In the early days of mobile technology, the Palm IIIxe PDA was a groundbreaking device that paved the way for the future of mobile productivity. Released in 2000, this personal digital assistant (PDA) ran on Palm OS 3.5 and featured a 16 MHz Motorola 68328 EZ DragonBall CPU, 8MB of RAM, and 2MB of internal flash memory. Despite its limitations compared to modern smartphones, the Palm IIIxe was a game-changer in its time.
The monochrome display with a 160 x 160 resolution and four shades of gray allowed users to access third-party applications and store data. The device also included an infrared (IrDA) port for data transfer and a HotSync cradle for syncing with a computer. While the Palm IIIxe lacked features like a camera, built-in cellular connectivity, and an app store, it laid the foundation for mobile innovation.
A Palm IIIxe PDA released in early 2000 and found in a T-Mobile office. | Image credit: Mike Sievert
"From PDAs to cellphones to smartphones to 5G… and now, AI is redefining what's possible again. This journey's only getting more interesting!" - Mike Sievert, President and CEO, T-Mobile
T-Mobile President and CEO Mike Sievert reflected on the evolution of mobile technology by sharing a photo of the Palm IIIxe. Despite its modest features, the PDA represented a significant step towards the interconnected world we live in today. As we look back at the Palm IIIxe, we appreciate the foundation it laid for the smartphones and AI-driven innovations of the present.
