June 15th, 2007
Palm Hit with Layoffs
By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews
Not unexpected, with the fortunes of Palm on the wane, but I’m sure that there was hope around Palm that the recent infusion of cash by Elevation Partners LP might have reduced the odds of this. On the other hand, the private equity firm might have asked for it.
The job cuts, which occurred Thursday, affected “a small percentage” of Palm’s approximately 1,200 employees and were concentrated in the company’s development group, according to a company spokesman. They primarily affected Palm employees in the U.S., he added. Source: ComputerWorld
We Say: Palm said the reorganization had already been in the works prior to the Elevation Partners LP deal, and that there was still hiring going on in other areas, but if development is hit? That’s usually one of the last places to go. I also personally know at least one person affected by this.
Steve R says:
It makes perfect sense. Palm hasn’t actually developed anything since about the days of the Palm Vx. They bought their own spinoff, Handspring, for the first actually innovative product since that time, and then the whole development team apparently fell asleep since then.
Can anyone think of an innovation from Palm since then?
Has even the Treo, arguably their best product, made any noticeable changes since 2002?
June 15th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
jb says:
Another sign — Palm is on life-support. Sigh….
And I love my Palm Vx!
Unfortunately, Windows Mobile is junk.
June 16th, 2007 at 5:27 am
Resolver says:
I heard from an associate just yesterday that the layoff was done in a sudden, unprofessionally disruptive way that locked out those affected in a coup-like manner.
He says that the Palm OS source is now in the hands of some China-based company through some bad business mgmt, and that Linux is on the horizon as a possible alternative. Meanwhile, backup all of your Palm software in case! I’m still loving my Palm V despite its age.
June 16th, 2007 at 10:11 am