PalmOne Announces Alliances in Voice Over IP, Wi-Fi and Security For PalmOne Tungsten C Handheld Users

SAN DIEGO, D: All Things Digital, May 29, 2003 /Wi-Fi Technology News/ -- PalmOne, Inc. (NASDAQ:PALM) today announced five agreements with technology companies for voice over IP (VoIP), Wi-Fi, and authentication software based on protocol developed by Cisco. These agreements make wirelessly using the Internet or corporate network more accessible, versatile and secure for professionals using the PalmOne(TM) Tungsten(TM) C handheld while away from their desks or out of the office(1). VLI, Linksys, Wayport, WiFinder and Meetinghouse Data Communications introduced products, services and special offers that capitalize on the integrated Wi-Fi of the Tungsten C handheld for Wi-Fi campus networkers and small office or home office (SOHO) professionals.

The first PalmOne handheld computer to ship with integrated Wi-Fi, the Tungsten C handheld is the most powerful PalmOne branded device, with 400MHz of ARM processing power; 64MB(2) of memory to manage data-intensive applications; a built-in keyboard; and a 320 x 320 transflective TFT display, PalmOne's sharpest screen to date, for indoor and outdoor viewing.


"Given the expansion of Wi-Fi networks in homes, in enterprises, and in public hotspots, it is becoming increasingly important for handheld device vendors to offer compelling Wi-Fi solutions," said Alex Slawsby, analyst, Smart Handheld Devices, at IDC. "As use of VoIP expands through the enterprise and secure wireless corporate data access becomes a necessity, it's not enough to simply deliver a device -- handheld device vendors must partner to offer a compelling solution story."


Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)


"VoIP is fast becoming a compelling and cost-effective means of communication for wireless devices," said Ken Wirt, senior vice president of sales and marketing for PalmOne Solutions Group, today demonstrating VLI's VoIP technology with the Tungsten C handheld live at the D: All Things Digital show.


VLI (http://www.vliusa.com), a world leader in SIP (session initiation protocol) compliant VoIP software and services for mobile electronic devices, is introducing Gphone for PalmOne handhelds to enable VoIP for PalmOne Tungsten C handheld users. Device owners now will have the ability to communicate with other PalmOne handhelds using corporate wireless networks, public hotspots or wireless home networks. With Gphone, Tungsten C handheld users will be able to connect to online directory services and SIP compatible IP devices, including personal computers and Internet phones, as well as make calls over the switched public telephone network.


Gphone technology can add voice communications to existing data applications where PalmOne handhelds are used. By inserting the PalmOne Hands Free Headset(3) in the Tungsten C headphone jack, users will be able to pick up calls forwarded from their desk phone to their Tungsten C handheld and make calls to colleagues on the company network.


Wi-Fi


With 3,400 hotspots(4) in hotels, airports, cafes and parks in the United States alone, Wi-Fi has rapidly become a popular standard for professionals who need wireless high-bandwidth Internet access while at home or away from the office on business. Linksys, Wayport and WiFinder are working with PalmOne to drive new interest in Wi-Fi technology by offering customers discounts and free trials. With the purchase of a Tungsten C handheld, customers can take advantage of the following offers:


-- Linksys (http://www.linksys.com), the leading provider of wireless routers,
network cards and USB adapters to SOHO users, will provide a coupon
book worth up to $60 in discounts on wireless access points, notebook
adapters and PC cards(5);
Wayport (http://www.wayport.com), the world's largest provider of 802.11b wireless and wired high-speed Internet access in hotels, such as Wyndham and Loews, and airports, such as LaGuardia and Minneapolis-St. Paul, is offering a 30-day free trial of Wayport's Wi-Fi and wired Internet access; and WiFinder, a free public hotspot locator service, provides directories and information customized for the Tungsten C handheld. Now, Tungsten C
handheld users traveling around the world will be able to easily locate hotspots for high-bandwidth Internet access in North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Security

A key consideration in the deployment of wireless handhelds in verticals such as healthcare and government is the ability to secure the wireless LAN (WLAN) from unauthorized access. This can be critically important, because gaining WLAN access often also means gaining access to the corporate network and all of its assets. Businesses and other organizations soon will be able to turn to Meetinghouse's AEGIS WLAN security solution, which supports LEAP (Lightweight Extensible Authentication Protocol), a standards-based authentication method for PalmOne Tungsten C handhelds. LEAP, developed by Cisco, requires mutual authentication, which means both the user and access point to which the user is attempting to connect must authenticate one to the other before network access is granted. AEGIS security enables businesses to deploy the elegant and powerful Tungsten C handheld in their WLANs with enterprise-level security.


In addition to LEAP security, an IPSec VPN (virtual private network) client will be available to address the remote access security needs of many Wi-Fi networked professionals. The VPN will provide secure access to corporate networks so Tungsten C handheld users can wirelessly receive and respond to confidential, data-intensive applications from anywhere on their Wi-Fi corporate campus, or from hotspot locations such as restaurants, hotels and airports.


Availability


Gphone for PalmOne handhelds from VLI is scheduled to be available in June. The Linksys discounts and Wayport free trial are available today with the purchase of a PalmOne Tungsten C handheld. Handheld registration also is required for the Wayport offer. AEGIS WLAN Security from Meetinghouse Data Communications ( http://www.mtghouse.com/ ) and the IPSec VPN client are scheduled to be available later this summer.


About PalmOne, Inc.


Information about PalmOne, Inc. is available at http://www.palmone.com/us/ .


(1) Wireless access may require a subscription, sold separately.
(2) Actual free memory is 51MB.
(3) Sold separately. The PalmOne Hands Free Headset is available at retail stores worldwide and online at The PalmOne Store ( http://store.palmone.com/ ).



Web site: http://www.palmone.com/us/

For Historical reasons, PalmOne, not Palm, is now the name of the company that manufactures handhelds, and palmOne has acquired Handspring (the originator of Treo smartphones).

With these changes, there have been URL changes - http://www.palmone.com/us/ is now the home page for palmOne, http://www.handspring.com/ is now http://www.palmone.com/us/products/smartphones/, and the palmOne store is now at http://store.palmone.com/