IBM and Palm plan to co-develop a suite of business applications
for Palm-based devices that could boost the viability of PalmOS as
an alternative to the Microsoft PocketPC system
One of the first such applications promised from the agreement is
Lotus's Sametime instant messenger software. The two companies also
plan to offer wireless access via Palm-based devices to IBM's
business application suites.
The first release of IBM and Palm's joint work is scheduled for
September. The companies will sell and market the software jointly.
IBM, as part of the agreement, will also offer Palm PDAs (personal
digital assistants).
IBM has, in the past, sold Palm PDAs under its own WorkPad brand,
but stopped earlier this year.
The alliance is part of IBM's pervasive computing strategy to
extend its applications to devices including mobile phones and
handheld computers. Earlier this year, IBM launched WebSphere
Everyplace Access, a middleware software platform to extend
WebSphere applications to mobile devices.
WebSphere Everyplace Access is aimed at companies with a large
mobile workforce. Energy companies, for example, can use the IBM
software to give workers in the field access to applications and
information on systems at the office using a mobile device. IBM
competitors and specialised vendors sell similar applications.