Technology Review examines Palm's timeline

[Colin Dunstan]

Historians and technophiles alike will enjoy Gartner's two-part analysis of where Palm company came from and where they're heading to. While the first installment talks about how Palm struck gold with the original Palm Pilot in 1996 - only to see its commanding lead slip away over the next few years to competitors like Handspring, RIM, and HP -, the second installment explores Palm's partnership with Microsoft.

In sum, Palm’s future depends on fundamental questions about the market for PDAs. Will the smartphone establish itself as the single device that people carry, or will consumers continue to prefer to tote a second device as well, such as a music or video player? Secondly, will Palm's relationship with Microsoft remain strong? And, finally, will there be a legitimate resurgence of handheld business for Palm, or will the company need to succeed mostly with smartphones? Whatever the answers, if the past nine years are an indication, Palm will not hesitate to make drastic changes to its business model, if it feels the answers to those questions demand it.

Related: The Engadget Guide to How Palm Became Palm Again