In the second half of the year, Apple is expected to introduce the first of its Newton family of personal digital assistants, which are hand-held, wireless computing and communications devices.

By comparison, Palm, the company that effectively created hand-held computing, now holds just 12.7 percent.

She has moved on to found a new company, Handspring Inc., that hopes to help usher in what she calls "an era of ubiquitous hand-held computing."

And Metrowerks has distinguished itself by making significant inroads in the market for hand-held computing and wireless devices.

Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s Sam Pitroda was involved in cutting edge technology research work in telecommunications and hand-held computing.

He is widely regarded as one of the earliest pioneers of hand-held computing because of his invention of the Electronic Diary in 1975.

Trying to maintain their focus on hand-held computing, some senior Palm executives lobbied Eric A. Benhamou, 3Com's chairman, for a spinoff as long ago as last year.

An independent Palm would join Psion P.L.C. of Britain, one of its competitors, among the thin ranks of publicly traded companies devoted to hand-held computing.

Some analysts have said Palm may eventually abandon hardware sales to focus purely on software sales to become the Microsoft of hand-held computing.

"We are only beginning to witness a great fusion between hand-held computing and wireless technology," Mr. Kennard said in a statement.