LinuxWorld Conference & Expo-Boston to Feature Mobile Linux Focus; PalmSource Signs on as Platinum Sponsor New Mobile Linux Conference Track and Exhibition Pavilion Added

Business Wire, March 9, 2006

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. -- IDG World Expo today announced it has added mobile Linux to the areas it will feature during this spring's annual LinuxWorld Conference & Expo(R) on April 3-6, 2006 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. IDG World Expo also announced today that PalmSource, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of ACCESS Co., Ltd., has signed on as platinum sponsor of LinuxWorld Conference & Expo in Boston. The added focus on mobile Linux will offer attendees the opportunity to discover the latest trends and technologies that can be deployed as they evaluate their enterprise mobile device strategies.

Reflecting the growing momentum of the mobile Linux market, IDG World Expo has added a conference track that focuses on Mobile and Embedded Linux to April's LinuxWorld Conference & Expo, sponsored by PalmSource. The show floor will also feature a Mobile Linux Pavilion where companies in the mobile Linux market will be showcasing the latest advancements in the use of Linux in mobile devices, such as wireless handhelds and mobile phones. Current exhibitors in the Pavilion include PalmSource, Open Source Development Labs (OSDL) and the Linux Phone Standards (LiPS) Forum.

"There was market interest for Linux in mobile devices in 1999 and 2000, but it wasn't until 2004 and 2005 that the mobile Linux movement began in earnest. As more companies begin developing Linux software and hardware specifically for the mobile market, the future looks bright for mobile Linux," said David Korse, president & CEO, IDG World Expo. "Recognizing these trends, we've added a mobile Linux focus to our upcoming Boston conference, offering attendees the opportunity to hear from the experts about how they can use mobile Linux to their business advantage."

The Mobile and Embedded Linux session track will enable attendees to learn about the most recent initiatives for Linux on small devices from a number of speakers including Bill Weinberg, analyst/strategist with OSDL; Fabrizio Capobianco, CEO of Funambol; Didier Diaz, vice president of core product marketing with PalmSource, Inc.; and Jacob Lehrbaum, product manager with MontaVista Software, Inc. In addition, the Mobile Linux Pavilion will feature demonstrations from leading mobile Linux distributors, cell phone and PDA manufacturers, embedded systems chip manufacturers, and mobile and embedded software providers.

"The mobile Linux market has tremendous potential for all those involved--from operators to handset manufacturers to application developers," said Halia Wang, president and chairman of LiPS. "LinuxWorld Conference & Expo is an ideal forum to further build on the growing momentum of the mobile Linux market while fostering our commitment to specifying an application development environment for Linux based mobile, fixed and convergence phones that will enable developers to write applications and have them run on any LiPS-compliant phone profile."

"Linux is experiencing growth on mobile handsets," said Bill Weinberg, OSDL. "To accelerate deployment and broaden mobile Linux adoption, OSDL launched the Mobile Linux Initiative (MLI). LinuxWorld Conference & Expo provides a high profile venue to showcase the initiative and MLI member offerings, and to advocate the end-to-end deployment of Linux, from communications infrastructure to wireless handsets, from the enterprise out to mobile clients, and beyond."

"PalmSource is committed to further building and enriching a broader mobile Linux ecosystem--much like we have done with the Palm Powered(TM) Economy," said Linda Streb, senior director of partner marketing for PalmSource. "LinuxWorld Conference & Expo in Boston is an industry-leading venue that provides a great opportunity for members of the mobile Linux community to begin working to ensure that we are building a robust mobile Linux ecosystem that benefits developers, operators and handset manufacturers, while providing end users with a wide range of applications to meet the needs of a diverse range of industries and consumers."

For more information or to register for the event, please visit www.linuxworldexpo.com.

About LinuxWorld Conference & Expo

LinuxWorld Conference & Expo is the premier event exclusively focused on Linux and open source solutions. As the world's most comprehensive marketplace for open source products and services, LinuxWorld provides business decision-makers with information and resources to implement Linux and open source solutions into business infrastructure and enterprise networks. For more information or to register for the event, visit the LinuxWorld Conference & Expo Web site at www.linuxworldexpo.com, or call (800) 657-1474. For exhibiting opportunities, please contact Ellen Boland at (508) 988-7830 or ellen_boland@idg.com or Christian Montminy at (508) 424-4852 or christian_montminy@idg.com.

About IDG World Expo

IDG World Expo (www.idgworldexpo.com) produces technology-focused tradeshows, conferences and events for professionals seeking world-class education, peer-to-peer networking and one-stop comparison shopping. IDG World Expo's portfolio of conferences and events includes Macworld Conference & Expo(R), LinuxWorld Conference & Expo(R), Wireless Sensing Solutions(R), Syndicate(TM), GridWorld(TM), OSBC(R), Digital ID World(R), RoboBusiness and RoboNexus. IDG World Expo is a business unit of IDG, the world's leading technology media, research and event company.