Microsoft
and 3Com Resolve Product Naming Dispute
SANTA CLARA, Calif., and REDMOND, Wash. - April 8, 1998 - Microsoft
Corp., 3Com Corp. and Palm Computing Inc. today announced they have agreed to amicably
settle their dispute over the naming of the category of palm-size devices currently
referred to by Microsoft as "Palm PCs." 3Com's Palm Computing subsidiary
manufactures the Palm III connected organizers, and Microsoft recently began licensing its
Windows® CE operating system for use in palm-size devices. As part of the agreement,
Microsoft will discontinue use of the term Palm PC and will begin referring to this
category of devices as "Palm-size PCs." Under
terms of the agreement, Microsoft will initiate a worldwide transition to the new term. In
the coming months, Microsoft will ship to its original equipment manufacturers a worldwide
English-language release of Windows CE 2.0 that substitutes the new category name. In
addition, existing inventories of initial devices using the current term may be sold until
software and devices using the new descriptor are available later this year. This
agreement resolves the pending legal dispute.
"Microsoft and 3Com have a strong, long-standing
business relationship," said Paul Maritz, Microsoft group vice president for systems.
"This agreement further strengthens that relationship and allows us to move quickly
beyond our differences over this issue."
"3Com and Microsoft are working together on a number of
fronts, driving key product and technology initiatives," said Eric Benhamou, 3Com
chairman and CEO. "We are pleased that we are able to amicably resolve this
dispute."
"This agreement ensures that our customers can make
clear, informed choices to meet their handheld computing needs," said Donna Dubinsky,
3Com vice president and president of Palm Computing.
3Com Corp. (Nasdaq "COMS") enables individuals and
organizations worldwide to communicate and share information and resources at anytime from
anywhere. As one of the world's pre-eminent suppliers of data, voice and video
communications technology, 3Com has delivered networking solutions to more than 100
million customers worldwide. The company provides enterprises, network service providers
and carriers, small businesses and consumers with comprehensive, innovative information
access products and system solutions for building intelligent, reliable and
high-performance local and wide area networks. For further information, visit 3Com's World
Wide Web site at (http://www.3com.com/), or the press
site at (http://www.3com.com/pressbox/).
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the
worldwide leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of
products and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of
making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full power of
personal computing every day.
Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or
trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
3Com and Palm Computing are registered trademarks and Palm
III is a trademark of 3Com Corp. or its subsidiaries. |
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