Access Point as Best Wireless Internet and LAN Access Solution

SANTA CLARA and CUPERTINO, Calif., April 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq: PALM) and Pico Communications today announced that the first published interoperability/user experience report on the Bluetooth(TM) industry from In-Stat/MDR gave the highest rating for Internet and LAN access solutions to a Bluetooth-enabled Palm(TM) handheld paired with a PicoBlue(TM) Internet Access Point.

In the March 2002 report from In-Stat/MDR, "Bluetooth Real-World Deployment & Product Evaluations: A User's Perspective," numerous client devices and access points were tested for interoperability and ease of use. With extra credit, the Palm m505 color handheld equipped with the Palm Bluetooth Card connecting to the PicoBlue Internet Access Point rated higher than the coveted top 5 blue teeth rating of "very good to excellent user experience." Extra credit, which brought the solution rating up to 51/2, was given for the Pico Communications software that resides on the Palm handheld called PicoConnect(TM), a one-tap application that connects the user to the Internet via a PicoBlue Internet Access Point.

"PicoConnect requires no Bluetooth knowledge for the user, making the connection process extremely easy and allowing the Palm handheld user to surf the Internet or check email(1) quickly," said Joyce Putscher, director of Converging Markets & Technologies Research Group at In-Stat/MDR. "The Palm handheld and Palm Bluetooth Card solution provides the most comprehensive set of Bluetooth features and applications in the handheld market to date. It's the top-rated PDA in our report."

In addition to the Pico and Palm Bluetooth solution, the two Bluetooth collaboration applications included with the Palm Bluetooth Card (BlueChat and BlueBoard), also both received extra credit for a 51/2 blue teeth rating. BlueBoard and BlueChat from Colligo Networks, Inc. are licensed by Palm, Inc. and are bundled with the Palm Bluetooth Card. BlueChat is a private messaging and chat application that allows two Palm handheld users to chat from up to 30 feet away. BlueBoard, a whiteboard-style application, allows up to four Palm handheld users to collaborate and share ideas.

Experiencing Bluetooth

A host of wireless capabilities become readily available to Palm handheld users when they wirelessly connect to their corporate network via a Palm Bluetooth Card and a PicoBlue Internet Access Point. Users can access corporate email and CRM/ERP databases, synchronize databases, browse the Intranet and synchronize to their desktops, as well as access their Internet accounts for email, instant messaging and browsing the Internet. The Palm Bluetooth Card is available for any Palm handheld that features the Palm Expansion Slot, including the Palm m125, m130, m500, m505, m515 and i705 handhelds.

Palm handheld users can further enhance their Bluetooth networking experience by using Pico's PicoSync(TM) software for the Palm handheld. PicoSync utilizes PicoConnect technology to perform "one-tap" wireless network HotSync(R) operations. PicoSync allows seven users at one time within the 100-meter range of PicoBlue Internet Access Points to perform a HotSync operation regardless of the distance from their desktop or laptop computers.

Availability

The Palm Bluetooth Card can be purchased at retailers worldwide and online at The Palm Store ( http://store.palm.com/ ) for an estimated U.S. street price of $129.

The PicoBlue Internet Access Point, with an estimated U.S. street price of $495, is currently available for purchase online at www.pico.net/buy.html. The PicoConnect and PicoSync applications can be downloaded directly from Pico's website at www.pico.net/pico_office.html.

The complete In-Stat/MDR report "Bluetooth Real-World Deployment & Product Evaluations: A User's Perspective" can be purchased online for $2,695 at www.instat.com/abstracts/mi/2002/IN020008MI_abs.htm.

    About Pico Communications

    Information about Pico Communications is available at www.pico.net.

    About Palm, Inc.

    Information about Palm, Inc. is available at www.palm.com/aboutpalm.

    (1) Only POP3 and Internet email was tested.

Pico Communications, "Connecting our Wireless Lives," PicoBlue, PicoConnect and PicoSync are trademarks of Pico Communications. Bluetooth trademarks are owned by their proprietor and used by Pico Communications and Palm under license. HotSync is a registered trademark and Palm is a trademark of Palm, Inc. Other brands may be trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE Palm, Inc.
Web site: http: //www.palm.com
CONTACT: Daphne Dickson of A&R Partners, +1-650-762-2840, or ddickson@arpartners.com, for Palm, Inc.; or Sarah Znerold of McQuerterGroup, +1-858-450-0030, or sznerold@mcquerter.com, for Pico Communications