Palm might not have a finished device based on its new operating system until several months into 2009, according to statements made during the company's results conference call last week. Although the company still says it's on track to finish its next-generation "Nova" mobile operating system by the end of 2008, the company now gives a larger release window that has extended from the previous early 2009 to the first half of that year, hinting at a release as late as June.

What might cause the slight delay is unknown. The software should eventually replace the old Palm OS but is unusually complex through its switch to Linux, which will open up software development but also requires that Palm develop backwards compatibility that will still run older Palm OS apps.

The software has increasingly been portrayed as the key to Palm's recovery from mounting losses at the company, which has seen its phone sales jump with the advent of the low-cost Centro but continues to face problems with its more lucrative Treo line. Nova will first be aimed at a new class of mid-range phones for Palm, which will be targeted at high-end home users rather than professionals.