Palm's New Release Timing: Lucky?

Pixi announced on Apple's big day

As the tech world sits on the edge of their seats awaiting what's next from Apple at today's keynote, another Bay Area-based company is again trying to shine some of the limelight on their own product.

Palm Inc., which revitalized its product line with the Pre smart phone launch in June (also during an Apple big event) , is hoping to keep momentum going with the release of a lighter, cheaper handset called the Pixi.

The Pixi will be available just in time for the holidays through Sprint Nextel Corp., currently the Pre's exclusive wireless carrier.

Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Palm would not divulge the Pixi's price tag, but confirmed it will be less than that of its big brother. Sprint dropped the Pre's price by $50 to $150 on Wednesday, including two rebates and a two-year service contract.

The Pixi's release will mark Palm's second attempt in less than a year to use new software and streamlined designs to lure consumers in the still small but fast-growing smart phone market, which is dominated by Apple Inc.'s iPhone and Research In Motion Ltd.'s BlackBerry devices.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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