Palm's new upgrade due on shelves

Monday, January 28th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Santa Clara, California-AP) -- A new, long-awaited wireless handheld from Palm is hitting store shelves today. The i-705 digital assistant has a built-in antenna to provide "always-on" access to e-mail and instant messaging through the Palm-net service.

It also provides access to the web.

Palm is hoping the new device will help it to fend off competition, who've been making inroads.

The device is a replacement to the Palm seven models that were bulkier and did not have as many features or a rechargeable battery.

The P-D-A weighs five-point-nine ounces and has the same expansion card and universal connector slots like that of other new high-end Palm products. To avoid the battery drain of a color screen, Palm will only release it with a monochrome screen.

Suggested retail price for the device is 449 dollars.