Palm Announces Alliances in Voice Over IP,
Wi-Fi and Security For Palm Tungsten C Users
May 29 2003 Palm today announced
five agreements with technology companies for voice over IP (VoIP),
Wi-Fi, and authentication software based on protocol developed
by Cisco. These agreements make wirelessly using the Internet
or corporate network more accessible, versatile and secure for
professionals using the Palm Tungsten C handheld while away from
their desks or out of the office. VLI, Linksys, Wayport, WiFinder
and Meetinghouse Data Communications introduced products, services
and special offers that capitalize on the integrated Wi-Fi of
the Tungsten C handheld for Wi-Fi campus networkers and small
office or home office (SOHO) professionals.
The first Palm handheld computer to ship with integrated Wi-Fi,
the Tungsten C handheld is the most powerful Palm branded device,
with 400MHz of ARM processing power; 64MB of memory .
"Given the expansion of Wi-Fi networks in homes, in enterprises,
and in public hotspots, it is becoming increasingly important
for handheld device vendors to offer compelling Wi-Fi solutions,"
said Alex Slawsby, analyst, Smart Handheld Devices, at IDC. "As
use of VoIP expands through the enterprise and secure wireless
corporate data access becomes a necessity, it's not enough to
simply deliver a device -- handheld device vendors must partner
to offer a compelling solution story."
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)
"VoIP is fast becoming a compelling and cost-effective means
of communication for wireless devices," said Ken Wirt, senior
vice president of sales and marketing for Palm Solutions Group,
today demonstrating VLI's VoIP technology with the Tungsten C
handheld live at the D: All Things Digital show.
VLI (www.vliusa.com),
a world leader in SIP (session initiation protocol) compliant
VoIP software and services for mobile electronic devices, is introducing
Gphone for Palm handhelds to enable VoIP for Palm Tungsten C handheld
users. Device owners now will have the ability to communicate
with other Palm 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.
Wi-Fi
With 3,400 hotspots in hotels, airports, cafes and parks in the
United States alone, Wi-Fi has rapidly become a popular standard
for professionals who need wireless high-bandwidth Internet access
while at home or away from the office on business. Linksys, Wayport
and WiFinder are working with Palm to drive new interest in Wi-Fi
technology by offering customers discounts and free trials. With
the purchase of a Tungsten C handheld, customers can take advantage
of the following offers:
-- Linksys (www.linksys.com),
the leading provider of wireless routers, network cards and USB
adapters to SOHO users, will provide a coupon book worth up to
$60 in discounts on wireless access points, notebook adapters
and PC cards;
-- Wayport (www.wayport.com),
the world's largest provider of 802.11b wireless and wired high-speed
Internet access in hotels, such as Wyndham and Loews, and airports,
such as LaGuardia and Minneapolis-St. Paul, is offering a 30-day
free trial of Wayport's Wi-Fi and wired Internet access; and
-- WiFinder, a free public hotspot locator service, provides directories
and information customized for the Tungsten C handheld. Now, Tungsten
C users traveling around the world will be able to easily locate
more than 5,443 hotspots for high-bandwidth Internet access in
North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia
and New Zealand.
Security
A key consideration in the deployment of wireless handhelds in
verticals such as healthcare and government is the ability to
secure the wireless LAN (WLAN) from unauthorized access. This
can be critically important, because gaining WLAN access often
also means gaining access to the corporate network and all of
its assets. Businesses and other organizations soon will be able
to turn to Meetinghouse's AEGIS WLAN security solution, which
supports LEAP (Lightweight Extensible Authentication Protocol),
a standards-based authentication method for Palm Tungsten C handhelds.
LEAP, developed by Cisco, requires mutual authentication, which
means both the user and access point to which the user is attempting
to connect must authenticate one to the other before network access
is granted. 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 to address the remote access security
needs of many Wi-Fi networked professionals. The VPN will provide
secure access to corporate networks so Tungsten C 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.
Availability
Gphone for Palm handhelds from VLI is scheduled to be available
in June. The Linksys discounts and Wayport free trial are available
today with the purchase of a Palm Tungsten C handheld. Handheld
registration also is required for the Wayport offer. AEGIS WLAN
Security from Meetinghouse Data Communications (www.mtghouse.com)
and the IPSec VPN client are scheduled to be available later this
summer.