The adoption of wireless technology has taken a step up in the US with the distribution of an online share dealing and news service via Palm Pilot hand-held mini computers.

TrackData Corporation, provider of real-time financial market data and online dealing services, is to start offering wireless internet access via the Palm Pilot VII at the end of January. It is one of the first financial services companies to use wireless applications for internet-related services, although experts have predicted for some time that distribution of internet-based services via devices such as mobile telephones or pagers will become commonplace. Laurel Louison, head of investor relations at Track Data, says that the system has been developed solely in response to client demand. Though they did not specify which wireless device they wanted to use, Louison says that the Palm Pilot service was the easiest to develop. The service, which will be ready by the end of this month, will give access to MyTrack online trading system, providing quotes and the ability to place trades and check positions. Barry Hertz, chairman and chief executive of TrackData said: "Wireless internet technology for online trading has only just begun and is projected to have wide acceptance by the investing community over the next few years. We also plan to interface with additional wireless devices in the near future.' The uptake of the Palm Pilot service will determine whether the company now extends the service to mobile telephone, pagers and television. Financial IT consultancy Meridien Research predicts that by 2003 there will be 40 million users of wireless financial services. In Europe and Asia-Pacific, the number of users of wireless services will surpass even the number of internet banking and brokerage services