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PalmSource and Wacom Collaborate to Provide Improved Mobile Interface Technology for Palm OS LicenseesSAN JOSE, Calif., PalmSource Mobile Summit & DevCon, May 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- PalmSource, Inc. , provider of Palm OS(R), a leading operating system powering next generation phones and mobile devices, and WACOM Co. Ltd, creators of advanced inductive pen sensing technology, today announced Wacom's entry into the Palm OS Ready Program (POSR) to deliver improved mobile interface solutions to Palm OS licensees. Wacom joins existing Palm OS Ready partners ATI, Intel, M-Systems, Motorola, NVIDIA, Samsung Semiconductor, SyChip and Texas Instruments. Wacom's Penabled technology provides a simple, easy to use, pen-based method of accessing and manipulating information and applications on mobile devices. Its advanced feature set enables new interface functions such as application zooming, flight point feature and digital signature recognition through increased pressure sensitivity, greater input area and more accurate input control. It also enables the easy manipulation of different applications and the ability to switch smoothly between them. Additionally, as the sensor is embedded behind the display, it ensures the display is more durable, achieves 100% luminous light transmission and eliminates color wash. "Successful deployment of revenue-generating data applications on next generation mobile devices will rely on navigation and information access that is simple and straightforward," said Masahiko Yamada, CEO, WACOM Co. Ltd. "By joining forces with PalmSource, a leading provider of operating system software for mobile devices, we are enabling its licensees to deliver differentiated devices that both increase uptake of new applications and truly meet consumer needs for usability and ease of use." "We are pleased to welcome Wacom to the POSR program and to leverage the Company's expertise in user interface solutions for mobile devices," said David Nagel, president and chief executive officer of PalmSource. "As a POSR partner, we believe Wacom will enable Palm OS hardware manufacturers to efficiently bring to market Palm Powered phones and other wireless devices that deliver an enhanced user experience." About the Palm OS Ready Program The Palm OS Ready Program is designed to allow industry-leading component providers to drive faster innovation of Palm Powered(TM) devices and foster growth throughout the Palm Powered Economy. Combining access to key components of Palm OS(R) technology with in-depth technical training and resources, the Palm OS Ready Program provides silicon and peripheral providers the ability to deliver more complete solutions to the Palm OS licensee community enabling Palm OS licensees to bring innovative and differentiated Palm Powered mobile devices to market faster and more efficiently. For more information on the Palm OS Ready Program, visit: http://www.palmsource.com/about/os_ready.html . About Wacom Founded in 1983, Wacom(R) is the world's leading manufacturer of pen tablets and interactive pen displays with over 2,000,000 customers worldwide using its cordless, battery-free, pressure-sensitive pen technology for digital content creation. Wacom's patented electromagnetic resonance technology, called Penabled(R), is also offered as an OEM solution to manufacturers of PC and Macintosh computers. Many of today's tablet PCs counts on the advanced features and reliability of Penabled technology for pen input. In the future, Penabled technology will play a leading role in the development of such mobile devices as smart phones and PDAs. Wacom is a global company with its parent company, Wacom Company Ltd, based in Japan and subsidiaries in North America (Wacom Technology Corporation), Europe (Wacom Europe GmbH) and China (Wacom China). About PalmSource PalmSource, Inc., the company behind Palm OS(R), a leading operating system powering smart mobile devices, is a leading developer of software for mobile phones and other mobile devices. Its products include a wide range of software for mobile phones at all price points. More than 39 million mobile phones, handhelds, and other mobile devices run PalmSource software. More than 45 companies worldwide have licenses to PalmSource software, including Fossil, Garmin, GSPDA, Kyocera, Lenovo, palmOne, Samsung, Sony, and Symbol Technologies. Palm OS has given rise to a large community of users, enterprises, developers and manufacturers, who together make up the Palm Powered(TM) Economy. More information about PalmSource is available at http://www.palmsource.com/, http://www.palmsource.co.uk/, http://www.palmsource.fr/, http://www.palmsource.de/, http://www.palmsource.com/es and http://www.palmsource.com.cn/. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as assumptions that if they never materialize or prove incorrect, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements related to the Palm OS(R) Ready Program (POSR) and the collaboration between PalmSource and Wacom. The risks and uncertainties that could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, our ability to successfully implement the POSR program and to realize its anticipated benefits; our ability to collaborate on multiple marketing and product planning activities with Wacom and other members of the POSR program to enable Palm OS licensees to, among other things, increase efficiency and shorten the time-to-market for unique Palm Powered(TM) phones and other wireless devices; the ability of Wacom's Penable technology to provide the anticipated features, functions and benefits and result in the successful deployment of revenue generating data applications on next generation mobile device; our ability to compete with existing or new competitors, our ability, and that of our licensees and developers, to timely introduce new products to the market; our ability to support and maintain our developer community and to grow the Palm Powered Economy; general economic conditions in the U.S. and abroad and other risks and uncertainties contained in our public announcements, reports to stockholders and other documents filed with and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended May 28, 2004 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the periods ended August 27, 2004, November 26, 2004, and February 25, 2005. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements. NOTE: PalmSource, Inc. PalmSource, Palm OS, Palm Powered, and certain other trademarks and logos appearing on this press release are trademarks or registered trademarks of PalmSource, Inc. or its affiliate in the United States, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and other countries. These marks may not be used in connection with any product or service that does not belong to PalmSource, Inc. (except as expressly permitted by a license with PalmSource, Inc.), in any manner that is likely to cause confusion among customers, or in any manner that disparages or discredits PalmSource, Inc., its licensor, its subsidiaries or affiliates. All other brands and trademarks used herein are or may be trademarks of, and are used to identify other products or services of, their respective owners. NOTE: Wacom is a registered trademark and Penabled a trademark of Wacom Company. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners. More information about WACOM Components Europe Ltd is available at http://www.wacom-components.co.uk/. PalmSource, Inc. CONTACT: Maureen O'Connell of PalmSource, Inc., +1-408-400-1543, [email protected]; or Chris Measures of Rainier PR,+44-0-207-4946570, or [email protected] Web site: http://www.palmsource.com/about/os_ready.html Web site: http://www.palmsource.com/ |