KEY POINTS:
It started the handheld computing revolution in the 1990s, but lost its advantage to eager competitors.
Now Palm is relying on former rival Microsoft to help it try to regain the dominance it once had.
Both Vodafone and Telecom this month launch, for the first time, devices from
smart phone maker Palm which operate not on Palm's software, but on the Windows Mobile platform.
Palm has launched a charm offensive on mobile carriers the world over in a bid to bypass the popular Blackberry smart phone in favour of its Treo device, which acts as a phone and device running versions of popular Windows programs.
The Blackberry's addictiveness among executives, who use it to constantly stay in email contact, has earned it the nickname "Crackberry". Its rivals have geared their businesses up to try to beat it.
But Palm is one of several competitors hedging its bets. It has signed a marketing deal with Blackberry maker Research In Motion and the Blackberry Connect software now runs on the Treo.
Microsoft, too, is under pressure in the smart phone space, from the Blackberry and the Symbian platform used by Nokia.
In Europe, Microsoft's market share in smart phone operating systems fell to 16.9 per cent in the three months to September 30, down from 18 per cent in the same period last year, according to research company Canalys.
But in Asia Pacific, Microsoft is already the dominant player, holding 55 per cent market share in the third quarter, with Windows Mobile growing faster than other operating systems. Symbian held 16 per cent market share in the same period, Blackberry had 14 per cent while Palm's own software accounted for only 2 per cent.
Palm's sales director for New Zealand and Australia, Geoff Anson, said the Treo was a device that mainly appealed to business users but that all-you-can-eat, US$20 ($30) a month mobile data plans had made it popular with consumers in the US.
"The cost, return on investment and usability of data are the main drivers, plus, people just want one device that does everything well."
The Blackberry, he said, did not do that and its proprietary design meant it wasn't flexible for handing third-party software programs.
"We all know what happens to proprietary solutions. Anyone got a Wang word processor handy?"
Telecom is launching a Windows-based Treo, the 700wx, which uses Telecom's high-speed data network and sells for $999 on open term.
The 750v is being sold by Vodafone for $1299 on an open contract.
Microsoft solutions specialist Mark Bishop said any company running Microsoft Exchange Server could push email out to its employees' Windows-based mobile devices.
Small businesses and home users could instead use a hosted Exchange service.
The Treo
* Acts as a phone and runs popular Windows programs.
* Also runs Blackberry Connect software.
* Telecom and Vodafone are both offering versions of the device.
