The San Jose Mercury News reports that Plaxo is expected to announce the launch of its free software, Plaxo Contacts 1.0, that enables users to easily and promptly update their computer’s address book.

Pumatech announced that Z-Tel Technologies will incorporate Pumatech’s Intellisync synchronization technology into its communications offerings. The combined solution will allow Z-Tel customers to synchronize contact data between their home phones and Microsoft Outlook 98/2000/2002, Microsoft Outlook Express 5.0 and 6.0, and Palm Desktop 3.5/4.01 PIM (Personal Information Management) applications.

The Houston Chronicle has this review of Cloudmark’s SpamNet product.

FaxCore announced the immediate availability of its flagship product, FaxCore 4300, which is built on Microsoft’s .NET platform. This new version can track and manage notifications and scheduling, or can be integrated with Microsoft Exchange and other email platforms.

Anti-virus experts are warning Web users not to be fooled by a new worm that pretends to come from Microsoft technical support and becomes active when you open the attached file that carries the infected code. According to Web User Magazine, mass-mailing worm, called Palyh, spreads via email or shared networks and can send itself to all contacts in the Microsoft Outlook address book.

Here’s an article from CRN about IBM’s Lotus Software Group’s drive to deliver cheap email. According to the article, Lotus Workplace Messaging 1.0 will go for 80 cents per user, per month in volume and could cost even less in big accounts

PC World reports that while it appears that we may have seen the worst of the Fizzer worm, some experts disagree on whether the virus has peaked.

Pumatech announced that Garmin International has selected Pumatech’s Intellisync Lite software to supply PIM-related synchronization capabilities for its new, iQue 3600 handheld device. Pumatech’s Intellisync Lite software will be bundled with the iQue 3600 to offer synchronization of calendar, contact and task data between the new Palm OS-based PDA and the Microsoft Outlook and Lotus Organizer software applications.

IDG reports a Swedish mobile messaging company’s software will be offered for integration into Microsoft Office 2003, allowing users to send SMS (Short Message Service) messages from Microsoft Outlook.

Melissa Data announced the release of Contact Zone for ACT! Contact Zone checks the validity of addresses and phone numbers and provides data correction directly to ACT! records over the Internet.