Pocket PC Picks Up Pace Of Microsoft, Palm Rivalry Analysts Praise New Pocket Palm responds quickly in bid to keep No. 1 ranking in rising handheld field.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)

Byline: FROM IBD NEWS SERVICES

If U.S. handheld computer and software maker Palm Inc. ever had any doubts about the strength of its competition, last week's blitz by Microsoft Corp. to launch its rival Pocket PC 2002 software did away with them.

Microsoft blew thousands of dollars to show off the software with a splash simultaneously in London and San Francisco. The vodka flowed in six different flavors, but analysts were most knocked out by the new product.

"It was impressive," said analyst Jan Sythoff at research group Frost & Sullivan. He particularly liked the fact that Pocket PC 2002 enables companies to link mobile devices and corporate …