Samsung Licenses Palm OS for Smartphone

Samsung Electronics today announced that they have licensed the Palm OS platform for use in what they are calling "wireless intelligent terminals". This agreement will allow Samsung to develop a family of handheld smartphones that are wholly compatible with all Palm applications. The first product, a CDMA handset, is expected to be available in North America in the second quarter of 2001.

The unit shown off today at PalmSource 2000 appears to be considerably smaller than Kyocera's Smartphone. Excpect to pay about $500 -- roughly the same as Kyocera's Smartphone.

Samsung is the largest manufacturer of CDMA handsets shipped in the U.S. With the addition of Samsung, the Palm OS is now supported by several leaders in mobile phones with forthcoming products, including Nokia, Motorola, and Kyocera.

"To better manage personal and business information on-the-go, many consumers want products with mobile multimedia capabilities," said Peter Skarzynski, senior vice president of Samsung Telecommunication America's wireless division. "This agreement will allow Samsung to provide consumers with a product that combines the communication capabilities of wireless phones and the full data management functionality of a PDA."

"Wireless data access and a range of handheld solutions are priorities for Palm, and today we welcome Samsung, with its leadership in developing converged wireless products, to the Palm Economy,'' said Alan Kessler, chief operating officer for Platform and Products at Palm, Inc. ``When Samsung releases its first Palm Powered(TM) product next year, we are confident that customers will enjoy a quality integrated handheld option that combines the strength of the Palm OS platform and innovative wireless services with the telephonic accessibility of Samsung products."