Handspring to license Qualcomm wireless standard

Qualcomm has granted Handspring, the maker of the Visor handheld computer, a license for its digital wireless standard, extending the technology beyond telephones.

Handspring, whose Visor handheld computer uses the Palm operating system, will be able to develop wireless communications using Qualcomm's Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) technology and Qualcomm will receive royalties on the sale of Handspring products.

CDMA is the dominant wireless standard developed by Qualcomm for use in digital wireless telephones. CDMA technology takes information in a signal and spreads it over a wide bandwidth.

"Over time, all handheld computing products will become wirelessly enabled and Qualcomm's CDMA technology provides a great path for enabling these solutions," said Ed Colligan, senior vice president of marketing and sales for Handspring.

"One of the key design advantages of our Springboard expansion technology is its ability to work with multiple wireless standards. We look forward to working with Qualcomm and our Springboard developer community to help fuel the next-generation of wireless communications solutions," Colligan said.

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