In response to our RFI, Palm listed an impressive number of software development tool vendors. The Palm platform supports all the major e-mail and messaging protocols and has a highly capable browser. Sixteen hardware vendors deliver 46 different Palm devices, though only a subset of these are wirelessly enabled. Three separate VPN solutions are available from third parties. Wireless support includes CDMA 2000 1X, GPRS/EDGE, UMTS/WCDMA, Wi-Fi, IR and Bluetooth.
PalmSource uses Palm OS 5 in the Treo 600. Palm has announced the successor version of its OS, called Cobalt, and a complete OS rewrite that provides features such multitasking, multithreading, memory protection, support for more memory and larger screens, industry-standard security, plus extensible communication and multimedia frameworks capable of handling multiple connections simultaneously. PalmSource also has enhanced OS 5, in a version called Garnet, with standard support for a broad range of screen resolutions, a dynamic input area, improved network communication and Bluetooth. It appears that both versions of the OS will be available, with Cobalt for high-end products and Garnet for mass-market devices; both can be used for wireless networking.
PalmSource, (408) 400-3000. www.palmsource.comThe most successful wireless data provider today is RIM with its Blackberry line. Once limited to pager-size gadgets, today RIM offers PDA-size devices with color screens and mobile-phone functionality. In our initial survey for this article, more people said they use Blackberries than any other device. The secret behind RIM's popularity is that it offers a complete messaging system, including a device that pioneered the thumb keyboard, power management that lets messages be received without the device always being on, a good client and a gateway to corporate e-mail systems. The result is easy-to-use mobile mail system that lets e-mail be pushed to users. Alternates are often based on polling approaches that are workable, but far less convenient.
RIM lists 125 third-party applications through its ISV Alliance program, a number lower than rivals because RIM has only recently opened its platform to third-party applications. Development options include Java, browser-based and C++, with tools available from five vendors. The core strength of the RIM platform is e-mail, with support for every major e-mail protocol. The browser supports HTML and WML, making these available as end applications and for both C++ and Java apps. RIM produces 15 versions of the device.
As for security, rather than supporting standard VPNs, RIM provides its own end-to-end security model, which involves adding a Blackberry server in the enterprise.
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