How Palm Became an Also-Ran

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September 17, 2007
Tech Insider Technology & Science News, Product Reviews

NEWS  THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES How Palm Became an Also-Ran The maker of the Treo smartphone has been hurt by outdated software and strong rivals

Inside: This Week in Technology Hi Tech Watchers, The big question this week was all about wireless. Will Google build a gPhone? What's going wrong with Palm? Why is Alcatel-Lucent struggling? And how many times can AT&T re-brand? We've got answers in this week's best tech stories. Arik Hesseldahl's piece, "Mapping a Wireless Trend" talks about where the next big trend on cell phones is coming from: GPS companies. And Olga Kharif's explains that the real question isn't whether or not Google plans on building a phone to rival Apple's iPhone. It's who is making the components for it. --Catherine Holahan GET RSS  |  NEWSLETTERS

TECH ANALYSIS NEWS ANALYSIS Mapping a Wireless Trend GPS standbys Garmin and TomTom may need to change course if the popularity of in-phone navigation systems from the likes of TeleNav continues to grow NEWS ANALYSIS MySpace Goes Hollywood The social networking Web site will distribute videos from big-time producers in an effort to counter rival Facebook TECHNOLOGY Yahoo's Open Invitation Like counterparts at Facebook, CEO Jerry Yang plans to give developers more leeway in building tools designed to keep users on its pages longer   TECH INVESTING EUROPE From Bad to Worse at Alcatel-Lucent Citing weakness in its wireless network business, the French company issues its third profit warning of the year BRAND STRATEGY AT&T Rebrands. Again The wireless giant's revenues are surging, but it's still struggling to make the most of its new corporate identity   TECH INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY Google's gPhone Draws a Crowd Although the rumored mobile platform is yet to be announced, software developers already sense a big business opportunity   TECH SPECIAL REPORTS SPECIAL REPORT The Power of Gaming A recent report estimates that the video game market will increase to $48.9 billion in 2011. Our special report looks at some of the innovations sparking this growth SPECIAL REPORT The Future of Social Networking A rising tide of companies are tapping Semantic Web technologies to unearth hard-to-find connections between disparate pieces of online data CEO Guide to Green Computing As a threat to operations and the bottom line, corporate computing's fast-growing power consumption is forcing companies to adopt green energy VIRTUAL LIFE The Coming Virtual Web In the future, the Internet is almost certain to look more realistic, interactive, and social—a lot like a virtual world CEO GUIDE TO TECHNOLOGY Taming the World Wide Web A rising tide of companies are tapping Semantic Web technologies to unearth hard-to-find connections between disparate pieces of online data SPECIAL REPORT Wireless World Ultrafast networks and whizzy features are about to turn your cellphone into—well, your right arm NEXT-GEN GAME CONSOLES Game Definitely Not Over On the eve of the launch of PS3 and Wii, stakes in the console tussle amid Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft have never been higher SPECIAL REPORT CEO Guide to Technology CEO GUIDE TO TECHNOLOGY CEO Guide to Social Networks Networking technology gives companies a new set of tools for recruiting and customer service PREDICTION MARKETS CEO Guide to Technology -- Prediction Markets More corporations are setting up their own markets for economic forecasts, hoping to tap into the wisdom of employees WEB SERVICES The On-Demand Software Scrum Oracle, Microsoft, and SAP are battling each other—and smaller players—to gain a bigger slice of a fast-growing pie SPECIAL REPORT Computer Security Computer-based fraudsters are finding new ways to trick people—not technology—to get the information they seek SPECIAL REPORT Young Entrepreneurs of Tech We surveyed dozens of the country's biggest venture capitalists to come up with a short list of the 11 young people that are shaking up tech HEART HEALTH Heart, Heal Thyself? So far, stem cells have not delivered the results scientists hoped for. But excitement is still rising SPECIAL REPORT Open Source's New Frontiers How free software startups are challenging industry giants SPECIAL REPORT Eight Tech Trends for 2006 Tech Special Report on living-room wars, social search, wireless' new world, Web moviemakers—and lots more SPECIAL REPORT Computing's Next Generation For the first time in years, hardware startups are trying to break into the market. Their gambit: Inexpensive special-purpose machines SPECIAL REPORT TV Goes Broadband Name any gizmo. Chances are it's gotten more sophisticated since you last looked SPECIAL REPORT: YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS OF TECH Tech's Young Turks Are Back As Internet companies and the economy in general rebound, so has the college-age entrepreneur—but it's a tougher road today TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH LIBRARY Powered By IT white papers, webcasts and reports for tech leaders and decision-makers SEARCH LIBRARY Most Popular White Papers Help | Advanced Search Find new documents on these hot topics now: Business Intelligence | Network Security | Storage Management | Wireless LANs | VoIP  BW MALL  SPONSORED LINKS Will Your Company Be the Next E-Mail Casualty?  Think Before You Send: A Practical Guide to E-Mail in the Workplace. Award winning online training. GTB Technologies is Data Leak Prevention leader  Learn how GTB products help banks and enterprises to achieve IT compliance and data security. 100% Web Based Help Desk Software   Easy to use, customizable to meet your needs, powerful and scalable. 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THE DEBATE ROOM Gas Tax Equals Bridge Safety The U.S. should charge an extra 5¢ a gallon on gasoline and use the money to shore up bridges. Pro or con?  VIDEO PODCAST >> Tech 101 Technology should make life easier. When it doesn't, it's not your fault. Need help? Ask us! Each week Senior Technology Writer Arik Hesseldahl answers your toughest tech questions—in plain English. Write to him at Tech101@businessweek.com. Subscribe on iTunes ADVERTISEMENT You Need Options in Today's Volatile Market Smart investors are trading options. By buying and selling options on a timely basis saavy traders are able to hedge the value of their portfolios even when markets plunge. Get a DVD on trading equity options from the OIC. Learn how options are traded and how to get started. Click Here. WILDSTROMTECH MAVEN >> Hear Steve's new podcast Tech & You There's more than one way to break your iPhone free of Apple and AT&T's constraints, but the rewards barely outweigh the drawbacks Help Desk If you're doing almost anything with photos or graphics, an Apple computer is still your best bet Ask Steve > MORE Tech & You >   Advertisement   PRODUCT REVIEWS > > Pearl Izumi's MP3 Shorts: A Bit Off-Key These bibs come with a built-in MP3 player on the back, but you're better off buying your music player and apparel separately BW Editor's Review   More Product Reviews >> See our take on cell phones, PCs, digital cameras, music services, games, TVs, and Web services BusinessWeek has teamed with J.D. Power and Associates to let you compare customer satisfaction and product quality ratings. Cable/Satellite Providers Consumer Electronics Copiers Digital Cameras TVs Telephone/Wireless All-Distance Phone Providers Wireless Service Internet Service Providers   Advertisement   FEATURED SPECIAL REPORT >> Digital Camera Ratings Slide Shows The Best Digital Cameras The Making of a Digital Camera Digital Cameras' Second Wind Consumers have started replacing their older models and buying second and third cameras for their households Digital Camera Ratings View digital camera ratings based on customer satisfaction at JDPower.com Video: Selecting a Digital Camera BW.com columnist Arik Hesseldahl works through the basics of selecting a digital camera, including the features in new models and what you can expect to pay Keeping Digital Camera Consumers Satisfied Find out why Casio, Fujifilm, Canon, and Nikon ranked highest in J.D. Power's survey of camera users Video: Most Satisfying Cameras See which devices rate highest in four categories, including ultra-slim, point-and-shoot, and digital single lens reflex varieties Japan's Digital Camera Picture Still Bright Never mind Pentax's woes. Demand—especially for SLRs—is high. But heightened competition, particularly from camera phones, may soon cut margins Quick! Take a Picture! The digital camera has gone from elite professional tool to ubiquitous consumer gadget in a flash, and the peaking market is likely to get more competitive READER COMMENTS > MORE SPECIAL REPORTS >