Comments on: PalmSource Looking for Strategic Investors

PalmSource, the operating system division of Palm Inc. is looking for $60 million to $80 million in investment money for when it becomes an independent company, which should happen within the next six months. PalmSource CEO David Nagel told Cnet that his company was hoping to get an amount equal to 9 months to a year's revenue. "We're really talking to a mixture of what I would say are strategic investors -- people that would have either the status of technology partners or perhaps customers -- on the one hand and then strategic financial investors on the other," Nagel said.
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Buy Palm Stock Now

RobZombie @ 8/17/2002 5:11:55 PM #
> "We currently plan to either do an IPO or do a stock distribution (to Palm shareholders),
> which given the state of market is probably in all honesty the more likely course

However you feel about Palm's hardware, buy some Palm stock now and some PalmSource stock will arrive in your mailbox in a few months. You can dump the Palm stock at that point if you want but I think this is a great time to get in on the ground floor at PalmSource at bottom basement prices.

RE: Buy Palm Stock Now
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/17/2002 6:41:26 PM #
Palm currently makes about $8.00 for each handheld manufactured using the palm license agreement. If one million Palm OS handhelds were sold each year, that's only eight million bucks income. Now, if every man, woman and child in the US purchased a Palm OS handheld every year for the next decade, the company would look like a great bargain. As is, it only has marginal intellectual resources and a declining income stream. Therefore, the "ground floor" is likely exactly where the stock is heading. I wish it were otherwise.

JBH

RE: Buy Palm Stock Now
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/17/2002 6:51:27 PM #
> "We currently plan to either do an IPO or do a stock distribution (to Palm shareholders), which given the state of market is probably in all honesty the more likely course.

Another IPO or distribution? Sheesh. How many times can you split a hair? How much more can they dilute this company? They just keep cutting up the corpse into smaller and smaller pieces and selling them off.

RE: Buy Palm Stock Now
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 3:01:27 AM #
> Palm currently makes about $8.00 for each
> handheld manufactured using the
> palm license agreement. If one million Palm OS
> handhelds were sold each year, that's only eight > million bucks income.

Your estimate is way, way off. PalmSource's revenue for last *quarter* was $18.7 million. Assuming that's an average quarter, multiply by four quarters in a year to get roughly $75 million.

Palm and PalmSources quarterly results:
www.palminfocenter.com/view_Story.asp?ID=3716

RE: Buy Palm Stock Now
LarryGarfield @ 8/18/2002 5:47:29 AM #
> Palm currently makes about $8.00 for each
> handheld manufactured using the
> palm license agreement. If one million Palm OS
> handhelds were sold each year, that's only eight > million bucks income.

That's under the old Handspring license agreement. The licensing costs for OS 4 and up are much higher, and based on a different model, too. It cuts out a lot of smaller companies, but is much more in line with making PalmSource financially sound all on its own.

--
This post is ROT26 encrypted. Reading it is a violation of the DMCA

RE: Buy Palm Stock Now
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 10:43:05 AM #
>"That's under the old Handspring license agreement. The licensing costs for OS 4 and up are much higher, and based on a different model, too."

Sir Larry - what is it then? OR are you just blowing smoke?

Sony will jump on that

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/17/2002 5:10:26 PM #
Sony has the capital to loan Palm Source the $$ and in return have a major influence on the direction the OS is going.
RE: Sony will jump on that
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/17/2002 6:14:50 PM #
That's probably the most likely outcome. Sony may not buy them outright but enough of it to have their influences. And at these prices it's a bargain. What % of the shares would be enough to have real influences? Obviously 50%+1 share will do it, but if you don't want totally control it just "influence" it.
RE: Sony will jump on that
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/17/2002 6:39:52 PM #
And if Sony waits just a little bit - Palm is bancrupt and Sony (or anybody else) gets it for free - If you read Nagels comment between the lines.

Nagel is (rarely enough) refreshing clear in his statement. What he says boils down to: Either some stupid stumbles in with a spare 80 million bucks, without asking stupid questions, or we have to turn the light off.

If you ask a sober man, not blinded by the zen of Palm singsong - the latter is happening.

RE: Sony will jump on that
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/17/2002 8:04:25 PM #
The day Sony has "a major influence on the direction the OS is going" is the day I jump ship and get a Zaurus or something else. Sony knows very little about developing operating systems.
RE: Sony will jump on that
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/17/2002 8:09:07 PM #
Palm (including PalmSource) is an old sick horse that refuses to die.

Why on earth would SONY!!! buy such a company. Sony can develop their own OS or use PPC 2002.

Palsource is history.

RE: Sony will jump on that
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/17/2002 10:11:58 PM #
"The day Sony has "a major influence on the direction the OS is going" is the day I jump ship and get a Zaurus or something else. Sony knows very little about developing operating systems."

Well don't forget to take your life-vest, Sony already has a hand at steering the Palm platform in the direction from being just an organizer to a multi-media, multi-functional PDA.

Like it or not, Palm was just a fancy organizer before handspring and Sony licensed the OS. Recently, Sony has pushed the OS to the max of it's capablities.

RE: Sony will jump on that
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 1:21:23 AM #
Sticking a hardware MP3 decoder in a device has absolutlely nothing to do with pushing the OS. Sony clearly makes some fancy devices hardware-wise, but please know what you're talking about before making silly claims about operating systems. I suppose in your mind, since Sony makes some fancy laptops, they push the Windows OS too.

RE: Sony will jump on that
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 8:28:37 AM #
sony knows nothing about developing OSs?

At least my Playstation does not lockup every time I run it like my desktop does.

How about Cameras? native Japanese PDAs? CD players? DVD and VCRs? They all have OSs. Unlike those from Microsoft (for the most part) they at least work. No one wants to throw their TV out the Window. But EVERYONE who uses a computer has at one time or another, because Microsoft's OS so often simply does not do what it is supposed to do.

RE: Sony will jump on that
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 9:42:22 AM #
If you look inside each of those devices you mention you'll find OS's that were not developed by Sony. Sony are great at taking someone else's work and wrapping it in tacky surrounds, then rev'ing those box designs every 3 weeks.
RE: Sony will jump on that
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 1:25:43 PM #
"Sticking a hardware MP3 decoder in a device has absolutlely nothing to do with pushing the OS. Sony clearly makes some fancy devices hardware-wise, but please know what you're talking about before making silly claims about operating systems. I suppose in your mind, since Sony makes some fancy laptops, they push the Windows OS too."

Please know what I'm talking about?

Here's what I'm talking about:

What Palm has done with their OS 4.0 machines:
1. 16-bit color... wait they got that from Handspring!
2. VFS support for external cards...again wait... they got from Sony!
3. Same 160x160 resolution that has been carried over from OS 3.5, OS 3.0, OS 2.0 in other words no change!
4. 16mb for internal memory support...hold on didn't Handspring do that first?
5. 33mhz processor support... wait Handspring was again first.

What Sony did with their Palm OS 4.0 machines:
1. x4 the resolution with 320x320 color screen by using a separate graphics chip to work with the OS to handle the increase resolution and color.
2. enable mp3 playback by again incorporating another DSP chip to work with the OS to allow mp3 playback AND PDA functioning.
3. improve the screens especially the NR and T 665 series.
4. built in speaker to play music and sounds other than "beep-beep"
5. incorporated a virtual graffti system (again Handera first the first to offer the virtual graffti not Palm)
6. Allow expanded viewing from 320x320 high resolution to 320x480 high resolution on the NR models
7. Incorporated a 66mhz processor to their high-end models.
8. Incorpporated a jog-dail and back button into their units.

I think that these add-on certainly "push" the OS.

RE: Sony will jump on that
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 2:31:10 PM #
That's a lot of text to name VFS as the only obvious thing that Sony has added to the OS.
RE: Sony will jump on that
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 4:58:34 PM #
This "That's a lot of text to name VFS as the only obvious thing that Sony has added to the OS."

Should read "That's a lot of text to name VFS *AND INCREASED RESOLLUTION, SOFT GRAFITTI, mp3,* as the only obvious thing that Sony has added to the OS."

Actually all the things that got me from the PPC camp to the Palm OS one.

RE: Sony will jump on that
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 6:15:43 PM #
You two actually agree with each other, you are just using different terms to describe the same thing so you aren't understanding each other. Sony has added great features to the Palm OS PLATFORM, like MP3 players, hi-res, and all that. They haven't added them to the operating system.

Sony's strength is in developing good, innovative hardware. AFAIK, they have never tried their hand at operating systems, preferring to licence them from other companies.

RE: Sony will jump on that
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 8:08:42 PM #
Adding hi-res support, needs new API's, and modification to the OS. The OS doesn't support Virtual Grafiti or hi-res both need modification. The OS doesn't support speakers/graphics chips. You need to modify...etc
RE: Sony will jump on that
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/19/2002 12:14:34 AM #
Palm has over a quarter billion $$$ in cash. Even losing money, that should last them a couple years. Enough time to fully spin off PalmSource. Once PalmSource is spun off, it doesn't matter whether Palm or Sony pays the most or least in PalmOS royalties, PalmSource ain't goin' under. They won't have any major liabilities; and in today's post-Enron climate, their IPO most probably won't be padded with any monster executive salaries.

To prevent some hostile take-over, they might even have PalmSource spin-off Palm Solutions (give the hardware group the new stock ticker), instead of vice-versa. Then PalmSource would get a big tax write-off if Palm doesn't get their act in order, an important option if they want to Micro$oftize their books.

RE: Sony will jump on that
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/19/2002 3:28:39 AM #
"Palm has over a quarter billion $$$ in cash. Even losing money, that should last them a couple years. Enough time to fully spin off PalmSource."

Dude, did you even read the article?

WE are not the ones saying Palm or PalmSource needed money. The head of PalmSource said that they needed $$. We are just debating where that money will come from.

what about good ol' apple?

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/17/2002 7:11:05 PM #
i know this rumor has been around before, but apple may not be a bad palm os partner either. they have done the handheld thing beore, they have a handwriting recognition software, GUI experience and they have cash available....
RE: what about good ol' apple?
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/17/2002 7:59:10 PM #
Would be nice. Apple and PalmSource could make a great team.
If this happens M$ will take advantage of the situation
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/17/2002 8:12:22 PM #
I don't think this is a good idea. Apple will scare off many Windows users, and the majority of palm OS users use Windows (that's why Sony eliminated mac support).

No ofense to MAc but there are many Windows users (average joes not geeks like us) that see Apple as something bad.


People will relate Palm OS with Machintosh. If this happens M$ will use some sort of strategy to make Joe six pack think that Palm OS handhelds are for Mac users only.

RE: what about good ol' apple?
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/17/2002 8:47:26 PM #
Even a layman knows Steve Jobs opinion: If he hates on thing on earth, its a handheld PDA.
He has said this openly about a trillion time.
Why not go for reality Palmsource is dry of capital and therefore there history before it began.
How Apple/Jobs thinks...
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/17/2002 10:18:28 PM #
If Apple buys into PalmSource, they won't settle for any less than 51%. Jobs dosen't share well (See:"Common hardware Refrence Platform", or more appropriately, how Jobs drove a stake through it. Also, the level of control that he exerted on NeXT development/hardware.), and his first step would probably be to pull the licencing of the OS from everybody he could - He's too entrenched on the idea of fighting to maintain, and not to win.
I can't see Apple having any interest in OS 4, though. They MIGHT bite on OS5, but it hasen't even seen the light of commercial day yet - Why buy a whole company for a Mystery OS?

Now, on the other hand, if Bill was to hand some money to an interested/skilled third party, that person could go in and all but drive Palm into the ground by scattering their resources on bizzare projects and destroying investor confidence by making wishy-washy statements to the press. Hell, they've probably spent more than this on PPC advertising in the last two years.

Or did that happen already? I'm not sure.

RE: what about good ol' apple?
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 1:56:00 AM #
> I don't think this is a good idea. Apple will scare off many Windows users

Just like Microsoft dumping a bunch of money into Apple scared off the Mac users? There's absolutely no reason why the general public would even know about Apple dumping some money into PalmSource.

Apple will definitely scare Windows Users.
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 6:58:58 AM #
When Microsoft invested money in Apple no one knew, but if Apple invest in Palm M$ is going to take advantage of that.

I can see M$ advertisements:

Can your Apple powered Palm do that?

This for sure will trik people into beleving that Palms offer only compatibility with Apple computers or that the Palm OS is a scaled down version of MAc.

RE: what about good ol' apple?
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 9:18:16 AM #
Forget about it. Apple makes the iPod which is already halfway to being a handheld. As soon as they add a way to do text input it will be a full-fledged Palm competitor. Don't know how serious a competitor it will be because developer support is really important and there's no way to judge that now. But Apple won't be buying into PalmSource. If they wanted to do that, the iPod would already run the Palm OS.
RE: what about good ol' apple?
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 1:05:13 PM #
Ya know, an OS X GUI wouldn't be bad for OS 6.

It's obvious that Jobs doesn't share well; he makes the hardware and software for his company. You are right, everything must be his way or no way.

Why does Jobs not want an Apple PDA/OS?
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 3:05:39 PM #
>"Even a layman knows Steve Jobs opinion: If he hates on thing on earth, its a handheld PDA."

Why does Jobs not want an Apple PDA/OS? Not enough margins????

I think it would make complete sense to offer an iPad PDA with an OS X type GUI/OS.

Is Jobs afraid of margins? What about iPod? I think even if they don't make much money on the PDA, they could market more Mac's through using the iPAD PDA as their new "digital hub" of the Apple Experience.

RE: what about good ol' apple?
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 4:54:46 PM #
I think it would be cool if Apple invested in PalmSource. Hell, alot of Palm employees are formerly
Apple employees, or was developing for Apple.
RE: what about good ol' apple?
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 8:26:21 PM #
I'd rather see all exisiting Palm Source managment and engineers dissapear and Sony or Apple people come in and get things done. The OS is moving waaay to slow for the market they are in.
RE: what about good ol' apple?
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 10:07:44 PM #
What really happened is even better. The executives who were responsible for the slow development were all fired last fall. That's why OS5 has been finished and OS6 is coming this winter.
RE: what about good ol' apple?
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/19/2002 1:42:09 AM #
...Why does Jobs not want an Apple PDA/OS? Not enough margins????....

Besides Palm is not heading for profitibility but in free fall: your uninformed.
Job statet cool after he was asked why no nes Newton "our market research found after investigating - PDA is a bad user-experience to day".

Like it or not - the Palm produced today is stoneage. Excepf tor the few techies on PIC...

Be saves the day.

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/17/2002 10:51:42 PM #
The only scenario that will save this whole mess.

Right after the introduction to that Oslo, Palm shows a preview of the OS 6.0 in all it's glory, and promise it will be out within 3 months.

voila. Everybody breaths sight of relief. Palm users cheers. Customer ogling over the new OS preview and actually might buy the OSLO after all.

This will show Wallstreet that Palm is not a loser afterall, that they can make a "real" OS, and there is hope with that Be OS acquisition.

This deal has to be done by March and the Beta out by Summer next year, or Palm will be over and forever be a 5% niche market gadget maker.

RE: Be saves the day.
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 12:51:16 AM #
Or sales stagnates becuase everybody decides to wait for OS6 devices.. like they are waiting for OS5 devices now.

When does it end?

RE: Be saves the day.
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 1:11:41 AM #
Be is not going to save the day. OS 6.0 is not what is going to save PalmSource. PalmSource needs to get more devices shipped, period!
RE: Be saves the day.
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 1:46:33 AM #
> show Wallstreet that Palm is not a loser afterall,
> that they can make a "real" OS

OS 5 is a real OS. What exactly are you looking for?

RE: Be saves the day.
LarryGarfield @ 8/18/2002 5:51:36 AM #
> > show Wallstreet that Palm is not a loser afterall,
> > that they can make a "real" OS

> OS 5 is a real OS. What exactly are you looking for?

OS 4 is a real OS, too. It's not as complex as OS 5, or Windows, or Linux, or Mac OS, but it's a real OS, in that it does OS things. Heck, Palm OS 4 has a lot more features than MS-DOS ever did, and DOS was considered an OS.

Your definition of "real", sir, is not in line with this universe.

--
This post is ROT26 encrypted. Reading it is a violation of the DMCA

Oslo is not going to save Palm it is going to destroy it.
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 7:04:18 AM #
The only thing that can save Palm/PalmSource is an m5xx size OS 5 device.

What sparked the Palm OS was the slim V form factor.

Geeks like us may like the OSlo's folding desing but Joe and Jane SixPack want a sleek m5xx size device. Average Joe cares more about thinness and shape than functionality. Oslo will have the same fate as the Zaurus.

For this you only have to see how well is the Toshiba e310 selling (go to amazon or buy.com), despite being a PPC. Average people don't care much about the OS they just care about astetics.

RE: Be saves the day.
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 9:22:59 AM #
Man, I´m getting tired of that Average Joe guy, Joe SixPack and all those stereotypes you use here...

Can we be a little less elitist, or at least more creative with the appellatives?

RE: Be saves the day.
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 9:41:57 AM #
> I´m getting tired of that Average Joe guy, Joe SixPack [...]
> or at least more creative with the appelatives?

I find it refreshing when at least some people understand that the usual techno-geeks posting here know nothing about the typical consumer.

RE: Be saves the day.
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 11:05:32 AM #
Hate to say this, but the e310 is one of the top sellers because its price is almost down to $200 after all those rebates.

People care about prices first, and then OS.

If a Mac is cheaper than a PC, I bet everyone will try a Mac some time.

RE: Be saves the day.
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 2:35:22 PM #
The e310 may be selling well, but it is sure a clunky feeling little box. I played with one at Costco and could never imagine buying it. It was nowhere near as nice to hold and use as my Clie NR70V. It's too wide and boxy, and the scroll dial was not as well positioned as the Clie's.
RE: Be saves the day.
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 3:53:42 PM #
>Man, I´m getting tired of that Average Joe guy, Joe
>SixPack and all those stereotypes you use here...

I dated Jane Sixpack (then Jane Lunchbucket) in high school. She dumped me when I joined the Computer Club and then took up with Joe, who had just been released from juvenile detention and was allowed to return to school after completing an anger management course.

The last time I saw Joe and Jane was in late '89. They were riding down U.S. 1 on a lime green Harley with a six-pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon strapped to the sissy bar. I often wondered what happened to them. To say the least, it's a shock to learn that they're into PDAs. I bet Jane would'nt have ditched me so fast had there been Palm V's around in '86. Sometimes timing is everything.

RE: Be saves the day.
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 8:09:51 PM #
OS5 is a half-measure update neccessary to keep legacy applications alive. Once OS6 comes online, it will be like going from CE --> PPC, some stuff will work, but a good 85% of the software will not. Palm can't afford to do this now with PPC gaining momentum.
RE: Be saves the day.
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 8:50:30 PM #
> it will be like going from CE --> PPC, some stuff will work, but a good 85% of the
> software will not.

While this is a wonderful example of how Microsoft screws customers and developers
over, it doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to how Palm works.

PACE is the system PalmOSv5 uses to run Dragonball applications on ARM
processors. OSv6 will also include PACE. Any program that runs under OSv5 will
run under OSv6.

RE: Be saves the day.
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/19/2002 12:38:52 AM #
> OS 5 is a real OS. What exactly are you looking for?

An OS that exposes its cool feature to the public API's (instead of hiding multithreading, IPC, etc. That's not a 68k Kadak kernal under the hood anymore kiddies...)
An OS that allows applications to use only code fully native to and optimized for the CPU on which they're run (it's an ARM, not a 68k emulator!).
Documented memory protection, so apps can't crash the OS anymore with just one bad pointer, would be nice also.

RE: Be saves the day.
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/19/2002 8:39:42 AM #
Native apps aren't allowed because they want to encourage a transition where apps will run on all machines. I think that is the right approach. They may also want to change some APIs as things go native. There are of course native Armlets which should cover most needs.

Things like multithreading and IPC are not needed in 95% plus of applications, and are even more rarely necessary. APIs for that will probably be native only. PalmSource needs to take the time to get those APIs right before they go public. They also need to get guidelines together for their use, or the potential is there to make the Palm OS a lot less fun and easy to use. Hopefully they've got the Be folks helping out with this.

Yes, it'll be nice to get those things in there, but Palm OS 5 is quite capable as is.

RE: Be saves the day.
Smaug @ 8/19/2002 5:26:57 PM #
I don't know what yer talking about, I think multithreading would be damned useful in most applications. As the idea on the Palm is GUI input for a background processing task. Running both in separate threads allows some neat things :).

RE: Be saves the day.
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/19/2002 6:44:52 PM #
> An OS that exposes its cool feature to the public API's
> Documented memory protection, so apps can't crash the OS anymore with just one bad pointer, would be nice also.

Using your standard, M$ Windows NT/2k/XP definitely is not a "real OS".

Now ask around, "Is M$ Windows NT/2k/XP an OS?" And see how many people say "No".

PalmSource: Microsoft competition and company changes: David

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 8:18:21 PM #
PalmSource: Microsoft competition and company changes: David Nagel, CEO, PalmSource
August 14, 2002, 2:49 PM PT
22 minutes 30 seconds

In an exclusive Face to Face interview with CNET editors, PalmSource CEO David Nagel talks about competition with Microsoft in the handheld market and his company's planned split with Palm.

http://news.com.com/2001-12-0.html#

RE: PalmSource: Microsoft competition and company changes: David
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/18/2002 8:20:12 PM #
I forgot to mention, ironically, when you start the CNET video, you see/hear "Sponsored by Microsoft".

Strategic Investors

SuccessWizard @ 8/18/2002 11:01:03 PM #
Aren't we all looking for strategic investors?

Palm is just on the edge of profitability. The move to the new digs and a round of new product hitting the shelves this fall, we'll see where they go.

I hope that everything they roll-out -- except maybe the sub $100 unit -- are upgradable as OS 5 is refined.

Mike Lohsl
Palm & ACT! Advisor

www.successwizard.com

[I]Proud user of a Palm i705 Mobile Office and Kyocera 6035 phone[/I]

RE: Strategic Investors
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/19/2002 12:48:58 AM #
If the new OS 5 units were rumored to be flash upgradable to OS 6 (or whatever they call it), it would certain help those products lose the temporary half-measure stigma that OS 5 has in some circles.
RE: Strategic Investors
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/19/2002 11:25:03 AM #
>>If the new OS 5 units were rumored to be flash upgradable to OS 6 (or whatever
>>they call it), it would certain help those products lose the temporary half-measure stigma
>>that OS 5 has in some circles.

I think this is a given. If its ARM OS 5, and has flash ROM, it will probably be upgradable.

Sony should buy Palm

WhoControlsTheMedia? @ 8/19/2002 5:23:45 AM #
Sony has the money and (hopefully) the management expertise to turn Palm into something other than a cash bleeder. Let's see if they will make a move.

Apple's PDA: iPhone

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/19/2002 10:07:41 AM #
http://makeashorterlink.com/?V2A152E81

August 19, 2002
Apple's Chief in the Risky Land of the Handhelds
By JOHN MARKOFF

Mr. Jobs and Apple decline to confirm those plans. But industry analysts see evidence that Apple is contemplating what inside the company is being called an "iPhone."

Now, with the release of the newest version of the Macintosh operating system, Mr. Jobs appears intent on taking Apple itself into the hand-held market. The move would play into Apple's so-called digital hub strategy, in which the Macintosh desktop computer is the center of a web of peripheral devices.

RE: Apple's PDA: iPhone
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/19/2002 11:06:17 AM #
ah ha!

Where is the Enterprise Plan

richbell@pobox.com @ 8/19/2002 11:28:33 AM #
I've been watching and waiting since the Palm Souce Dev convention this spring for Palm OS 5 devices and some clue as to Palm's plan of attack on the enterprise market. As far as OS 5 devices, where are they? They were quick to announce that OS 5 went gold master but devices, when, from whom, what can we expect, zip. Now all I hear from Palm is this great plan to split the company, plans to move to wherever, and new low end hardware. What does this get me, nothing.

Don't get me wrong I'm a Palm believer, but I've got to sell the platform to my bosses as we look to the next year of development. Today all I can say is wait another month and see (but that is what I said last month). Palm has me (and I'm sure alot of you) up against the wall here with pressure to recomend what platform to use for our enterprise customers.

What do I need to see from Palm. OS 5 devices would be nice. A database plan, what does enterprise mean to XYZ inc, it means how do I get access to my server data stores from a PDA (with or without wireless access). The answer is distributed databases with some component residing on the PDA. If I choose Palm that means that I have to write my DB engine myself, no premade companion available for my SQL server or Oracle databases. However, if I pick Pocket PC... (god forbid) I've got SQL Server CE with all the data replication stuff right there. (I'm not saying that the MS solution is easy to use or reliable or anything for that matter, BUT IT EXISTS) And worst of all my boss knows it exists.

What I'd like to see from Palm as far as strategic partners is Oracle. With Palm OS 5 we should have the hardware so now lets see some tools. They have IBM as a partner but is IBM working on a data distribution scheme for DB2?

Palm if you are listening, throw us a bone here. Its your developers that are trying to hold the line here and get you into the enterprise market but you have to give us the tools to do so and FAST. We don't care that you want to split your company or that you have another low end device, we need the HIGH END Enterprise devices NOW not in three months. Time is short and getting shorter so keep your eye on the ball and help us keep you in the game.

RE: Where is the Enterprise Plan
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/19/2002 12:11:42 PM #
What you want is available now and it doesn't require OS 5. HanDBase 3.0 can use an add on program named Sync Exchange that allows two-way synchronization with backend database programs. There are three versions: Sync Exchange for Microsoft Access, Sync Exchange for Filemaker Pro, and Sync Exchange for ODBC data-sources.
www.ddhsoftware.com/handbase.html

Take a careful look at the other database applications, too. HanDBase is the one my company uses but I think there are others that can tie in with SQL and ODBC sources.

RE: Where is the Enterprise Plan
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/19/2002 2:24:33 PM #
IBM's DB2 Everyplace:
http://www-3.ibm.com/software/data/db2/everyplace/

RE: Where is the Enterprise Plan
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/19/2002 2:33:38 PM #
RE: Where is the Enterprise Plan
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/19/2002 7:15:29 PM #
richbell,
You are incompetent. Please post the number for your Human Resources department so that I may take your job. Your company will benefit greatly from hiring an IT person who actually knows what Enterprise solutions are available for the PalmOS platform. I’ll put in a good word for you and try to get you a position in the mail room >:-D>

RE: Where is the Enterprise Plan
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/19/2002 10:11:56 PM #
That was my thought too. After I thought about it for all of ten minutes plus a couple of searches on the web, I had apparently come up with more solutions than he's been getting paid to do.
RE: Where is the Enterprise Plan
richbell@pobox.com @ 8/19/2002 11:28:47 PM #
Thanks for the understanding there boys. Its just my luck to sign my name to a tyrate and forget to double check my assumptions.

I must admit to feeling like quite an idiot not even checking if Oracle had such a solution, however, I've never read about it in a single trade and after doing some additional research, discover that the original announcment was made in 1998. The fact that I havn't read a thing about this partnership, givin that the enterprise battle has just started to get serious, makes me wonder where Oracle stands on its support of Palm OS, Oracle lite works just as well on Pocket PC.
However, now that I am aware of it I will give it a good look.

And those of you out there that think that Palm has nothing to worry about in the enterprise market should be paying closer attention.

The argument that Palm is up against is that "no one ever got fired for buying IBM" or more timely Microsoft. Believe me I'm about as far from the MS raw raw camp as you can get but if you are developing software to run on corporate desktops its on a MS platform.

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