Palm and Sprint to Offer Wireless Web
S A N T A C L A R A, Calif., Jan. 5 -- Palm Inc. and Sprint PCS have teamedup to offer customers more wireless Internet options on mobilehandheld devices, the companies said Thursday.
The alliance means Palm, the leading provider of personaldigital assistants, will take advantage of Sprint PCS’ vastwireless network coverage. Palm also will continue increasing Webcapabilities for its Palm OS products, which includes handhelddevices and so-called smart phones that integrate voice and datacommunication.
As part of the deal the companies will offer a new co-brandedversion of the MyPalm portal, which Palm launched in November. Itfeatures access to personal and corporate e-mail, e-commerce andWeb browsing.
So Far, Palm Not Affiliated With Wireless Service
Palm users will be able to buy wireless adapters to connecttheir devices to an Internet-ready Sprint cellphone in the earlypart of 2001. By mid-year, a wireless modem, that will hook ontoPalm handhelds and provide a direct link to Sprint’s phone network,will also be available.
Sprint also said it intends to distribute Palm OS-based smartphones by June 2001.
Internet access is currently available through the built-inmodems of the Palm VII model, or with Palm’s mobile Internet kitthat connects older Palm models with cell phones. Neither method isaffiliated with a particular wireless service carrier.
“This relationship will ensure that our customers have areliable option to wirelessly access the MyPalm portal, e-mail andother applications to get the information they want when they needit,” said Carl Yankowski, Palm’s chief executive officer.
The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.
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