3Com Delivers Japanese Language Support for
World-Leading Palm Computing Platform Products
SANTA CLARA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 3,
1999--Building on its worldwide leadership in the handheld
computing market, 3Com Corp. (Nasdaq:COMS) today announced
Japanese language support for all products based on its
award-winning Palm Computing(R) platform. The company has
developed a Japanese language-enabled version of its operating
system for the Palm Computing platform, the Palm OS(TM)
software. 3Com expects a Japanese language version product to
become available early this year through an international OEM
partner who will distribute and market the Palm Computing platform
product in Japan.
3Com has also enabled its HotSync(R) synchronization technology
to support the Japanese language. A Japanese version of the
Palm(TM) desktop software including English-to-Japanese and
Japanese-to-English dictionaries will be standard components of the
Japanese-enabled Palm OS software suite. The company also
announced a Japanese Solution Provider Program through which
developers can easily acquire tools to simplify and expedite
development of these handheld computing solutions for the
Japanese market.
3Com Palm Computing platform products represent 72% of the
worldwide personal companion market (IDC, 1998). Palm
Computing products are already distributed in 35 different countries
and support many languages including English, French, German
and Spanish, making a truly international platform. With the
Japanese language version of the Palm OS software, all standard
applications designed to run on Palm Computing platform products
such as the 3Com(R) PalmPilot(TM) Professional and Palm III(TM)
organizers will now support Japanese language input. Roman
character input can also be converted quickly and easily to Japanese
characters.
"3Com sees a large potential for the Palm Computing platform to
have a strong impact on the Japanese mobile computing market in
terms of both handheld products and software applications that
support them," said Mark Bercow, vice president of strategic
alliances and platform development for Palm Computing, a 3Com
company. "We have already made great progress with many of our
key platform partners and developers who are committed to
delivering solutions for the Japanese marketplace. Together we are
fueling a new class of handheld computing applications for both
businesses and consumers in Japan."
Developing the Palm Computing Platform Business in Japan
To encourage the success of the Palm Computing platform in Japan,
3Com Japan is launching its Palm Japanese Solution Provider
Program and is proceeding with preparations that will enable
Japanese companies to take full advantage of the Palm Computing
platform's open architecture. Details of the Palm Japanese language
support are already available to developers, and Japanese language
products for use with Palm Computing platform products will soon
appear on the market. The following partners and developers will be
supporting or delivering products for the Palm Computing platform
in Japan: Oracle, Teamsoft/Nippon, Polaroid, Puma, TRG,
Netscape, Remedy, Lotus, Landware, Aportis, Concept Kitchen,
IOData and Accton Technologies.
In addition to the 3Combranded Palm Computing organizers, the
Japanese-enabled Palm OS will provide Japanese language support
for a broad range of products from 3Com's strategic partners. Such
products include the IBM WorkPad PC Companion, Symbol
Technologies' SPT1500 with built-in laser bar-code scanner, the
QUALCOMM pdQ Smartphone, the Franklin-Covey Electronic
DayPlanner, and the Synapse pager card from PageMart.
3Com Japan Solution Provider Program
Among the types of support 3Com offers are full details of Japanese
language support for the Palm OS software including a Japanese
language version of its comprehensive software development kit
(SDK), CodeWarrior for Palm Computing Platform. Plans are
currently being made for the translation of technical references such
as the SDK Documentation Book and Programming Reference
Book.
About the Palm Computing Platform
An open architecture for handheld computing, the Palm Computing
platform provides an ideal basis for third-party developers and
original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to create and deliver
successful mobile computing solutions. The platform consists of
five primary components: the reference hardware design, the device
operating system called Palm OS(TM) software; the HotSync
conduit data synchronization technology; the platform component
tools including an applications programming interface (API) that
enables developers to write applications; and the software interface
capabilities to support hardware add-ons. Today, more than 12,000
developers are creating software and hardware add-on solutions for
the Palm Computing platform, while thousands of software
applications, developer tools and services are already available.
About 3Com
With more than 200 million customers worldwide, 3Com
Corporation connects more people to information in more ways than
any other networking company. 3Com delivers innovative
information access products and network system solutions to large,
medium and small enterprises; carriers and network service
providers; PC OEMs; and consumers. 3Com -- More
connected(TM). For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide
Web site at www.3com.com or the Palm Computing site at
www.palm.com.
Note to Editors: 3Com, HotSync and Palm Computing are
registered trademarks, and Palm, Palm III, Palm OS and PalmPilot
are trademarks of 3Com Corporation or its subsidiaries. All other
brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks
of the companies with which they are associated. No products
mentioned herein are manufactured by Pilot Corporation or Pilot
Corporation of America, manufacturers and distributors of writing
instruments.
CONTACT: 3Com Corporation
Nancy Prater, 408/326-8460
nancy_prater@3com.com
or
A&R Partners
Allen Bush, 650/363-0982 ext. 3912
abush@arpartners.com
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