3Com Gives Users Wire Free Connection Between Palm Computing Devices and Mobile Phones
November 10, 1998 — 3Com Corporation today announced the availability of Enhanced IR update – free, downloadable software which gives users of the market leading Palm Computing platform based devices the ability to connect to Ericsson's infrared (IR) capable mobile phones, including the 888 Series. Application data, including email, memos and address information, can be transmitted across GSM networks without the need for wiring of any kind.
Enhanced IR update software, when downloaded onto an upgraded PalmPilot Professional edition or Palm III connected organiser, adds the IrComm communications protocol to the Palm Computing device. Users merely select the 'IR' function on the Palm III organiser's intuitive user interface and all serial communications, both from built in applications as well as add on applications from third parties, will be 'beamed' from the Palm III device's IR port to the mobile phone.
"The communications possibilities enabled by the Enhanced IR update software are almost endless," said Mark Bercow, vice president, strategic alliances and platform development, Palm Computing, Inc., a 3Com company. "People will be able to send and receive information from almost anywhere and mobile workers may have instant access to enterprise information in nearly any environment."
With over two million 3Com organiser units sold worldwide, representing 63 per cent of the worldwide standard handheld market (Dataquest) and with Ericsson's leadership in mobile handsets, customer demand for Enhanced IR update is expected to be significant.
"We are pleased to be a part of this development which is in line with our strategy to support open standards, providing all users of our IR equipped phones with connectivity to the major personal digital assistant in the handheld market. Ericsson and 3Com have been working together in the development of this software and it has gone through a thorough testing and verification process at Ericsson," said Jan Ahrenbring, vice president marketing and communications, Ericsson Mobile Communications AB.
This announcement is a significant step in the Palm Computing platform's development. The platform is evolving to secure unrivalled functionality in all user environments through partnerships with hardware and software manufacturers and developers. Enhanced IR update gives the Palm III organiser the potential to be compatible with devices that support the IrComm protocol, bringing intelligent connectivity to domestic and business environments.
Enhanced IR update is available from the Palm Computing (www.palm.com) and Ericsson (mobile.ericsson.se) Web sites.
About the Palm Computing Platform
The Palm Computing platform is the foundation for the market leading 3Com* Palm III and PalmPilot connected organisers and other handheld computing products from Palm Computing's strategic partners, all leaders in their respective markets. These 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, QUALCOMM, which will sell its pdQ CDMA Digital Smartphone in 1999 and Symbol Technologies, which develops and markets the SPT 1500 device with bar code scanning capabilities used in retail, transportation, parcel and postal delivery, manufacturing and health care.
About 3Com
3Com Corporation enables individuals and organisations worldwide to stay more connected by communicating and sharing information and resources anytime, anywhere. As one of the world's pre-eminent suppliers of data, voice and video communications technology, 3Com has delivered networking solutions to nearly 200 million customers worldwide. The company provides large enterprise, small and medium enterprise, carriers and network service providers, and consumers 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 Web site at www.3Com.com or Palm Computing at www.palm.com.
3Com and Palm Computing are registered trademarks and Palm, Palm OS, PalmPilot and Palm III are trademarks of 3Com Corporation or its subsidiaries. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. No products mentioned herein are manufactured by Pilot Corporation or Pilot Corporation of America, manufacturers and distributors of writing instruments.
CONTACT:
Helen Crabb, Arrow Public Relations
Tel: +44 (0)1344 486000
e-mail: helen.crabb@arrow.co.uk
Sarah Atkinson, 3Com UK Limited
Tel: +44 (0)1628 897000
e-mail: sarah_atkinson@3mail.3com.com