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QUALCOMM and PalmSource Collaborate to Enable Palm OS Application Delivery to Palm Powered Devices via the BREW Distribution System
NEW ORLEANS, La., March 18, 2003 -- QUALCOMM Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM), pioneer and world leader of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) digital wireless technology, and PalmSource, Inc., provider of the world's most popular operating system for handhelds and smartphones, today announced at CTIA Wireless 2003 that they have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) under which the companies will work together to enable over-the-air downloads of Palm OS® applications to Palm Powered™ device via QUALCOMM's BREW Distribution System (BDS).
With more than 17,000 commercial applications and 10,000 eBooks created for Palm Powered devices - far more than for any other mobile platform - this joint solution is a benchmark for the booming software distribution market that will benefit operators, developers and users alike. The BDS is a fundamental component to enabling a wireless ecosystem for developers, operators and handset manufacturers - managing the over-the-air delivery, billing and payment of wireless applications. This agreement enables Palm OS application developers to also take advantage of this efficient way to manage over-the-air distribution and payment for applications onto Palm Powered smartphones, while creating additional revenue opportunities for wireless operators. This powerful combination will make it much more convenient for users to buy and install Palm OS software to their Palm Powered devices.
"Enabling Palm Powered devices with the BDS will provide operators with a compelling way to differentiate their services and increase revenue, and will give them access to the world's largest library of Palm OS applications," said David Nagel, president and chief executive officer of PalmSource.
"We look forward to collaborating with PalmSource to extend the unparalleled application distribution, billing and payment capabilities of the BREW Distribution System to the Palm OS platform," said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, president of QUALCOMM Wireless & Internet Group. "With the BDS as the mechanism to wirelessly deliver Palm OS applications to consumers and enterprises, Palm Powered smartphone and handheld users will no longer be tied to their desktop when they want to add functionality to their devices."
Deployments of the BREW solution continue as operators throughout the world join Verizon Wireless and ALLTEL in the United States, KTF in South Korea, KDDI in Japan, and China Unicom in commercializing BREW-based services. The joint venture between Telefónica Móviles and Portugal Telecom plans to roll out BREW services to subscribers in Latin America in March 2003 and U.S. Cellular has launched a BREW user trial. More than 40 BREW-enabled handset models have been offered to consumers worldwide and more than 40 device manufacturers have indicated their interest in the BREW platform.
About PalmSource, Inc.
PalmSource is the company behind Palm OS, the world's most popular operating system for handhelds and smart phones. Licensed by industry leaders -- including Acer, AlphaSmart, Fossil, Garmin, GSL, Handera, Handspring, HuneTec, Kyocera, Legend, Palm, Samsung, Sony, Symbol, and Palm OS Ready Partners including ATI, Intel, MediaQ, Motorola, Samsung, Texas Instruments --Palm OS has been shipped on more than 25 million handhelds and smart phones, and given rise to a huge community of users, enterprises, developers and manufacturers, who together make up the Palm Economy. PalmSource's new headquarters are located at 1240 Crossman Ave. in Sunnyvale, Calif. PalmSource is a subsidiary of Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq: PALM). More information about PalmSource, Inc., is available at www.palmsource.com..
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Palm OS is a registered trademark and Palm Powered is a trademark of PalmSource, Inc., a subsidiary of Palm, Inc. Other brands may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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