Palm, Inc 2.0

For a long time it had looked as if Palm, Inc was standing still and losing marketshare to larger mobile phone companies Nokia and Motorola.  When compared with Windows Mobile 5.0, Palm OS Garnet 5 looked as if it was in the Information Super Highway’s breakdown lane.  Fear not Palm enthusiasts; for Palm is about change all of that.  Allow me to welcome you to Palm, Inc 2.0.

Shoring up the foundation

In late 2003, Palm, Inc spun off their software and operating system business into the company that would become known as PalmSource. (Later PalmSource was acquired by ACCESS.)  Palm, the hardware company, changed their name to “palmOne, Inc” and licensed the Palm OS from PalmSource.  Along the way, palmOne soured on PalmSource’s ability to deliver new enhancements to the Palm OS.  palmOne decided to hedge their bets and began work on a Treo smartphone that could run the Windows Mobile operating system, which became a reality in 2006.

Little did we know, Palm wasn’t done with their secret operating system plans.  In 2005 the company was well on their way to rebuilding “Palm.”  They began to take control of Palm by acquiring the full rights to the use of the name “Palm.”  (The name Palm was jointly owned by the companies palmOne and PalmSource.)  Not wanting to leave their destiny to outside software companies Microsoft and PalmSource, Palm began a secret project to build a new operating system core built on a Linux kernel while retaining all of the easy of use from the current Palm OS.  The existence of a project to develop a new version of the Palm OS based on a Linux kernel had leaked out, however, there was only little bits of information that hinted that this project was underway until Palm CEO Ed Colligan finally acknowledged that Palm had in fact been developing a new upgrade to the Palm OS and that it would be released on new Palm products before the end of calendar year 2007.

This new Linux-based version of the Palm OS was not officially announced.  Palm executives didn’t detail the full system specifications, nor did they share a product release date.  They simply confirmed what some of us already knew, that they where building a new version of Palm OS.  For many Palm enthusiasts, including myself, the public disclosure that there is a new feature rich version of the Palm OS on the way should re-energize Palm’s customer base and developer communities.

Building up the software

Palm has not been singularly focused on the development of a new operating system.  Enhancements to Palm’s application software portfolio have also been a priority for the company.  Palm has recently acquired ChatterMail, partnered with Google to bring Google Maps (a native Palm OS application) and Google Mail (Java application) to the Palm platform.

Another key piece of software that Palm will be focusing on is a new web browser.  The Opera enthusiast website Opera Watch reported last week that Palm had signed a deal with Opera Software to bring their mobile browser to Palm-braded devices.  If this is true, I expect to see Opera Mobile replacing Blazer, Palm’s current web browser, before the year is out.

It has also come to light that Palm is preparing to release an upgrade to the Palm 700-series Treo devices.  Pictures of this new Treo 755p show a new application called “IM.”  Instant messaging is slowly becoming a widely adopted means of communication.  The new IM application from Palm will empower people to communicate anywhere: at the office, at school, at home, and now wherever you are.  IM is one of those features that will be attractive to consumers, a market segment that Palm is now focused on.  I’m not sure how well Palm’s customers will receive the IM application when it begins appearing on new devices.  IM seems like it can be a no brainer for mobile computing and it will be interesting to see what user segments actually begin using the new software.

New device form factors

Palm has had good fortunes with the candy bar Treo design.  As cell phones become as much of a fashion statement as they are a communications tool, customers have begun to ask Palm for more, well, trendy looking Treos.  Palm executives have countered that slimmer smaller phones degrade the Treo experience by not allowing for touch screens, full Qwerty keyboards, and a battery that can’t power the device on a single charge for a day of continuous use.

However that position is starting to soften.  Palm executives have now hinted that Palm’s engineering teams have been researching alternative form factors for the Treo smartphone.  Might we see a clamshell Treo in the future?  We might.  How about a small form factor Treo that looks more like today’s feature flip phones?  You would be able to HotSync it to your PIM of choice (Palm Desktop or Microsoft Outlook) for easy access to your address book and calendar while on the go.  Since the device would have a small form factor, the touch screen would be removed as would the full keyboard.  A Treo like this would make a great entry level or starter phone.  You would have all the benefits of Palm’s great PIM applications without the added cost of a full featured smartphone.  Think of how many people you know that would love to have a phone that would be easy to use, easy to program (just HotSync it to a computer) and could be purchased for as little as $99 with a new line of service.  A Treo like that would be a run away success as traditional feature phone users would be able to step up to a Treo and not have to sacrifice anything…except the limits imposed by their old phone.

In conclusion

Over the last two years, Palm executives have been quietly executing a plan that will revitalize the company.  With a new Linux-based, backward compatible, multitasking operating system, Palm will be able to deliver features that are simply not possible on today’s devices.  New software applications that will be pre-loaded into the device will mean that customers will be able to do more right out of the box without having to worry about finding, downloading, and installing software.  (A large majority of Palm customers never load any third-party software on their handheld.)  And with new Treo form factors available, people who haven’t given them a second look because of the cost or “frumpy” designs may make the plunge when they see a new trendy design.

The more we learn about “Palm, Inc 2.0” the more we see that the innovative spirit that gave us the Pilot, the Palm V, and the Treo 600 is a live and well.

What do you think about the new “Palm, Inc 2.0”?  Let us know in the 1SRC forums.