PalmSource CEO Steps Down

Nagel has been CEO of the company since December 2001. PalmSource develops the Palm OS for mobile devices and spun off from Palm. Inc. in 2003 at about the same time as palmOne spun off. While PalmSource develops the Palm OS, palmOne develops mobile devices such as the Treo smartphone and the recently-released LifeDrive PDA.

No reason was given for the resignation, although the company said in a statement that Nagel will serve in an advisory capacity until mid-June. He will be temporarily replaced by Patrick McVeigh, who is currently PalmSource's senior vice president for worldwide licensing while the company's board initiates a search for a permanent replacement.

"I want to thank Dave for playing an instrumental role in helping position PalmSource to be a major player in the worldwide mobile software market," Jean-Louis Gassee, chairman of PalmSource's board of directors, said in a statement. "We appreciate that Dave is staying on to ensure a smooth transition and wish him the best in his future ventures."

PalmSource has seen the market share of its operating system diminish worldwide and has said it will port the platform to Linux.