Synchroscan announced the introduction of Parlay Dialer. The Parlay Dialer is a wireless automatic phone dialer for Palm OS handheld users. Users can dial the phone directly from the address book of their handheld. It is connected to the phone line and sits beside the phone. A contact is selected from a user’s address book and beamed to the dialer. When the phone is picked up, the number is dialed automatically with the correct pre-dialing digits and area code. The Parlay Dialer works with all Palm OS handhelds that have an infrared port and hooks to standard (analog) phone lines.

TealPoint Software announced the release of TealDoc 4.5 for Palm OS organizers. TealDoc is a full-featured reader for standard Palm OS documents. This new version features support for Doc files stored in external Virtual File System devices like Memory Stick and SD/MMC storage cards, as well as raw text files stored on external cards.

Our latest poll, “In your company, what’s giving you the most bang for the buck, when it comes to using your Palm handheld?” is up. Please visit and let us know what you think.

Empower Technologies Inc. announced at the LinuxWorld Expo in San Francisco, CA that it has released the full version of the Linux DA operating system for current Palm handheld users. Empower Technologies also announced licensing deals with two Palm handheld-compatible manufacturers, Elitegroup Computer Systems Co., Ltd. (ECS), and APlux Communications Ltd. (APlux), a subsidiary of Procomp Informatics Ltd., both of Taiwan.

Palm Infocenter has an article on REALVision, which has created a bar code reader expansion module for the CarpeDiem V, a GSM wireless voice and data modem for the Palm V series. According to the article, “The company has taken a module approach to expand the capability of the CarpeDiem V. The add-on module attaches to the back of CarpeDiem, actually fitting into the battery slot.”

Business Week reports that thanks to an extra financial cushion, new, more-capable models, and some deals, the situation at Palm is much improved.

Our latest poll, “How ya doin’?” is up. Please visit and let us know what you think.

Active Corporation announced that the Canadian government issued Active a Medical Device License allowing ActiveECG to be used clinically throughout Canada. This is the first product for the Palm OS to receive this type of license. It is equivalent to receiving an FDA clearance in the United States.

Yahoo has a press release from AlphaSmart, Inc. and Palm, Inc. announcing that AlphaSmart has licensed the Palm OS platform. The agreement enables AlphaSmart to use the Palm OS technology to expand its product offerings to new segments within the education market. the AlphaSmart 3000 is a writing, keyboarding, and test-taking tool that addresses a broad range of needs in K-12 education.

Palm, Inc. announced that David C. Nagel has been named president and chief executive officer of the Palm OS platform subsidiary being formed. Nagel leaves AT&T, where he was the company’s chief technology officer and president of AT&T Labs. He has been a member of the Palm board of directors since February 2000.

Nagel’s appointment is the latest in a series of management actions designed to improve the company’s competitive capabilities and build upon its position as a handheld computer and platform leader. In recent months, the company has moved aggressively to strengthen management; refocus and refine its platform, product and solutions portfolio; and bring costs in line with business conditions.