Palm to permanently shut down its MyPalm service

Handheld giant Palm plans to discontinue the Web-based MyPalm portal that offers online access to personal calendars and address books.

According to a message posted on its Web site, Palm will delete all customer data on Jan. 10. Palm is keeping a separate mobile portal also known as MyPalm that offers content to people with handhelds capable of wireless data access.

Palm spokeswoman Marlene Somsak said the idea of storing one's personal information on the Web was big a year ago but has waned with the dot-com bust.

"Our interest in Web PIM (personal information management) was predicated on the premise that (it) would be more widely adopted and take advantage of revenue streams such as advertising and subscriptions," Somsak said Monday. "That has not happened in the industry."