Novatel is working on a CDPD expansion module for the Handspring Visor computer. Xircom is developing a wireless LAN card for the Visor. And Handspring itself plans to add an expansion module for the Visor to turn it into a mobile phone, said Jeff Hawkins, co-founder and chief product officer of Handspring.

Hawkins, who invented the Palm computer, said the killer app for smart phones will be better voice calling rather than wireless data applications.

Hawkins noted that the Palm products, the most successful handheld and mobile products to date, have defied common wisdom about what technology users want. Now, common wisdom says that smart phones will be driven by Internet access for data and transactions. Those things will be important, but they won’t be the biggest drivers for early adopters of smart phones.