| PalmSource and IBM to Advance Web Services Applications for Palm Powered Devices |
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JUNE 19
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PalmSource and IBM are working together to provide Palm OS software developers with advanced tools to create powerful networked software programs that run on Palm Powered devices and enterprise servers, connected via wireless networks.
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With the large number of applications used within an enterprise, Web Services facilitate the sharing of information, encapsulating data to provide a standards-based interface between proprietary enterprise systems. This will help enterprises integrate Palm Powered mobile devices and applications into their computing infrastructure. Using Web Services-enabled software, which is based on enterprise standards like the Extensible Markup Language (XML), Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) and Web Services Definition Language (WSDL), Palm OS users will be able to access a wide range of applications and services across wireless networks and the Internet.
While Web Services are open industry standards with broad industry support, IBM Corp. is a leader in applying Web Services technology through its WebSphere(R) Application Server, WebSphere Micro Environment and other software tools and platforms. The collaboration between IBM and Palm Inc. subsidiary PalmSource will help IT managers to more easily deploy and manage Palm Powered mobile computing devices, including using the same proven WebSphere technology that IBM provides for server management of desktop and laptop computers. This relationship complements a recent announcement between Palm Inc. and IBM that provides a Java powered embedded runtime for the Palm(TM) Tungsten(TM) devices via IBM's WebSphere Micro Environment.
"This expands the ongoing relationship between IBM and Palm with a common goal to enable enterprise customers to extend mobile applications and services to Palm Powered devices," said Rod Smith, vice president of Internet Emerging Technologies for IBM. "This collaboration will assist the development and delivery of mobile enterprise tools and mobile applications which can drive real business value."
"We are delighted to collaborate with IBM, the most trusted name in enterprise computing," said David Nagel, president and chief executive officer for PalmSource. "As a former CTO and CIO myself, I know that IT managers want functionality that leverages existing resources as much as possible. This agreement will help make Palm Powered devices highly capable computing tools for the 21st century mobile enterprise so that workers will no longer have to run back to the office or hotel in order to do their work."
With over 29 million handheld and smartphone devices sold to date, Palm OS is the leading mobile device platform. More than 85 percent of enterprises chose Palm OS as their platform for mobile solution development, according to a 2002 report by Maritz Research. And, in a 2002 study by the Gantry Group, Palm Powered handhelds had a 41 percent lower total cost of ownership than those that use the Microsoft Pocket PC platform.
Under the agreement, IBM and PalmSource will collaborate on a Web Services software stack, including support for the Web Services standards and integrate them into the Palm OS software used in the world's most popular mobile data devices.
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