Palm dominated the PDA market in 2000 with a 68.8% market share in September and 72% for the full year. Microsoft launched its competing Pocket PC platform in April 2000. Handheld sales doubled in 2000 to over $1 billion in the US, with the average price being $293. Specialized applications for vertical markets such as healthcare and manufacturing were seen as growth opportunities in 2001-2002. Bluetooth wireless technology was projected to reach $5 billion by 2005 across various industries including government, legal, and healthcare.

9. CRM “Hot Spots” Source: The Yankee Group, Wireless CRM, 2000. “ The U.S. mobile and remote-worker population will grow 41% from 39 million in 2000 to 55 million in 2004. Field sales professionals comprise the largest percentage of this remote-worker population.”