According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, Treo-maker Palm is "exploring its strategic options" and evaluative courses of action that include a sale, taking in a PE investment or "a purchase of its own." The report adds weight to the relentless rumors surrounding the company, including a recent one last week that claimed the company was in advanced talks with Nokia. Palm has found it difficult to compete with the likes of heavyweight handset makers like Nokia and Motorola in the consumer market and RIM in the enterprise space. This time last year, then 6 percent shareholder Mark Nelson urged the company to sell, citing a competitive market with "slowing innovation, commoditization and choked margins." In November 2005 another major shareholder, Sagio Investments, decried Palm's stock price to its board. Maybe now the company has finally heeded their advice.
For more on Palm's options:
- see this article in the WSJ (sub. req.)