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Microsoft will launch its Pocket PC 2003 operating system on June 23, and Gateway and Hewlett-Packard will announce new personal digital assistants on the same date, according to sources familiar with the companies' plans.

The new version of Pocket PC will come with improved capabilities for detecting and maintaining wireless network connections, and better performance. It will also be optimized for Intel's XScale processors, according to an industry analyst.

A Peek at PDAs

Gateway will make its debut into the handheld market alongside the Pocket PC 2003 launch, another source says. The company has embarked on a strategy to turn its fortunes around by emphasizing consumer electronics products in addition to its flagship PCs.

HP will release new IPaq models in its H1900 series on June 23, a third source said. Details of the H1930, H1935, H1937, H1940, and H1945 have been posted on the Web site of the Federal Communications Commission, as part of the regulatory approval of wireless devices. The IPaqs will come with processors from Samsung Electronics based on a core developed by ARM, according to documents on the FCC site.

The H1940 and H1945 models will come with Bluetooth, the short-range wireless networking technology, and all models will feature a Secure Digital I/O slot, according to the user manual posted on the FCC Web site.

HP is also expected to release the H2200 series of IPaqs, and two new H5000-series models, according to the FCC site and sources. Those PDAs will come with XScale processors from Intel, and cost more than the H1900-series products.

Gateway and HP representatives declined to comment on unannounced products. A Microsoft representative did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

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