Last week, Bill Gates was promoting Microsoft’s new Smart Card for Windows operating system. The operating system is smaller than Windows CE and will be released at Comdex ’99.

Socket Communications announced the first shipments of the Socket In-Hand Scan Card, a matchbook-size plug-in card with an integrated laser scanner that allows you to add bar code scanning capability to Palm-sized PCs, Handheld PCs and pen tablets powered by Microsoft’s Windows CE operating system.

PC World has this article on Microsoft’s new focus on mobile devices. The article also says that Bill Gates recently demonstrated a Windows CE-based phone that has a color screen and a pointing device for maneuvering a cursor. The phone is reported to be capable of accessing any Web site based on HTML.

Things are beginnning to heat up in the Palm Computing market. News.com is reporting that TRG’s new handheld device will be unveiled at PalmSource ’99. The device is based on the Palm OS and is expected to be bundled with corporate software.

News.com has more on the joint agreement between Palm Computing and Nokia. The products resulting from this agreement will combine wireless voice and data access with mobile information management and handheld organizer capabilities

ZDNet is reporting that Palm Computing and Psion may cross-license their technologies to create new pen-based phone products which would use the Palm interface based on Symbian’s technology.

Nokia and Palm Computing announced a broad joint development and licensing agreement to create a new pen-based product category. Nokia is licensing the Palm Computing Operating System so it can implement the user interface and applications to run on the Symbian platform. Resulting devices will run both Palm and Symbian applications.

Puma Technology announced that it will launch a free Internet-based synchronization service scheduled to debut in the first quarter of 2000. Intellisync.com will allow anyone with Internet access to keep PC applications, mobile devices and Web-based content and services effortlessly synchronized from one central address on the Internet.

Socket Communications announced that the Socket Battery Friendly family of low-power plug-in cards support the Compaq Computer Corporation’s Aero 1530.

Enterprise Harmony ’99, an Extended Systems desktop data synchronization solution, now supports Lotus Organizer 6.0. Enterprise Harmony ’99 allows users to access, update and transfer data between desktop or laptop PCs and handheld devices, such as Palm, Windows CE and Pocket Viewer.