June/July 2007

Could businesses with mobile workers be attracted to the latest gadget from Palm? Although the Foleo is being promoted as a 'companion' to Palm's smartphone range, it's actually a small laptop computer in its own right (though don't let Palm hear you calling it that), and it runs the Linux operating system. Features include a full-sized keyboard, 10in colour screen, five-hour battery life, built-in Wi-Fi wireless networking and ability to read and create documents in Word, Excel and PowerPoint. There's also a PDF viewer, plus Opera browser software.

However, Palm sees its main use as providing a better input and viewing medium for smartphones, to which it connects wirelessly by Bluetooth, as well as allowing GPRS Internet access through them. Files are automatically synchronised between Foleo and the mobile.

The device already supports the Palm operating system and the latest versions of Windows Mobile, and Palm says it could easily be made to support earlier Windows versions, plus Symbian, Apple and BlackBerry operating systems.

Whether business users will be prepared to pay up to $499 (the official US price) on top of the price of a smartphone for what is essentially a Linux-based mini-laptop remains to be seen, especially if they want to run bespoke applications that are much more likely to be Windows-based.