Palm, BEA Partner to Bring Web Services to Handhelds

Posted By: Ed Tuesday, August 27, 2002 11:30:36 AM

Palm Inc. has made a deal with BEA Systems to bring Web services to Palm branded handhelds. Palm will develop tools and a device-side software suite to simplify development and deployment of mobile Web services to extend enterprise applications on Palm's handhelds. The two companies will work together to integrate this solution with BEA WebLogic Server 7.0 and BEA WebLogic Workshop as server-side controls

This deal was made with the Palm Solution Group, not PalmSource. The software is being developed to give Palm's handhelds an edge in enterprise sales even over other Palm OS handhelds. This is part of a company strategy designed to make Palm's handhelds the best option for building mobile enterprise applications for accessing mission-critical data through a cradle or over wireless networks.

A key element of this agreement is the use of Palm's new Reliable Transport technology. This will provide a secure method for sending XML data back and forth between the server and the handheld. The solution will be designed to allow Palm developers to use WebLogic Workshop as the server-side programming framework, while WebLogic Workshop developers use Reliable Transport to send messages to and from Palm handhelds.

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I wonder if the IBM deal fell through ...

Token User @ 8/27/2002 12:02:43 PM #
www.palminfocenter.com/view_Story.asp?ID=3847

To quote Ed back in July ...

IBM and Palm also will work together to integrate Palm handhelds with IBM's WebSphere Everywhere Access business platform. They will develop Palm OS versions of secure e-mail and Sametime instant messaging apps that will work with IBM's platform.

RE: I wonder if the IBM deal fell through ...
I.M. Anonymous @ 8/27/2002 12:23:28 PM #
IBM didn't agree to only use Palm handhelds, and Palm didn't agree to only use IBM's systems. Palm absolutely should not put all its eggs in one basket. The more deals it makes with companies, the better. Otherwise, customers will have to say, "We don't use IBM's WebSphere Everywhere Access business platform, so I guess we can't use Palm handhelds." Customers want options and Palm is giving them to them.

Palm.net?

abosco @ 8/27/2002 12:02:33 PM #
Does this mean that there will be more than one way to wirelessly access the web through a modem integrated into the handheld (like the i705) other than Palm.net, or am I missing the point?

(This program has performed an illegal operation and needs to close) "But I only went to microsoft.com! Oh..."
RE: Palm.net?
Ed @ 8/27/2002 12:17:47 PM #
I think you are missing the point. This is about a way for large companies to use handhelds to get important data out to their employees and back again. It isn't about a new way for regular users to look up movie ticket prices.

For example, Company A's internal IT department will write a system using WebLogic Workshop to allow its salespeople to access the company catalog and enter sales as they are made on Palm handheld. These sales can be automatically entered into the company's back-end database either immediately through a wireless connection or later during a HotSync.

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News Editor

Too little too late

I.M. Anonymous @ 8/27/2002 2:11:30 PM #
Enterprise developers do not need their hands held moving XML from handheld to server. What we need is built-in 802.11 in the hardware and built-in SSL in the software. It is not adequate to say "coming in OS 5" (installed base: 0%) because Palm's competitors have these things TODAY.

The cert.ifiably i.nsane com.pany that makes SSL for legacy Palm OS devices (4.x and earlier) literally wants TENS of thousands of dollars AND A PERCENTAGE to license it. This despite the fact that their product is obsolete with the release of OS 5. The sheer cost completely negates the ROI of developing almost any mobile "enterprise" application.

RE: Too little too late
I.M. Anonymous @ 9/1/2002 5:38:55 PM #
I am a Palm user and also have couple other Pocket PC units including Toshiba 740. I think, Palm is missing the train. They need to get their act together before they become a dinosaur.
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