Orange to squeeze apps onto Palm

Mobile operator Orange last week launched a range of mobile data services, and said it would port Microsoft applications to the Palm OS if corporate users demanded it.

"We're hardware-agnostic but platform-sensitive," said Richard Hanscott, VP of business solutions at Orange. "Users will decide what hardware they want, and I don't believe the world will end up with one device. We believe Palm is an important player. With the Microsoft platform, we'll do some extra integration work to port apps to Palm OS if there is a demand."

Microsoft has no agreement to port applications to the Palm OS, preferring to push its own PocketPC platform instead. Palm boasts the lion's share of the UK's PDA market.

Mark Blowers, senior researcher at the Butler Group, said he expected demand the from corporate users to come, but that the need to upgrade older devices for wireless connectivity could dissuade some customers.

"Palm has the largest market share, but many of the units out there will require plug-ins to connect to GPRS networks," he said.

Hanscott said while Orange was close to making an announcement on GPRS roaming, high-speed circuit switched data (HSCSD) could deliver in the interim. "HSCSD roams in 17 countries and offers the serious business traveller a good roaming alternative for data calls," said Hanscott.

Hanscott echoed the main theme of the 3GSM Congress in Cannes: revenue first, technology second. "There has definitely been more talk about what can be achieved now rather than what can be done tomorrow," he said.

"In the past we've been stuck with handsets that couldn't handle voice and data from a business point of view, but now there's a lot of energy going into delivering those for businesses."

Hanscott added that the "jury was still out" on whether corporates should use a one- or two-device approach for voice and data.

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