Business Week (via Engadget) goes into detail on the current 'state of Palm' alluded to in our weekend "Go Big" article. If Business Week is correct (and we have little reason to believe they're not), then Palm is definitely planning on going big and finally revealing their next-gen Linux-based operating system, which we've only known by the leaked code-name Nova.
The article goes into detail on how Palm has slid to a place where, if Nova isn't a success, the company may fail. They have 6 quarters or so of cash left and few people betting on them. However, it does appear that the 'steady hand' of Jon Rubenstein's Product Development leadership has given Palm what could potentially be a great product:
Palm insiders are optimistic. "I'm fundamentally convinced we're onto something huge," says Mike Bell, a 16-year Apple engineering star who joined Palm last year. "Some of the stuff we're working on here is mind-blowing—better than anything I've seen before."
Palm looks to position the new platform in between the corporate BlackBerry and the media-centric iPhone, they're calling it the 'fat middle' and it's a strategy that could work. More to the point, it would take a relatively slim marketshare to help the company's finances bounce back. Apple famously aimed for 1% marketshare -- Palm's Fred Anderson quipped that they'd be happy with 2.
Everybody's best guess right now is that Nova looks to do the iPhone one-better when it comes to internet experiences. While the iPhone still has the best of class browser, may expect Nova will make it easier to connect to social networking sites, share photos, and generally connect to the internet in ways that consumers have struggled with on mobile devices.
Whatever it is, it's pretty clear we'll find out on January 8th. TreoCentral will be there.
