pdamart unveiled the latest release of its catalog/community site. The new site’s cover page displays twice as fast, contains redesigned news pages, and a constant stream of upgrades and accessories for Windows CE-based and Palm Computing products.

Wired News has this article about Compaq’s handheld device with built-in smart-card technology. The handheld PC will include an embedded smart-card reader and a smart card from Schlumberger Smart Cards and Terminals.

Microsoft announced plans to deliver a wireless portal designed to work with handheld devices, cellular phones and interactive pagers via the MSN network of Internet services. Also announced, Nextel Communications will be the first such provider to work with Microsoft to deliver the benefits of these capabilities to its customer base.

Sony Music, using technology developed by Microsoft, plans to begin selling virtual singles over the Internet at the same time the songs are available in record stores. The Internet singles will be available this summer and are expected to cost about $3.49 a piece. The Internet versions will take about five minutes to download.

PC World has this article about Microsoft’s plans to make MSN wireless Internet portal. The company will launch the new portal later in the year when it upgrades its MSN Web site.

News.com reports that Sega Enterprises said that it acquired Visual Concepts, a California-based video-game software development company. Visual Concepts is currently developing several titles for Sega’s new Dreamcast game console, including football and basketball games and a character-based adventure game.

This week at Network+Interop 3Com announced users of 3Com’s Transcend network management software can download network device data into Palm organizers, view reports, and fix problems from anywhere they are.

pdamart unveiled the latest release of its catalog/community site. The new site’s cover page displays twice as fast, contains redesigned news pages, and a constant stream of upgrades and accessories for Windows CE-based and Palm Computing products.

Qualcomm and US West announced they signed a twelve-month agreement valued up to $120 million for US West to purchase Qualcomm CDMA digital PCS phones. This agreement provides US West with a variety of Qualcomm handsets, including the new pdQ smartphone and Thin Phone, for distribution throughout U S West’s regional CDMA digital network.

Palm Computing will be keeping the estimated 5,000 journalists attending this year’s Cannes Film Festival in the picture through a special information service available to users of Palm Connected Organizers. The company will be providing extensive information on the festival, updated daily, to users of Palm Connected Organizers via PC-synchronization in a booth adjacent to the press center.