Motorola Takes Equity Stake in 3Com’s Palm Computing
SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — December 14, 1999 — Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT), a leading provider of integrated communications and embedded electronic solutions, today announced that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Palm Computing, Inc., a leading provider of handheld computing solutions. Under the terms of the MOU, Motorola expects to license the Palm operating system for use in Motorola products. Additionally, Motorola has taken a minority equity stake in Palm Computing, a wholly-owned subsidiary of 3Com Corporation.
"We see a whole new category of wireless devices emerging that combine popular PDA platforms with wireless communications," said Merle Gilmore, president of Motorola's Communications Enterprise. "By combining the widespread appeal of the Palm operating system with the exploding demand for wireless communications, we will be able to provide people with the personal networking capabilities they want and need."
The Palm Computing initiative is part of Motorola's overall strategy to deliver wireless Internet solutions designed for use at home, work, play or anywhere in between. This development comes one year after Motorola became a shareholder in the Symbian joint venture, which promotes the EPOC operating system for wireless information devices. Motorola remains committed to the Symbian alliance, and is working with both Symbian and Palm to provide the leading platforms customers demand.
About Motorola
Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) is a global leader in providing integrated communications solutions and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in 1998 were $29.4 billion. For more information, please visit www.motorola.com.
About Palm Computing
Palm Computing, Inc., a 3Com company, is the leading provider of handheld computing solutions, including the best-selling Palm III, Palm V and Palm VII series of connected organizers. The Palm Computing platform is the premiere handheld development environment and is the foundation for the market-leading connected organizers from Palm Computing as well as products from Palm Computing's strategic partners such as IBM, QUALCOMM, Franklin Covey and Symbol Technologies. Designed to support the increasingly mobile and geographically dispersed nature of information management, the company's handheld solutions allow people to carry their most critical information in their pockets. For more information, please visit www.palm.com.
About 3Com Corporation
With over 300 million customer connections worldwide, 3Com Corporation (NASDAQ:COMS) connects more people and organizations to information and each other in more innovative, simple and reliable ways than any other networking company. 3Com delivers e-Networking solutions through information access products and network systems to enterprises, small businesses, consumers, carriers and network service providers. 3Com — More connected.(TM). For further information, visit 3Com's World Wide Web site at www.3com.com or the press site at www.3com.com/pressbox.
3Com and Palm Computing are registered trademarks and More connected. Palm, Palm III, Palm V and Palm VII are trademarks of 3Com Corporation or its subsidiaries. All other brands and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. Motorola is a registered trademarks of Motorola, Inc.
CONTACT:
Motorola
Bott Ikeler
508-261-5249 [email protected]
or Palm Computing
Bob Ingols
408-326-8002 voice [email protected]
or
For Motorola
Cunningham Communication
Brooke Selby
617-374-4248 voice [email protected]