Palm Loses Companion

SUNNYVALE, CALIF. — Palm said it thinks cutting the Foleo is the best thing for the company.

Palm will not market its previously announced Foleo "mobile companion" because it wants to make improvements that would be cost-effective only on a next-generation software platform, the company said. "Foleo is based on a second platform and a separate development environment, and we need to focus our efforts on one platform," explained Palm CEO Ed Colligan said. The company doesn't want to split up its resources while it moves to a next-generation software platform, he continued.

The product was previewed to the media in May, and early market feedback showed that Foleo needed improvements, he added.

Colligan also declined to say when a new Foleo would be available.

The small laptop-like device featured large screen and full-size keyboard to read and edit emails and documents residing on Bluetooth-connected PDA phones. The Linux-based Foleo would also send and receive email wirelessly via the PDA phone's cellular radio.