Palm Inc. will ship its new smartphone powered by a fresh operating system in the first half of 2009, Palm chief executive officer Ed Colligan told participants to a conference call on Thursday, said a report by BetaNews.

Palm Inc.

Even as Palm prepares for the launch of its much-awaited Nova OS and the first Nova OS smartphone, Colligan also said that the company will likewise keep its current focus on Windows Mobile-powered products like the Treo Pro.

Colligan's remarks at the conference call with financial analysts gave "virtual confirmation" to reports that Palm will launch its new mobile platform on Jan. 8 at its event dubbed "New-ness" during the CES 2009 in Las Vegas.

BetaNews also reported Palm's chief financial officer Andy Brown saying that the phone will be launched as early as the first quarter of 2009.

Palm reported losses $80.2 million in the recent quarter of its fiscal year.