After tapping Nokia Oy and Sabre Group to co-develop a wireless internet phone system as part of its pervasive computing strategy, IBM Corp has chosen Sharp Corp to be its partner for PDAs and low-end intelligent devices in the Japanese market. Networked microwaves and washing machines next, we suppose. IBM says it will team with the leading device vendors in each geography to get maximum coverage for its technologies.
IBM and Sharp have signed a three-year agreement to co-develop software and networking solutions for Sharp products. Initially the two will develop software for Sharp’s Business Zaurus PDA enabling users to remotely access Lotus Notes Domino and retrieve and add information to a Notes database from any Zaurus system. They will also cooperate on developing Internet Screen Phone Reference Forum and MobileWeb consortium standards.
