Businesses using IBM"s e-commerce software will be able to use Palm handhelds to access stored information, under the terms of a partnership expected to be announced Tuesday.
IBM said it will offer later this year the ability to use Palm handhelds to access information stored on servers running WebSphere, IBM"s e-business software. Such access is already available to handhelds running Microsoft"s rival Pocket PC operating system.
IBM will also resell Palm m515 handhelds, as it does with HP"s Ipaq handhelds and Research In Motion"s Blackberry e-mail pagers.
In addition, IBM will make available its Lotus Sametime secure instant messaging program for the Palm and the two companies will jointly sell and develop handheld software.
The companies said the deal is multi-year and that no money is changing hands.