NEW YORK (Reuters) - Palm Inc.PALM.O on Thursday unveiled a new mid-range model of its popular handheld computer, packing in greater features and software perks in hopes of invigorating a market punished by competitive pricing, oversupply and consumer malaise.
At about $250, Palm"s new m125 personal digital assistant, or PDA, will sit between its high-end m500 line, aimed at choosy professionals, and the entry-level m100, targeted to cost-conscious consumers.
Santa Clara, California-based Palm says it designed the model to appeal to first-time customers, by keeping the cost relatively low, while building into the handheld appealing features such as an expansion slot that eases the addition of extra memory and applications.
"These (consumers) are people that are very sensitive to brand and price, and they have been waiting for that right kind of mixture of feature and functionality before they purchase," said John Cooke, Palm"s senior director of product management.