AlphaSmart extends licensing agreement with PalmSource

AlphaSmart announced that it has extended the terms of its licensing agreement with PalmSource. The new contract, which gives AlphaSmart the ability to continue to develop products based on the Palm OS platform, extends the terms of its original agreement by more than two years, or through 31 December 2008.

"By extending our agreement with PalmSource, AlphaSmart is reaffirming its commitment to the Dana platform," said Ketan D. Kothari, chairman and chief executive officer of AlphaSmart. "We intend to continue to design and deliver technology solutions that reduce the cost and complexity of computing. In education, Dana adoption is accelerating, and we remain committed to investing in the solutions necessary to make it a preferred choice among educators. In addition, we're exploring ways to address the growing needs of other professional users who appreciate the simplicity, affordability and wireless capabilities of the Dana platform."

The company believes that their Dana by AlphaSmart (read our review) is a Palm Powered laptop alternative that combines the convenience and affordability of a handheld with functionality comparable to a notebook computer. The Dana features an integrated full-size keyboard with touch screen display that is 3.5 times wider than a typical handheld and can deliver more than 25 hours of battery life between charges. The wireless model, Dana Wireless, enables Wi-Fi (802.11b) connectivity in the classroom, on campus, at the office or at thousands of public HotSpots, enabling email, Web browsing and instant messaging.