change in their communities, has awarded its second and third rounds of cash and product grants to 11 nonprofit organizations. To date, the Handspring Foundation and Handspring, Inc. have donated a total of 1,573 products and $162,000 to nonprofit groups and relief efforts worldwide.

Palm, Inc. and TI (Texas Instruments) announced that they have entered into a multifaceted business alliance that encompasses technology, product collaboration, and joint marketing. Integral to the agreement, Palm’s Solutions Group has selected TI’s OMAP processor platform to power a set of next-generation handheld solutions, and TI’s wireless GSM/GPRS technology to enable seamless connections of Palm handheld computers.

Palm has issued a press release stating that the Pepsi Cola Buffalo Bottling Corp. provided its sales force with Palm m505 color handhelds to input, track, and process sales orders. The Palm handhelds, combined with mobile accounting software from Informed Beverage Management Inc., have helped Pepsi Cola Buffalo Bottling salespeople shave up to 1.5 hours off their daily sales process and boost customer-service time by 15 percent.

NWPortal.com announced that you can register for free real-time Web email. NWPortal is designed for the mobile business community. NWPortal Web email services are optimized for several platforms such as the Palm OS.

Handwatch.com announced HandZipper, a utility that allows you to zip/unzip (compress/uncompress) WinZip (.zip) files directly on memory cards. Once the Zip files are saved to the memory card on desktop via card reader, HandZipper can unzip and install Palm OS files directly from the memory card to the Palm handheld.

CNET News.com has an article on Bluetooth that says the wireless networking technology is starting to reach a critical mass, with a long list of products either on the market or ready to debut over the next year.

Pencel Corporation announced it now provides a free trial copy of Bachmann Software’s PrintBoy Software Developers Kit (SDK) with its visual application workshop.

VisorCentral.com announced that over sixty items are on VisorCentral’s “12 Days of Christmas” Giveaway prize list, including a Handspring Treo and several HandyGPS Pro modules, Stowaway keyboards, Data Quake modules, Thinmodems, and much more.

Blue Squirrel announced BlueSync, which is designed to back up multiple Palm OS cards including, SD/MMC, Memory Sticks, etc. to a PC. When a user performs a HotSync operation, BlueSync will make a back up of the card on the PC. BlueSync will also synchronize items stored on both the card and the PC, allowing users to copy files into a PC directory, HotSync, and automatically transfer the files to a Palm OS card.