The mixed messages coming out of Palm in recent weeks are making it especially hard to track just where the firm is headed following its buyout by HP.

Nonetheless, news that it has decided to slash the prices of almost all of the apps listed on its US App Catalog will no doubt please consumers, with developers also set to benefit as Palm itself shoulders the burden to subsidise the cut.

"Starting today, and for a limited time, nearly every app in the US Palm App Catalog and Palm web channel are available at half price," communications and marketing director Jon Zilber says on the company's blog.

"These are the standard full-featured apps and entitle you to the same upgrades as always. The only difference is that between now and July 9th, you’ll keep half the usual price in your pocket."

Problematic Palm?

Just what plans Palm has long term, however, are less secure.

While HP has suggested it is webOS, and not Palm's smartphone line-up, that motivated its buyout, Palm itself hasn't yet given up on taking on iPhone with new devices in the years to come.
mocoNews reports Josh Marinacci of Palm’s Developer Relations team recently stated that he isn't 'allowed to talk about future roadmaps' for the firm, but confirmed that Palm is working on future handsets anda new OS.

"So I think, you're going to find the next year very exciting," he concluded.
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