Axis Communications and Palm Extend The Network To Your Fingertips

Companies Collaborating to Bring Bluetooth Network Connectivity to Palm Handheld Users

Axis Communications, a leader in the converging field of wired and wireless network connectivity, announced today a collaboration with Palm, Inc., a pioneer in the field of mobile and wireless Internet solutions and a leading provider of handheld computers. The goal of this agreement is to enable Palm™ handheld users to wirelessly connect to a local Bluetooth network powered by the AXIS 9010 Bluetooth Access Point. This will create a new class of high-speed, short-range, wireless services. The companies also plan to engage in mutually beneficial business development efforts and marketing activities to evangelize network “hot spots,” wireless Local Area Network (LAN), in locations such as offices, airports and retail stores. As part of this collaboration, Axis Communications has joined Palm’s PluggedIn Program, and Palm has joined the Axis Mobile Internet Partner Program. Axis is also extending an offer to all Palm OS® Bluetooth developers to get an AXIS 9010 prototype and a Software Developer Kit (SDK) for location based services.

“Working with Axis Communications will help Palm increase the value of Bluetooth enabled Palm handhelds to our end users by providing an optimized user experience in a Bluetooth ‘hot spot’ environment, as well as in a closed campus network environment,” said John Cook, senior director of product marketing at Palm, Inc. “We believe that Bluetooth connectivity is going to play a large role in how users will access information services on Palm handheld computers. Axis can help Palm provide a seamless Bluetooth experience in the network access space and also help engage the Palm OS Bluetooth developer community by providing the tools they need to enable them to create great solutions.”

The AXIS 9010, together with the positioning capabilities of the AXIS Mobile Access Server, opens up an opportunity for Palm OS developers to create a new generation of Palm OS applications by using Bluetooth wireless technology to connect to the network. The applications can range from ad-hoc connectivity to important information and favorite Internet content via the MyPalm™ portal in public “hot-spots”, as well as to vertical applications for retail, health care, financial services, etc. 

“Palm handheld users have come to expect the latest cutting-edge technology in their handheld computers because that is what Palm has always provided,” said Patrik von Bergen, director of business development at Axis Communications. “By providing direct connectivity to the network, the opportunity for all Palm partners to develop new types of applications will bring tremendous value to the Palm OS platform.”

Axis Communications
June 25, 2001