Gartner Sees Big Handheld Growth

The difference between IDC's numbers and Gartner's figures largely has to do with how the two research firms classify RIM's Blackberry device, IDC analyst David Linsalata said. While Gartner categorizes the Blackberry as a handheld, IDC considers it to be a "converged" device, and doesn't include its shipments in its PDA totals, Linsalata said.

Despite Gartner's data indicating a sales decline, PalmOne's stock rose $3.37, or 9%, to $40.87 Thursday. H-P's stock was also trading higher, gaining 28 cents, or 1.4%, to $20.21.

Dell, RIM and Sony all traded lower: Dell fell 9 cents, or 0.3%, to $35.26; RIM slid 46 cents, or 0.7%, to $61.76, and Sony shed 76 cents, or 2.2%, to $34.27.