Hi Mang,
THIS IS BIG NEWS!
Reading between the lines, I get this as a VAR deal with the semi players. This instantly changes Palm's conflicting business model. From this point, Palm will work on the OS, and the chip guys are going to VAR the OS-Chip to anyone they want. I may be going overboard on this. At least, you can see that the direction is to what I am hoping. Without knowing all the details of the deals, it's hard to say how far Palm has gone with this idea, but this definitely has helped easing the conflicting software-hardware business model. Clearly, Palm is pointing at an eventual split-up between the hardware and the software business. This leads me to cheer. CY is making a move in the right direction. (For the first time in months, we have something to cheer about.)
This news may also signal that ARM support is probably going to come out before OS 5.0, probably later this year. Even though this is not the great multi-tasking OS we hoped for, it certainly buys Palm OS the time to keep Win CE under control. (Another thing we can cheer about.)
Lastly, does this news signal that Palm may give these chip makers more power to change the OS? I think it does. All of Palm's software deals have allowed Palm to have the IP rights to all modifications to the OS. I would think this is the same type of deal, which means Palm will get TI, Intel, and Motorola to develop additional features to the OS besides Handspring, Handera, Sony, and Acer, almost sounds like a GNU thing on a corporate level. The only thing I worry is the support/integration problem this will cause. Still, this is very positive. (Cheer for a third time.)
A big name missing in the deal is Qualcomm, a long time Palm OS licensee. You don't think BREW has anything to do with this. Clearly, Qualcomm is trying to extend its power in CDMA through BREW. It is such an aggressive move that everyone from Microsoft to TI and from Docomo to SUN are watching VERY carefully. In licensing the Palm OS to the chip makers, Palm is definitely thinking about the long term positioning of the Palm OS against platforms such as BREW, J2ME, and Stinger. It's still too early to see if this move will work out for this purpose. From the surface, it looks positive.
Best regards to everyone, and hopefully CY will start making the right moves.
Khan
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Tuesday July 24 12:40 AM ET
Palm Inks Deals With Chip Makers
By MAY WONG, AP Technology Writer
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) - Palm Inc. (NasdaqNM:PALM - news) has made new licensing deals with major chip makers, a move it hopes will expand the Palm operating system into all kinds of mobile devices from handhelds to cell phones and perhaps even wristwatches.
Under deals expected to be announced Tuesday, the Santa Clara-based handheld device maker will license components of the Palm OS to its chip partners, Intel Corp. (NasdaqNM:INTC - news), Motorola Inc. (NYSE:MOT - news) and Texas Instruments Inc. (NYSE:TXN - news) It will allow elements of the OS to be built into microprocessors based on ARM architecture, which has become a chip standard to support demanding wireless applications, such as streaming video.
The move would make it easier for developers to create powerful and smarter applications for Palm OS-based mobile gadgets. The chips in the devices would essentially be Palm OS-ready.
``This whole deal will hopefully help developers build that next stage of applications that will intrigue new markets for handheld devices,'' said Kevin Burden, an industry analyst with market research firm International Data Corp.
It's also an important step for Palm to remain competitive.
Rival devices from Compaq Computer Corp. (NYSE:CPQ - news) and Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE:HWP - news) running Microsoft's Pocket PC operating system already use ARM-based chips.
Palm, struggling at the moment with the slowing economy, hopes the silicon partnerships will build its OS-licensee list, which already includes Handspring Inc. (NasdaqNM:HAND - news) and Sony Corp. (NYSE:SNE - news)
``Some licensees will want to bring fire-breathing, powerful handhelds in the market. Other might want to build a simple Palm operating system on a wristwatch,'' said Alan Kessler, general manager of Palm's Platform Solutions Group. ``These (chip licensing) deals will help bring those to market.'' |
