Palm has formed partnerships with VLI for IP technology, Meetinghouse for WLAN security, and is to offer promotional discounts in conjunction with Linksys, Wayport and WiFinder.
VLI’s Gphone for Palm handhelds will enable VoIP for Palm Tungsten C handheld users. Device owners now will have the ability to communicate with other 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 Palm handhelds are used. By inserting the Palm Hands Free Headset 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.
The agreement with Meetinghouse allows Palm to use Meetinghouse’s AEGIS WLAN security solution, which supports LEAP (Lightweight Extensible Authentication Protocol), a standards-based authentication method for Palm Tungsten C handhelds. AEGIS security enables businesses to deploy the 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. 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.
Palm has also signed agreements with Linksys, Wayport and WiFinder to offer discounts and free trials. With the purchase of a Tungsten C handheld, customers can take advantage of various offers including discounted Wi-Fi networking equipment, wireless internet access trials, and WiFinder, a free public hotspot locator service
