CNET News.com reports Motient announced its MobileModem add-on for Palm V devices which will offer always-on, instant access to email. According to the article, the MobileModem can alert a Palm V owner to a new message in the email inbox by turning on the device and vibrating.

CASL announced a free demo of CASLpro compiler is now available. CASLpro is a high-end Rapid Application Development tool that can create Palm OS applications that require no runtime file and are very near the program size and run speed of the same app created with C.

Textual announced the release of its debut product, Anagram, a software program for users of Palm OS handhelds that runs on the Windows operating system. Anagram is an intelligent tool that interprets plain English text to create new Palm OS Address Book, Date Book, To Do List, and Memo records.

LandWare announced the new HotLink USB Cable designed to eliminate the need to travel with a bulky cradle or purchase an expensive travel kit. The HotLink USB Cable allows you to HotSync and recharge your handheld by plugging into a USB port on your desktop or laptop computer. the HotLink USB Cable is compatible with the Palm m505, m500, and the m125 and is available for $19.95.

CNET News.com reports Handspring experienced a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss, excluding charges. According to the article, Handspring posted a loss of $26.2 million, or 22 cents per share, excluding charges, in its fiscal first quarter of 2002 that ended September 29.

DataViz, Inc announced new versions of its compatibility products, MacOpener 2000 and Conversions Plus. They now support Microsoft Windows XP. In addition to Windows XP support, Conversions Plus includes new translators for Microsoft Word and Excel 2001 for Macintosh and Microsoft Word and Excel XP for Windows. Both products are also localized in French and German.

XcelleNet, Inc. announced the newest addition to its Afaria product line, Sync Manager, which includes email and PIM synchronization with Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Domino Groupware servers, and synchronization with enterprise databases such as Oracle, Sybase, and SQL.

XcelleNet, Inc. announced Afaria Document Manager for Handhelds designed to provide mobile workers using devices based on the Palm platform to have access to critical business documents and data, both on or offline.

SF Palm User Group will be hosting Motient this Thursday October 18th. Motient will be discussing their wireless sled for the Palm OS and demonstrate their solution for the mobile internet. This month ThinkOutside has donated the Stowaway Keyboard for Palm Powered handhelds. DigitSense has released a game called Lumos for Palm OS handhelds that they have for raffle. Lumos is a trivia game based on the Harry Potter series of books. StylusPlus has a stylus pen they have donated. They will meet at 7:00 p.m. at Harpoon Louie’s near the corner of 2nd and Market Streets.

The Vancouver Palm Users Group celebrates its one year anniversary at their next meeting. The VanPUG meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 22 from 6:30 to 8:30. Instead of a specific topic for the meeting, they’re planning to have an “open” meeting. Instead of meeting at their regular location (the IBM Pacific Development Center) they’d like to hold it somewhere more casual where they can order food and drinks.