Palm Inc. recently unveiled the Palm Developer Network (PDN). PDN is designed for mobile hardware and software developers targeting Palm products and is the first formal developer program to include both Palm OS and Microsoft Windows Mobile Pocket PC developers.
The new program provides focused technical, business and marketing support, and replaces Palm's prior, developer program, PluggedIn. New services include a support library to answer developer questions, and a "Designed For Palm Products” compatibility test and logo program to help validate that the mobile solutions are compatible with Palm devices. Additional developer services are available for members of Palm's Select Developer Program – an invite-only group of top developers who consistently deliver highly valued consumer or business applications to customers worldwide.
“Third-party mobile solutions are a critical element of the Palm Experience,” said Mike Rank, director of developer relations for Palm. “Palm is committed to helping our developers grow their businesses and be successful in the competitive marketplace. PDN makes it easier for Palm developers to ramp sales, increase profitability and strengthen brand value.”
Through PDN, developers can build a wide range of applications for Palm devices, including multimedia, location-based services, sales force automation, field force automation, financial applications, health care, security, games, productivity tools, travel and industry-specific solutions.
Palm developers will have access to a knowledge base that searches the entire Palm developer support documentation library to answer their technical questions. The program’s service executes compatibility tests appropriate for a mobile solution on Palm devices configured for typical customer usage. Solutions that successfully complete compatibility testing are awarded the "Designed For Palm Products” logo, enabling developers to extend brand value through the Palm brand. In addition, successful completion makes the developer solution eligible for premium product promotion and sale through various Palm stores; a fee covers testing by Quality Partners, an independent third-party mobile testing firm. Once a solution has successfully completed compatibility testing, it's eligible for a promotion through the PDN Solution Directory. Palm customers worldwide will be able to search the directory for third-party applications. The PDN Solution Directory will be launched in late 2006.
Palm Inc. www.palm.com
