When the customer whispers, "lightweight computing" into your ear, it isn't talking about obsolete machines. Corporations want to push their data beyond the laptop into lightweight, handheld devices, and let their people trip the light fantastic. They started as personal organisers, but personal digital assistants (PDA) are evolving into data-access devices across the business landscape. More memory, faster wired and wireless connections, more conduits to corporate databases, and a strong software-development base have these devices waltzing into the corporate arena.
The Palm OS and Pocket PC families are tops in terms of their competence for corporate use. Both have similar functionality, but there are differences in form factors, processors, operating systems and development platforms. That means partners must make choices.
From network integrators to ASPs, everyone is peering across the floor to find a partner that can dance to the tune of corporate dollars. Whether your company is ready to samba or opts to remain planted until a winner emerges, don't expect a spring cotillion or ballroom dance. This market will be bumpier than a mosh pit.
Check Out The Roster
Before you break out your dancing shoes, you'll want a song-by-song breakdown of the opportunities each partner offers.
To your left, we have Palm OS-based devices. Palm, acquired by 3Com, has picked up various partners over time: IBM, which OEMs the unit; Handspring, which makes compatible hardware; and Symbol, which makes industrialised versions of the units. Upcoming in 2001 are units from Sonyâ€"which will use its accursed MemoryStick technologyâ€"and cell-phone maker Motorola.
And on the right, we have handheld devices based upon Microsoft Windows for Pocket PCs (PPC), a variant of Windows CE (Compact Edition). The Pocket PC line, which surfaced in the summer of 2000, is populated by current entries from by Casio, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard and Symbol, the latter being the only platform-agnostic company in the handheld area.
