Palm 'unconcerned' about Symbol snub

Microsoft has strengthened its relationship with Symbol Technologies, dealing a blow to rival handheld operating system vendor Palm Computing.

Symbol will next week announce three new handheld computers for logistics and data entry applications, all based on the Windows CE operating system.

Palm Computing, which has provided the Palm OS for several of Symbol's earlier devices, said it isn't worried that Windows CE has stepped on its turf. However, it couldn't confirm whether Symbol will use the Palm OS in future product lines.

"It doesn't worry us," said Martin Worth, UK channel manager for Palm Computing. "This really is a positive thing for the category. The whole area of handheld computing is growing.

"It doesn't suprise me that Symbol is going to build this sort of relationship with CE. In the retail space, CE is declining. In vertical markets, you can understand people using Windows platforms," he said.

Symbol's new products, the PPT2700, PDT7200 and PDT7500, offer integrated laser barcode scanning, wireless Lan connectivity and Internet connectivity.