PalmSource

.

Palm OS runs on 38 million devices that have been sold since 1996 from hardware manufacturers including Palm, Inc., Samsung, IBM, Aceeca, AlphaSmart, Fossil, Inc., Garmin, Group Sense PDA (Xplore), Kyocera, PiTech, Sony, and Symbol. PalmSource also develops several programs for the Palm OS, and as of December 2005, PalmGear claims to offer 28,769 software titles of varying genres.fact|date=April 2008 Palm OS software programs can also be downloaded from CNET, PalmSource, Handango, and Tucows.

PalmSource also owns BeOS, which it purchased from Be Inc. in 2001.

History

In January 2002, Palm, Inc. set up a wholly owned subsidiary to develop and license Palm OS, [ [http://www.access-company.com/news/press/PalmSource/2002/012102.html Palm Completes Formation of Palm OS Subsidiary as Palm Powered Devices Hit 20 Million Sold] , Palm press release, January 21, 2002] which was named PalmSource in February. [ [http://www.access-company.com/news/press/PalmSource/2002/020502_3.html Palm OS Subsidiary CEO Outlines Vision For Future Of Mobile Computing] , Palm press release, February 5, 2002] In October 2003, PalmSource was spun off from Palm as an independent company, and Palm renamed itself palmOne. [ [http://www.access-company.com/news/press/PalmSource/2003/102803_palmsourcespin.html PalmSource Spins Out From Palm, Inc.] , PalmSource press release, October 28, 2003.] palmOne and PalmSource set up a holding company that owned the Palm trademark.

In January 2004, PalmSource announced the successor to classic Palm OS called Palm OS Cobalt. However, it failed to gain support from hardware licensees. [Richard Shim and Dawn Kawamoto, [http://news.com.com/Is+Linux+Palms+savior/2100-1047_3-5719142.html Is Linux Palm's savior?] , CNET News.com, May 25, 2005.] That December, PalmSource acquired China MobileSoft, a software company with a mobile Linux offering. As a result, PalmSource has announced that they are going to extend Palm OS to run on top of the Linux architecture. [ [http://www.access-company.com/news/press/PalmSource/2004/120804_cms.html PalmSource to Extend Leadership in Phone Software with Acquisition of China MobileSoft] , PalmSource press release, December 8, 2004.]

In May 2005, palmOne purchased PalmSource's share of the Palm trademark [ [http://www.palm.com/us/company/pr/2005/052405b.html palmOne purchases PalmSource share of the Palm trademark] , Palm press release, May 24, 2005] and two months later renamed itself Palm, Inc. [ [http://www.palm.com/us/company/pr/2005/071405.html PALM: Mobile-computing Leader Adopts New Name, Ticker, Logo and Headquarters] , Palm press release, July 14, 2005.] As part of the agreement, palmOne granted certain rights to Palm trademarks to PalmSource and licensees for a four-year transition period. Later that year, ACCESS, which specializes in mobile and embedded web browser technologies, including NetFront, acquired PalmSource for US$324 million. [Ryan Kairer, [http://www.palminfocenter.com/view_story.asp?ID=8060 PalmSource Acquired By ACCESS] , PalmInfocenter, September 8, 2005] [ [http://www.palmsource.com/press/2005/111405_access.html ACCESS Completes Acquisition of PalmSource] , ACCESS press release, November 14, 2005.] In October 2006, PalmSource announced that it would rename itself to ACCESS, to match its parent company's name. [ [http://www.access-company.com/news/press/Current/101206_newlogo.html ACCESS Unveils New Corporate Logo; Announces PalmSource to Change Name to ACCESS] , ACCESS press release, October 12, 2006.] [Ed Hardy, [http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=12531 PalmSource Changing Its Name] , Brighthand, October 12, 2006.]

ee also

*Palm, Inc.
*Palm OS

References

External links

* [http://www.palmsource.com PalmSource's website]