Following the steps of other electronics giants such as Apple, Gateway and Sony, PalmOne (hardware divistion of the former Palm) officially launched this week their own retail outlets.

The stores, in coastal states such as New Jersey and California and ranging from walk-through kiosks to large shopping mall and airport locations, will help PalmOne introduce low-end Zire and business-driven Tungsten handhelds and Treo mobile phones to consumers who do not normally shop in stores like Best Buy or Circuit City.

The PDA market has seen dramatic sales decreases during the last few quarters, the gadget manufacturer hopes the stores will help to build brand recognition and educate the consumer about their products.