Ed Colligan Talks About Palm 2.0, A Third Platform For Their Products

[Ed Hansberry]

http://apcmag.com/palm_readies_next...n_web_20_os.htm

"Palm boss Ed Colligan reveals the ‘Palm 2.0’ OS platform to APC, including a possible return for the Foleo sub-notebook, and why Palm doesn't just give up and go home... So let’s talk about the future - and specifically the forthcoming all-new Palm OS, which is codenamed Nova and said to be built around Linux. Colligan calls it "Palm OS" and later "Palm 2.0", both times his fingers drawing quotation marks in the air as he speaks. Palm 2.0, as in Web 2.0, although he makes it clear that "I'm not coming up with the branding right now - whether it’s Palm OS 2.0 or Next Generation, we’re not coming up with the branding right now. But this is something different to this" he says, pointing to the Centro."

In this interview with Ed Colligan, he reveals that the "classic" PalmOS many are familiar with isn't going anywhere. Palm has a perpetual license from ACCESS and they will continue to use it for the Centro line aimed at consumers. They aren't ceasing Windows Mobile devices either, which will be the main platform for the Treo aimed at the enterprise with Exchange servers. The new line, which has been called Nova or Palm 2.0, will be for a new line of prosumer devices slotted between the Centro and Treo lines. Do you think there is room for such a line? This goes against what Microsoft is doing, helping their partners come up with devices aimed at consumers, prosumers or the enterprise, all with one platform under the hood - Windows Mobile. Can Palm successfully create a third platform for their lineup and continue to develop devices using three platforms? Sounds like a major headache to me.

[Ed Hansberry]

http://apcmag.com/palm_readies_next...n_web_20_os.htm

"Palm boss Ed Colligan reveals the ‘Palm 2.0’ OS platform to APC, including a possible return for the Foleo sub-notebook, and why Palm doesn't just give up and go home... So let’s talk about the future - and specifically the forthcoming all-new Palm OS, which is codenamed Nova and said to be built around Linux. Colligan calls it "Palm OS" and later "Palm 2.0", both times his fingers drawing quotation marks in the air as he speaks. Palm 2.0, as in Web 2.0, although he makes it clear that "I'm not coming up with the branding right now - whether it’s Palm OS 2.0 or Next Generation, we’re not coming up with the branding right now. But this is something different to this" he says, pointing to the Centro."

In this interview with Ed Colligan, he reveals that the "classic" PalmOS many are familiar with isn't going anywhere. Palm has a perpetual license from ACCESS and they will continue to use it for the Centro line aimed at consumers. They aren't ceasing Windows Mobile devices either, which will be the main platform for the Treo aimed at the enterprise with Exchange servers. The new line, which has been called Nova or Palm 2.0, will be for a new line of prosumer devices slotted between the Centro and Treo lines. Do you think there is room for such a line? This goes against what Microsoft is doing, helping their partners come up with devices aimed at consumers, prosumers or the enterprise, all with one platform under the hood - Windows Mobile. Can Palm successfully create a third platform for their lineup and continue to develop devices using three platforms? Sounds like a major headache to me.

[whydidnt]

Sounds to me like he's just hedging his bets. He wouldn't want want to throw WM or Palm under the bus until they have a successful replacement in the market. My guess is that if Nova is scalable and successful, we would see fewer and fewer Palm or WM devices. However, based upon Palms recent history, I'd say that is really big IF.

[Stinger]

I doubt supporting 3 platforms is their long-term goal.

I'm sure they will release a few "test" products on it first before slowly transitioning all of their portfolio to the platform. I assume it will ship with a Palm OS emulator for backwards compatibility.