The Philosophy Behind the Palm
OS
The
Problem:
Computers and the Internet have made more information available to more people
than ever before in history. But far too often, that explosion of information
has led to confusion rather than clarity. How can you keep track of everything
you need to know? How can a company ensure that its employees can get the
information they need to make quick, high-quality decisions?
The Answer:
The Palm OS® is the standard for handheld computing, a new form of computing
focused on helping you manage and access all the information in your life, at
any time, in any location. Palm Powered handhelds are the way that everyone can
manage personal information, works with corporate applications and data, and
mines the richness of the web.
Why products based
on the Palm OS have become the standard:
Palm Powered handhelds are the systems of choice because they give you the most
freedom of choice. Palm Powered handhelds have by far the most users, the most
software programs, the most hardware options, and the most manufacturers; and
yet are still the simplest handhelds to learn and use. All of this diversity
lets you make your handheld the perfect system just for you, and gives
corporations the security of knowing that they are investing in the open,
dynamic handheld standard.
The most users
Products based on the Palm OS are the world leaders in handheld computing, with
more than 80% market share worldwide (IDC, June, 2000), and are the market
leader in both the US and Europe. Sales of Palm Powered handhelds more than
doubled in each of the last two years. As PC Week put it, "The Palm OS from
Palm, Inc. has become the hands-down favorite(1)."
The huge Palm user base
makes it easy to exchange information and share software programs with other
users. Handheld computing is all about sharing information and software, so it's
important not to get isolated on a system that the people around you don't use.
The most software
One of the best features of Palm Powered handhelds is the huge range of software
programs you can run on them. There are more than 9,000 software programs for
Palm Powered handhelds. By contrast, there are fewer than 300 commercially
available software programs for Microsoft's Pocket PC(2). The Palm OS's huge
lead in software means that you can choose the programs that are exactly best
for you, customizing your handheld for exactly your needs.
Palm Powered software
includes spreadsheets that can read and write Excel files, document processors
that can handle Word files, databases, enterprise applications, e-book readers,
mapping programs, e-mail programs, web and WAP browsers, dictionaries, financial
calculators, health and fitness programs, games, and much more. And because
there's so much competition, you get many programs to choose from, and software
is updated frequently.
The most hardware
options
Palm Powered handhelds are designed to be customized and easily expanded. Every
Palm Powered handheld includes the basics that all users need, in a system
designed to be wearable -- so small and lightweight that you can carry it
comfortably in a pocket or purse all day long. It's easy to add extra features
that are just right for you -- wireless modems, GPS systems, MP3 players(3) ,
digital cameras, joysticks, voice recorders, data capture devices, and a lot
more.
Because the extras are
optional, you don't have to pay a cost or weight penalty for features that you
don't want. That gives you a lighter system (as little as half the weight of
competitive handhelds), longer battery life (three times or more longer than the
competition), and generally a lower price.
The most
manufacturers
The Palm OS is an open standard, licensed to more manufacturers than any other
handheld platform. Companies selling or developing Palm Powered handhelds
include Handspring, Motorola, IBM, Kyocera, Nokia, Samsung, Sony, Symbol,
Franklin Covey, and TRG.
All of these manufacturers
give you tremendous freedom of choice to pick the handheld that's right for you
or your company. For example, to access information wirelessly you can choose
from a wide variety of add-on wireless modems, buy one-piece wireless systems
like the Palm VII, use cables and infrared to connect via cellphones, or buy
integrated Palm Powered cellphones like the Kyocera PDQ and smart phones in
development by Samsung, Motorola, and Nokia. There are numerous choices in
expansion options, software bundles, and built-in features. And the competition
between Palm Powered manufacturers helps drive innovation faster and keep prices
low.
Sophisticated
simplicity
When PCs first came on the market, a lot of mainframe and minicomputer companies
tried to compete by adapting their existing designs to smaller boxes. They all
failed, because the PC was a new form of computing with different requirements.
Handhelds are also a new form of computing, and just adapting old designs won't
make a good handheld. A handheld is used in short bursts to enter or access
information, rather than the long sessions you spend in front of a PC. If you're
using a handheld to search for information in a corporate price book or look up
a phone number to make an important call, you don't want to fumble around for
even a second. Palm Powered handhelds are designed from the ground up to be as
simple and intuitive as possible. Rather than dumbing down a PC, Palm started
fresh with a new design that focused first on giving you the shortest and
easiest path to your information. That's why Palm has succeeded in the handheld
market when so many PC companies failed.
Palm in the
Enterprise: From calendaring to mobile e-business solutions
Handheld computers started out as personal organizers, but they have grown
beyond that role to become the way people get instant access to all the key
information they need, both personal and corporate. Palm Powered handhelds have
become the de facto corporate standard because of five key factors:
·
Investment protection - Palm OS's sizable market share, more than
130,000 developers, and numerous licensees means corporations can buy from
multiple sources and know that their investment will be protected into the
future. Investing in Palm Powered solutions means investing in the defacto
handheld standard.
·
Applications choice - The wealth of Palm Powered Enterprise
applications lets an organization choose the solution that is right for its
business. This is especially important for vertical markets like health care,
financial services, and retail, as well as broad horizontal markets like field
sales and field service, where many Enterprise-oriented Palm Powered solutions
are available.
·
Better Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) - The superior ease of use of
Palm handhelds leads to lower support costs and therefore a lower total cost of
ownership. In addition, the broad popularity of the Palm OS standard makes it
easy to get user acceptance for deploying Palm Powered handhelds within an
organization.
·
A more open approach - Because Palm focuses only on handheld
computing, it can have close working relationships with all major corporate
software vendors, including Oracle, Sun, Siebel, Computer Associates, SAP, and
many others. Palm handhelds also integrate very smoothly with Microsoft Exchange
and Outlook, and support both Windows PCs and Macs (something that most other
handheld platforms don't do). This means Palm Powered handhelds integrate with a
wider range of corporate standards than any other handheld platform.
·
Superior handheld design - Palm Powered handhelds offer greater
wearability, superior battery life, integrated wireless capability, and stylish
design. In addition, Palm offers a superior range of hardware add-on options to
customize the handheld for specific business applications. These elements all
contribute toward Palm's current ubiquity within the Enterprise.
Combine all of that with
the industry's first comprehensive 24x7 multi-tier technical support escalation
program for handhelds, and it's clear why Palm OS is the platform of choice for
corporate handhelds.
The future of the
Palm OS
Palm and its partners are leading the development of next-generation handheld
features by bringing new functionality to users without sacrificing the
simplicity and wearability that have made the Palm Powered handhelds the
standard.
In the future, handhelds
will become ubiquitous tools that everyone uses to manage information, conduct
transactions, and communicate with one-another. Palm is aggressively building
the foundation for that future, with a special focus in several areas:
·
Wireless connections and services: Palm Powered handhelds already include
some of the most innovative wireless communications products on the market,
including the popular Palm VII handheld, and Handspring's Visor Phone. All Palm
Powered handhelds are being equipped to communicate wirelessly, and many already
come with software and hardware to connect through a cellphone. In early 2001,
clip-on wireless modems supporting most of the world's major cellular networks
will be released. New handhelds with built-in modems and e-mail notification
will be released by Palm and several licensees. And Palm is moving aggressively
to support the Bluetooth local radio standard, which will enable Palm Powered
handhelds to communicate wirelessly with cell phones as well as other handhelds.
Bluetooth add-on hardware will be available in 2001, and Palm will build
Bluetooth into every Palm-branded handheld as soon as Bluetooth prices drop low
enough to allow it.
·
Secure transactions: Robust security solutions are already available for
the Palm OS. Palm is partnering with the leaders in secure transaction
processing to build the infrastructure that will enable Palm Powered handhelds
to also be your electronic wallet and identification card, and to serve as a
gateway for the most secure corporate transactions.
·
Graphics and multimedia: Palm Powered handhelds already have great
multimedia options, including voice recorders, photo management software, color
screens, and hundreds of games. Building on that base, Palm is working with its
developers and licensees to add support for larger and higher-resolution
screens, and enhanced video and audio playback. Today those features destroy the
battery life of a handheld, so Palm is also working aggressively with battery
manufacturers to develop more efficient systems. To support all that extra
processing, Palm is also adding support for ARM microprocessors, while still
preserving compatibility with the current Palm software base.
·
Palm is also developing MyPalm, an exciting new Web application that
gives you online calendaring, web searching, robust browsing, e-mail, and a lot
more. It will premiere by the end of 2000.
Even as Palm and its
partners create the future of handheld computing, we will preserve the
wearability and simplicity that have made our products the standard today. It's
easy to cram a handheld with so many features that it can't be carried
comfortably, or its batteries die in a few hours. Palm's commitment is to bring
you a future that works, that solves real-world problems, and that continues to
give you the best choices in the industry.
Information above Courtesy of Palm, Inc. All rights reserved.