PalmSource Welcomes First GPS Handheld From GARMIN

Jan. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today, PalmSource, provider of the world's most popular operating system for handhelds and smart phones, welcomed the first Palm OS handheld integrated with Global Positioning System capabilities -- the iQue 3600 from Garmin. The Palm OS platform supports a variety of devices, allowing innovation and diversity to be the cornerstones of products, which will foster growth in the mobile computing market.

Known for its leadership in GPS devices, Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (Nasdaq: GRMN) will give users the first handheld device with built-in GPS navigation functionality. The convergence of location technologies with Personal Information Management (PIM) functions will provide users with a higher level of convenience and confidence, particularly when traveling to unfamiliar destinations. Garmin will showcase prototypes of the iQue 3600 with Palm OS 5 this week at CES at Booth #29093 - South Hall 3&4 of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

"We are delighted with the new iQue 3600 from Garmin as it extends the Palm OS platform to a new category of Palm Powered products by providing users with a more efficient way to simultaneously access personal data and navigation information in a lightweight and portable form factor," said David Nagel, president and chief executive officer for PalmSource, Inc.

Palm OS is known for the power and flexibility of its sophisticated, easy- to-use interface. As the foundation for more than 25 million mobile devices, the Palm OS platform provides an open, modular architecture that allows licensees to create innovative products in a variety of sizes and form factors for both individuals and enterprise users. 250,000 software developers have chosen the Palm OS platform as it allows them to create an enormous range of software and remain independent, while tapping into the growing mobile computing market.

"By integrating the Palm OS with GPS functionality, we've built a one-of- a-kind mobile companion device that offers a smart way to navigate through the day, whether traveling to a business appointment or taking the scenic route," said Gary Kelley, Garmin's director of marketing. "Combining the Palm OS with our GPS technology is a logical combination for a handheld device and allows Garmin to participate in the momentum already established by the Palm Economy."

Garmin's innovative Que technology delivers location awareness, electronic mapping, automatic route calculation, turn-by-turn voice guidance and map data interface to the iQue 3600. Que technology enables users to see where they are, find a street address, know where the next turn is via visual and voice guidance, get back on track when they've strayed off course and navigate efficiently to their desired destination.

One of the key benefits of technology integration on the iQue 3600 is its patent-pending contact-locator feature. Enabled by Garmin's Que technology, this feature connects the Palm Address Book and Date Book to the GPS electronic map to give the user the ability to navigate directly to a specific address within the user's contact database.

The iQue 3600 earned a prestigious "Best of Innovations" Award in the Mobile Office category of the Innovations 2003 Design & Engineering Showcase competition at this year's CES. The iQue 3600 won acclaim for its form, function, value and marketability.

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