Nokia to Take on Palm in Market War

Look out, Palm, here comes the "brick."

The rectangular-shaped Communicator, Nokia's all-in-one personal data organizer and mobile phone from Finland, has surpassed Palm as the most popular handheld computer in Europe. And, it's set to hit U.S. store shelves by early summer.

While some are leery of its hefty price -- about $799 -- its growing fan base of business users laud the Communicator as the first device to successfully meld the mobile phone with the hand-held computer.

"It's the first device that makes it possible to use a phone as a true organizer," said Andy Buss, a London-based analyst at Canalys.com research group. "It's for people who want one device for everything; you can manage your life on the go."

Wait around any European airport lounge and you're likely to spot someone holding an eyeglass-case sized phone to their ear. Moments later, you'll see the same person open the case on their lap and begin typing on the miniature keyboard concealed inside.

That's the giveaway it's a Communicator, considered by many analysts to be one of the first true "convergent" devices bridging the phone and computer worlds.

News source: Reuters - Nokia to Take on Palm in Market War