Isn't CDMA QCOM's cup of teaYES...NEW ALLIANCE W? 3Com today!
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3Com and QUALCOMM Enter Strategic Alliance to Deliver Wireless
Solutions for the Palm Computing Platform
Monday, February 2, 1998 10:20 AM
> SANTA CLARA, Calif.--Palm Computing, Inc., a 3Com company (NASDAQ:COMS) and
QUALCOMM Incorporated (NASDAQ:QCOM), the pioneer of Code Division Multiple Access
(CDMA) technology and leading manufacturer of CDMA subscriber products, today announced
that QUALCOMM has licensed Palm Computing's industry-leading Palm Computing platform for
integration into QUALCOMM's next-generation CDMA wireless communication products.
QUALCOMM will use components of the Palm Computing platform to develop new wireless
products that will facilitate the use of data applications, e-mail and the Internet in wireless computing
environments.
The alliance extends the Palm Computing platform to the fast-growing wireless communication
market, and is an important milestone in Palm Computing's strategy for bringing the world's leading
handheld computing technology to a broad range of markets and customers. As recently reported
by Dataquest, products based on the Palm Computing platform hold a 66 percent share of the
standard handheld computing market worldwide, clearly indicating Palm Computing's world
leadership in handheld computing. With well over one million units sold, the Palm Computing
platform is the fastest-adopted computing platform in the history of computing. "We selected the
Palm Computing platform because of its tremendous success in the marketplace with its intuitive
user interface and open architecture," said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, president of QUALCOMM's
Subscriber Products Division. "We are pleased to work with Palm Computing to create a whole
new class of products and usher in a new era of wireless access."
QUALCOMM, recognized as the pioneer of Code Division Multiple Access digital wireless
technology, has licensed its CDMA technology to over 50 other leading telecommunications
manufacturers worldwide and supplies the industry's most advanced line of CDMA subscriber
products, wireless infrastructure products and semiconductors. QUALCOMM's CDMA
technology enables a large number of users to share the same frequencies and increases system
capacity by as much as 10 to 20 times over analog cellular systems. It also provides improved
battery life and outstanding voice quality with greatly reduced static, cross-talk and background
noise. "We are delighted that the leader of CDMA wireless communication solutions has selected
the Palm Computing platform," said Donna Dubinsky, 3Com vice president and president of Palm
Computing. "CDMA is a foundation technology for future devices that integrate data and voice
communications. This alliance brings two leaders in their categories together to produce
ground-breaking new solutions."
The Palm Computing platform is the foundation for the market-leading 3Com PalmPilot connected
organizer and other handheld computing products from Palm Computing's strategic partners, all
leaders in their respective markets. In addition to QUALCOMM, these relationships include IBM,
which sells the IBM WorkPad PC Companion into the enterprise market, Franklin Covey, which
supplies the Franklin Electronic Day Planner for the training and time management industry, and
Symbol Technologies, whose expertise in bar code scanning and wireless LAN and WAN
connectivity will take the Palm Computing platform further into various vertical markets. Examples
of these vertical markets are retail, transportation, parcel and postal delivery, manufacturing and
health care. 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 the Palm OS; 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 3,500 developers
are creating software solutions for the Palm Computing platform, while more than one thousand
software applications, developer tools and services are already available.
Headquartered in San Diego, QUALCOMM develops, manufactures, markets, licenses and
operates advanced communications systems and products based on its proprietary digital wireless
technologies. The Company's primary product areas are the OmniTRACS system (a geostationary
satellite-based, mobile communications system providing two-way data and position reporting
services), CDMA wireless communications systems and products and, in conjunction with others,
the development of the Globalstar low-earth-orbit (LEO) satellite communications system. Other
Company products include the Eudora Pro electronic mail software, ASIC products, and
communications equipment and systems for government and commercial customers worldwide. For
more information on QUALCOMM products and technologies, please visit the Company's web
site at qualcomm.com or call 800/349-4188. 3Com Corporation enables individuals
and organizations worldwide to communicate and share information and resources at anytime from
anywhere. As one of the world's preeminent suppliers of data, voice and video communications
technology, 3Com has delivered networking solutions to more than 100 million customers
worldwide. The company provides enterprises, network service providers and carriers, small
businesses and consumers with comprehensive, innovative information access products and system
solutions for building intelligent, reliable and high performance local and wide area networks. For
further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at 3com.com, or the press site
at 3com.com.
Except for the historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward-looking
statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties, including timely product development,
QUALCOMM's ability to successfully manufacture significant quantities of CDMA or other
equipment on a timely and profitable basis and those related to performance guarantees, change in
economic conditions of the various markets QUALCOMM serves, as well as the other risks
detailed from time to time in the QUALCOMM's SEC reports, including the report on Form 10-K
for the year ended September 28, 1997 and most recent Form 10-Qs.
3Com, the 3Com logo, Palm Computing, and HotSync are registered trademarks, and PalmPilot,
the PalmPilot logo, and Palm OS are trademarks of 3Com Corporation or its subsidiaries. This
product is not manufactured by Pilot Corporation or Pilot Corporation of America, manufacturers
and distributors of writing instruments. All other brands and product names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks of their respective holders. QUALCOMM, OmniTRACS and Eudora and
are registered trademarks of QUALCOMM Incorporated. Eudora Pro is a trademark of
QUALCOMM Incorporated. Globalstar is a trademark of Loral QUALCOMM Satellite Services,
Incorporated. cdmaOne is a trademark of the CDMA Development Group. |
