Computing Unplugged Magazine: Do you still consider the Palm OS software market a viable business opportunity?

Kevin Benedict of MobileDataforce: No, Palm OS is not a viable business opportunity.

David Haupert of DDH Software: For us, most definitely, but for a new startup, it would seem it's too late to get in the game.

Iain Barclay of Electric Pocket: We still consider the Palm OS Treo software market a viable business opportunity.

Jim Brady of Earthcomber: Palm is so vast, with something like 20 million devices in activity, that a good product could make a fortune for years to come, even if Palm OS were completely orphaned tomorrow. Keep in mind, too: The current Palm user will eventually take her or his habits along as they migrate eventually onto whatever platform they chose. If you aren't there for them now on Palm, you aren't there for them now at all, and you might not be what they have in mind when they get there.

Todd Sherman of Smart Box Design: I think for me it is. I have four Palm games, with a fifth on its way. Plus our game engine is mature and does not require a lot of maintenance. This could all change and we may need to develop a new Linux-Palm-Windows engine but we would still be coming from a familiar view. I'm not sure how a new developer would succeed given the time to market and still limited distribution system.

Computing Unplugged Magazine: Do you have any other comments or opinions on this news?

Kevin Benedict of MobileDataforce: In order for a mobile operating system to compete with Microsoft's, there must be a compelling business case, or the high value business user will be forced, due to internal IT standards, to standardize on a Microsoft operating system. As an example, Oracle or SAP users might standardize on an Oracle or SAP sponsored mobile operating system if the key purpose of the mobile device was integration with that database. This would be a high value reason to use something other than Microsoft.

Iain Barclay of Electric Pocket: I think these are exciting times. A new door is opening with Windows Treo and the ACCESS purchase gives PalmSource new momentum, which can only be a good thing. Its also interesting to speculate what might have been if Motorola had succeeded in buying PalmSource -- I think that would have been very well received.

Todd Sherman of Smart Box Design: I like competition. I want Palm and Windows Mobile to compete for as long as possible as I think it helps drive innovation. I think it would have been very interesting if Motorola or Nokia had purchased Palm instead.

James Booth is Editor-at-Large at ZATZ Publishing. In addition to writing for Computing Unplugged and Connected Photographer, he's the author of Do-It-Yourself Wedding Photography. A self-taught photographer, James also dabbles in digital graphics and has learned to be a PC and handheld specialist through personal trial and error. James can be reached at jbooth@zatz.com.