3Com staffer Alan Kessler has been named president of the company's high-profile subsidiary, Palm Computing. Kessler replaces Robin Abrams, who is off to join a "Silicon Valley start-up", as 3Com put it. Abrams pioneered Palm's current programme of opening up the Palm platform, largely by licensing the hardware and operating system to third-parties keen to enter new markets. It's not yet known what is Kessler's view of Abrams' plan, but after his appointment was announced, he said: "There are lots of great plans that are part of our strategy. We want to continue to expand the Palm economy." Palm itself needs to do that to maintain its lead over Windows CE and Symbian/Psion's EPOC 32 platform, but 3Com also wants Palm to expand as other areas of its own business, most notably desktop connectivity products like modems and network interface cards, have begun to wither. Palm already accounts for over ten per cent of 3Com's revenue. ® See alsoNaked Apple Palm PDA seen on Web Palm sales give 3Com a helping hand