Microsoft,
Palm and
Verizon
Wireless have scheduled a press conference for later today that is most
likely to see the official unveiling of a Palm Treo smartphone running Windows
Mobile.
The companies said that Microsoft chairman Bill Gates will join Palm chief
executive Ed Colligan at the event.
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The launch of a Treo phone running the mobile version of Windows has been
rumoured ever since Palm One bought back the Palm naming
rights from PalmSource in May.
PalmSource develops the Palm OS operating system and was spun off from device
maker Palm One in 2003. PalmSource was acquired by Access of
Japan earlier this month.
A Windows version of the device could increase the appeal of the Treo with
enterprise customers who are demanding close integration with existing Windows
systems.
Palm is a long time supporter of the Palm OS, and this conversion to Windows
would validate Microsoft as a maker of software for mobile devices,
according
to Michael Gartenberg, research director at analyst firm
Jupiter
Research.
"This event, if it actually happens, would mark a powerful turning point for
Microsoft, more from a psychological perspective than a market share
perspective, but that's the key to getting momentum going for the longer haul,"
he said.
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