[milhous]

Source: http://www.palm.com/us/company/?intc...ndows_20050926

Palm and Microsoft Join to Bring the Palm Experience to Windows Mobile

SAN FRANCISCO, Sep 26, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Verizon Wireless First to Market with New Treo Smartphone

Mobile-computing pioneer Palm, Inc. (NasdaqALM) and software pioneer Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT) today announced a strategic alliance to accelerate the smartphone market segment with a new device for mobile professionals and businesses. Palm has licensed the Microsoft(R) Windows Mobile(R) operating system for an expanded line of Treo(TM) smartphones, the first of which will be available on Verizon Wireless' national wireless broadband network. The news was revealed in a press conference with Ed Colligan, president and chief executive officer of Palm, Inc.; Bill Gates, chairman and chief software architect of Microsoft Corp.; and Denny Strigl, president and chief executive officer of Verizon Wireless.

The collaboration gives customers more choices and marks a dedicated effort to deliver one of the world's most innovative smartphone solutions on the software platform favored by many businesses. Treo smartphones combine the hallmark Palm experience of a full-featured mobile phone with email, messaging, web access(1) and organizational software -- in an attractive, compact design. The new Treo smartphone takes advantage of the Windows Mobile 5.0 platform in multiple ways, offering Outlook Mobile, Office Mobile and Internet Explorer Mobile built into the smartphone, as well as direct access to Exchange Server 2003 for mobile access to information.(2) In addition, the new Treo will operate with Verizon Wireless' BroadbandAccess service, the largest high-speed wireless broadband network in the United States. Verizon Wireless expects the new Treo smartphone to be available to its customers in early 2006.

"We've long believed that the future of personal computing is mobile computing, and our collaboration with Microsoft is a historic step in delivering that vision to a larger market," said Colligan. "We're confident customers will see a differentiated smartphone that delivers our world-class usability on Microsoft's flexible and robust Windows Mobile operating system. We collaborated with Verizon Wireless first because of its high-speed wireless network and growing footprint of BroadbandAccess cities."

"This is a landmark alliance that will help businesses remain on the cutting edge of competitiveness," Gates said. "Demand for accessing information on mobile devices is soaring, and businesses want a low-cost, scalable solution. We're excited to team with Palm and Verizon Wireless to deliver a winning Windows Mobile solution that connects professionals to their critical information while on the go."

The Treo smartphone on Windows Mobile is a CDMA-based phone targeted for the U.S. market and takes advantage of Verizon Wireless' BroadbandAccess service on its EV-DO network with download speeds averaging 400-700 kilobits per second. Today, about half the U.S. population, in more than 84 metropolitan areas and in hundreds of airports across the nation, can access download speeds comparable to DSL or cable-modem connections. Verizon Wireless has been expanding its BroadbandAccess service area steadily since its debut in the fall of 2003.

"The new Treo smartphone running Windows Mobile will highlight the speed and power of our BroadbandAccess service," said Strigl. "The Treo will deliver fast downloading of email and attachments as well as quick access to critical-business information, providing businesses with a great return on investment. Our strong relationships with Microsoft and Palm continue to provide real value for our customers."

The new Treo smartphone is powered by an Intel processor and joins Palm's award-winning family of Treo smartphones, which includes the Treo 600 and Treo 650, both offered today to Verizon Wireless customers.

The Palm Experience on Windows Mobile

During the press conference, the companies demonstrated the Palm experience now brought to life on Windows Mobile. The audience saw a sampling of Palm's award-winning hardware design integrated thoughtfully with a rich Palm software suite, including the ability to:

-- Contact someone quickly from the Today Screen and choose between home, office or mobile numbers, or select email or SMS. With only two letters entered, a customer can find a record from among thousands of contacts;

-- Reach people most often called via photo speed dials visible as a band of images on the Today Screen;

-- Decline a call with a friendly SMS, signaling "In a meeting" or "Talking with the boss" instead of simply ignoring the call; and

-- Rewind, delete or fast-forward through work or cell phone voicemail with familiar and consistent on-screen icons.

Full product details will be disclosed when the product is available for purchase in early calendar 2006. No plans were revealed for additional mobile operators. Palm indicated that a Treo smartphone using Windows Mobile based on other wireless technologies was not anticipated to be released earlier than the second half of 2006.

About Palm, Inc.

Palm, Inc., a leader in mobile computing, strives to put the power of computing in people's hands so they can access and share their most important information. The company's products for consumers, mobile professionals and businesses include Palm(R) handheld computers, Palm Treo(TM) smartphones, Palm LifeDrive(TM) mobile managers, as well as software, services and accessories.

Palm products are sold through select Internet, retail, reseller and wireless operator channels throughout the world, and at Palm Retail Stores and Palm online stores (http://www.palm.com/store).

More information about Palm, Inc. is available at http://www.palm.com.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their potential.

About Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless owns and operates the nation's most reliable wireless network, serving 47.4 million voice and data customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.

NOTE: A replay and podcast of the press conference will be available starting at approximately 12 p.m. Pacific from the following links:

-- Webcast: www.microsoft.com/presspass

-- Podcast: http://www.microsoft.com/winme/0509/...Conference.xml

Broadcast Video and Other Materials

Video and photographs will be available from several sources, including the following:

-- Palm's Multimedia Library (www.palm.com/MultimediaLibrary). Preregistration is required to access broadcast-quality video and stills.

-- Microsoft's press room (www.microsoft.com/presspass).

-- Verizon Wireless' Multimedia Library (www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia). Preregistration is required to access broadcast-quality video and stills.

-- Cameras are permitted on-site -- an audio mult-box will be provided.

-- For broadcast coordinates and inquiries, contact mediarelations@wctv.com or 212.445.8220.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FROM PALM: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including, without limitation, statements regarding the smartphone market and the timeframe in which new products will be available. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially, including, without limitation, the following: Palm's ability to forecast demand for its products; Palm's ability to introduce new products and services successfully and in a cost effective and timely manner; Palm's ability to timely and cost-effectively obtain components and elements of its technology from suppliers; Palm's dependence on wireless carriers and ability to meet wireless carrier certification requirements. A detailed discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is included in Palm's most recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 3, 2005. Palm undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release.

(1) Within wireless service coverage area only. Email, messaging and web access requires data services at an additional cost. ISP may also be required.

(2) Requires Exchange Server 2003 and access enabled by IT administrator.

Palm, Treo and LifeDrive are among the trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to Palm, Inc. Microsoft and Windows Mobile are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. All other brand and product names are or may be trademarks of, and are used to identify products or services of, their respective owners.

SOURCE: Palm

Palm
Sandy O'Halloran, 408-617-7639 (Investor Relations)
sandy.ohalloran@palm.com
Marlene Somsak, 408-617-7451 (Media Relations)
marlene.somsak@palm.com
Jimmy Johnson, 408-617-7456(Media Relations)
jimmy.johnson@palm.com
or
Weber Shandwick for Microsoft
Chris Elliott, 425-452-5389
celliott@webershandwick.com
or
Verizon Wireless Corporate Communications
Jeffrey Nelson, 917-968-9175
jeffrey.nelson@verizonwireless.com
Brenda Boyd Raney, 908-872-7152
brenda.raney@verizonwireless.com

[Disgruntled Head of C-3PO]

I'm sorry but the Palm OS is dated as hell. I hate windows mobile also but it does more.

Palm OS6 seems to be dead in the water. I had a newton from day one and the OS was incredible, I got a palm a couple years ago and I was unimpressed by the limited, crappy, overly simple OS that I sold the damn thing after a year.

I think Palm thinks this is the only way they can survive as they don't even have faith in the crappy Palm os.

[olePigeon]

Palm (the software one) was bought by some other company. With no OS, Palm (the hardware oen) had nothing to sell.

[starman]

The Palm OS sucks. I've always hated it. One of the reason I dumped my Treo. It reminds me of the BeOS.

Mike

[jaydon34]

I still have a treo and as much as I love the phone. The os is garbage.

[dark3lf]

I'm going to hold out until Q1 2k6 for the Motorola Q.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by olePigeon

Palm (the software one) was bought by some other company. With no OS, Palm (the hardware oen) had nothing to sell.

The company that bought Palm the software company was... Palm the hardware company.

[JoshuaZ]

I`ve been thinking of getting a Palm just for Japanese language translation, but every time I think about it I can always find a reason not to get one. Phones keep taking over where PDAs were. Blah, Palm was cool for a while, now its lame.

[El Gato]

Originally Posted by goMac

The company that bought Palm the software company was... Palm the hardware company.

No, it wasn't. PalmSource was purchased by Access, the company that makes NetFront.

And like people have said above, Palm really didn't have a choice in going with WinMobile. The new Tungsten and Zire coming out in October will still be running a version of PalmOS 5 while WinMobile continues to update and improve.

As much as it pains me to say it, WinMob is something that Microsoft actually does reasonably well. Even if Access does come out with a capable PalmOS, it's difficult to see Palm dancing back and forth between OSs - I would imagine the Palm is looking to use WinMob in their enterprise-level devices and use PalmOS in the low-end consumer devices.

[lavar78]

I like the Palm OS and I love my Treo 650. This would be a downgrade for me.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by El Gato

No, it wasn't. PalmSource was purchased by Access, the company that makes NetFront.

And like people have said above, Palm really didn't have a choice in going with WinMobile. The new Tungsten and Zire coming out in October will still be running a version of PalmOS 5 while WinMobile continues to update and improve.

As much as it pains me to say it, WinMob is something that Microsoft actually does reasonably well. Even if Access does come out with a capable PalmOS, it's difficult to see Palm dancing back and forth between OSs - I would imagine the Palm is looking to use WinMob in their enterprise-level devices and use PalmOS in the low-end consumer devices.

Really? I was sure the PalmOS was at least bought back at one point to reunite Palm. Hmmm... : googles :

[goMac]

Here it is:

PalmOne Buys Palm from PalmSource

This is tricky, so stick with us if you can: Remember how Palm split up into PalmSource and PalmOne, just after PalmOne merged with HandSpring (which was founded by Palm employees who left Palm so they could make Palm devices of their own)? Well now, it turns out PalmOne has purchased the Palm brand name from PalmSource. Why? So the company can rename itself Palm. The new Palm neé PalmOne will then license the Palm name to PalmSource. Maybe Palm will then spin off a company to revive the HandSpring name and make some competition for itself to vie against — and later repurchase.

Just the brand name apparently. :-\

[davesimondotcom]

I've had, but haven't used, a Handspring Visor for about 5 years. Just feel like a PDA is limiting as far as functionality.

What did Palm ever do with the technology it got when it bought Be?

[Disgruntled Head of C-3PO]

Originally Posted by davesimondotcom

What did Palm ever do with the technology it got when it bought Be?

They said they used it for Palm OS6 but that was years ago and nobody has seen jack **** since.

[olePigeon]

They could've used Linux.

[El Gato]

Originally Posted by olePigeon

They could've used Linux.

PalmSource was in the process of putting together a Linux-based PalmOS after scrapping Cobalt.

Who nows what's going to come of that now.

[vinster]

Wouldn't use one of these even if it was given to me.

Why? Because the major US cellular carriers are so ass backwards in comparison with the rest of the world. We maintain and upgrade proprietary networks and sell stylized bricks, that only work on the carrier's proprietary networks, as phones. It looks like the CDMA carriers (those w/ the largest mkt. share in the US) are ignoring attempts to transition to a worldwide 3G standard that will allow one to purchase and use a phone in many countries.

We even have real-world examples of how Telcos in Japan and Europe are ahead with the technology and we seem to disregard them.

Even US phone manufacturers such as Motorola don't deliver new technologies for the US market. In fact, one of the nicest V-series flip-phones, the V635, will never be marketed and sold in the US.

I'm sticking it out with GSM for as long as possible and hoping those carriers will properly transition to the world-standardized 3G implementation.

[Salty]

This sucks... I always meant to buy a Palm but couldn't figure out a good reason to buy one. Our associate pastor uses a Sony Clié and loves it. Perhaps we should get him a Tungston E before it's too late. Sigh... the death of the PDA is upon us. Wonder if Apple could some how revive this industry? Perhaps after transitioning to Intel based procs they can take a look at the market and fix it

[Disgruntled Head of C-3PO]

Originally Posted by Salty

Perhaps after transitioning to Intel based procs they can take a look at the market and fix it

Apple says over and over that the market sucks for PDA's. In the past 4 years iPods and cellphones do 80% of what people use PDA's for, datebooks and contacts.

[jcadam]

Originally Posted by Disgruntled Head of C-3PO

Apple says over and over that the market sucks for PDA's. In the past 4 years iPods and cellphones do 80% of what people use PDA's for, datebooks and contacts.

what about pr0n viewing?

[Salty]

Originally Posted by Disgruntled Head of C-3PO

Apple says over and over that the market sucks for PDA's. In the past 4 years iPods and cellphones do 80% of what people use PDA's for, datebooks and contacts.

So why not make an iPod that's also a phone that lets you do data input. That's really what I'd like. For my iPod to let me somehow add information even if it meant a little keyboard I plugged it into to dock it or something.

[JoshuaZ]

You mean the new iPod phone? But with more memory?

[Salty]

Kind of only more sexy. But also you could go in the direction that I've often promoted. PDA as small portable extension of a desktop. Let it work as a think client using processing power from another computer over a AirPort network.
Work with Wacom on getting a good tablet like/pressure sensitive tool that would say let you photoshop on the couch. Browse the web from anywhere in the house.

Something more of a palm top like device. Somewhere closer to where PocketPC is going. Let people watch Quicktime movies stored on an internal microdrive or on an iPod or over a WiFi network. Let them access info from their home Mac even when away from home if they can get an internet connection. They could even work .Mac into that and have that required for that, that would actually make .mac worth paying for!
It'd probably have to be a single window like device, which Apple doesn't seem to mind on the iPod.

I mean I don't necessarily want Printer Drivers, and a lot of the other stuff that takes up space on OS X. Just the basics. Something that extends the Mac not just keeps your calendars and address books in a small format. I want something that will make me more productive.

[blackstar]

i never thought I had a use for a PDA, but it was itching me all the time, so I bought a Palm IIIxe for 20 bucks of ebay and now I cant get away fom it, very usefull for a lot of stuff