SyChip joins Palm OS Ready program and deliver wi-fi connectivity solutions

PalmSource and SyChip have announced SyChip's entry into the Palm OS Ready Program, delivering integrated Wi-Fi connectivity solutions to Palm OS licensees. SyChip joins existing Palm OS Ready partners ATI, Intel, M-Systems, Motorola, NVIDIA, Samsung Semiconductor and Texas Instruments.

In joining the Palm OS Ready Program (POSR), SyChip's Wi-Fi wireless connectivity solutions will be certified to be Palm OS platform compatible. Certified POSR solutions can free up valuable development time for Palm OS licensees, offering faster time-to-market for new and unique smart mobile devices. The SyChip embedded chip scale module offers licensees the ability to quickly integrate Wi-Fi connectivity in their new mobile device designs, allowing system architects to concentrate on creating differentiated products without the need to dedicate engineering efforts to develop Wi-Fi connectivity.

According to its 30 January 2004 Wireless LAN Semiconductor report, Gartner Dataquest estimates that by 2006, 60 percent of PDAs and five percent of mobile handsets will include built-in wireless LAN connections. "The growing presence of wireless LAN access points and hotspots is creating a demand for smart mobile devices with built-in Wi-Fi connectivity," said Joseph Byrne, principal analyst at Gartner. "Cost-effective, small-footprint radios minimize the time and effort required by manufacturers of smart mobile devices to add WLAN capability."