Handmark
Encyclopedia
Handmark is a developer and distributor of mobile
content. The company
was created in 2000 by the merger of Mobile Generation Software with Palmspring Software.
The company's original intention was to sell software and content for the Palm Operating System
, and in 2001 handmark purchased the Palm-related MemoWare
repository. The company's scope has since expanded to include Windows Mobile
, Java
, and other mobile computing
, smartphone
and mobile phone
platforms.
The company’s Pocket Express wireless service offers users access to news, reference and infotainment
content on BlackBerry
, Palm
Treo
, Windows Mobile, and other wireless
handhelds. In addition to the Pocket Express wireless service bundle, Handmark distributes a number of wireless entertainment titles including Warfare Incorporated
(RTS
) (Palmsource Powered Up award winner).
In January 2008 Handmark and Astraware
announced a new business relationship in which Astraware became part of the Handmark family. Astraware was subsequently bought out by its management team in January 2010 and returned to being an independent game developer.
In February 2009 Handmark announced that it had acquired FreeRange
Inc, the publisher of news reader software for mobile platforms. The FreeRange product was subsequently branded the Mobile Publishing Platform].
The world headquarters is in Kansas City, Missouri
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
content. The company
Company
A company is a form of business organization. It is an association or collection of individual real persons and/or other companies, who each provide some form of capital. This group has a common purpose or focus and an aim of gaining profits. This collection, group or association of persons can be...
was created in 2000 by the merger of Mobile Generation Software with Palmspring Software.
The company's original intention was to sell software and content for the Palm Operating System
Palm OS
Palm OS is a mobile operating system initially developed by Palm, Inc., for personal digital assistants in 1996. Palm OS is designed for ease of use with a touchscreen-based graphical user interface. It is provided with a suite of basic applications for personal information management...
, and in 2001 handmark purchased the Palm-related MemoWare
Memoware
Memoware is a term originally coined in 1996 for data formatted for the Memopad application that was shipped with the original U.S. Robotics Pilot Personal Digital Assistant....
repository. The company's scope has since expanded to include Windows Mobile
Windows Mobile
Windows Mobile is a mobile operating system developed by Microsoft that was used in smartphones and Pocket PCs, but by 2011 was rarely supplied on new phones. The last version is "Windows Mobile 6.5.5"; it is superseded by Windows Phone, which does not run Windows Mobile software.Windows Mobile is...
, Java
Java (programming language)
Java is a programming language originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities...
, and other mobile computing
Computing
Computing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving computer hardware and software. It is the computer-specific part of information technology...
, smartphone
Smartphone
A smartphone is a high-end mobile phone built on a mobile computing platform, with more advanced computing ability and connectivity than a contemporary feature phone. The first smartphones were devices that mainly combined the functions of a personal digital assistant and a mobile phone or camera...
and mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
platforms.
The company’s Pocket Express wireless service offers users access to news, reference and infotainment
Infotainment
Infotainment is "information-based media content or programming that also includes entertainment content in an effort to enhance popularity with audiences and consumers." It is a neologistic portmanteau of information and entertainment, referring to a type of media which provides a combination of...
content on BlackBerry
BlackBerry
BlackBerry is a line of mobile email and smartphone devices developed and designed by Canadian company Research In Motion since 1999.BlackBerry devices are smartphones, designed to function as personal digital assistants, portable media players, internet browsers, gaming devices, and much more...
, Palm
Palm, Inc.
Palm, Inc., was a smartphone manufacturer headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, that was responsible for products such as the Pre and Pixi as well as the Treo and Centro smartphones. Previous product lines include the PalmPilot, Palm III, Palm V, Palm VII, Zire and Tungsten. While their older...
Treo
Treo
The Palm Treo is a line of smartphones originally developed by Handspring, which was bought by Palm, Inc. They are now manufactured and maintained by Palm, Inc. Treos have a number of integrated features such as the ability to check the calendar while talking on the phone, dial directly from a...
, Windows Mobile, and other wireless
Wireless
Wireless telecommunications is the transfer of information between two or more points that are not physically connected. Distances can be short, such as a few meters for television remote control, or as far as thousands or even millions of kilometers for deep-space radio communications...
handhelds. In addition to the Pocket Express wireless service bundle, Handmark distributes a number of wireless entertainment titles including Warfare Incorporated
Warfare Incorporated
Warfare Incorporated is a real-time strategy game for PalmOS and Pocket PC PDAs and iPhone and iPod Touch, developed by Spiffcode and distributed by Handmark in 2003. It has been described as being the equivalent to Command & Conquer or StarCraft, but it in reality it combines elements of both...
(RTS
Real-time strategy
Real-time strategy is a sub-genre of strategy video game which does not progress incrementally in turns. Brett Sperry is credited with coining the term to market Dune II....
) (Palmsource Powered Up award winner).
In January 2008 Handmark and Astraware
Astraware
Astraware creates software for Apple iPhone, Android OS, Microsoft Windows Mobile and BlackBerry smartphones. It is based in Knutton, Staffordshire....
announced a new business relationship in which Astraware became part of the Handmark family. Astraware was subsequently bought out by its management team in January 2010 and returned to being an independent game developer.
In February 2009 Handmark announced that it had acquired FreeRange
FreeRange
FreeRange Communications was a developer and distributor of the RSS feed aggregation software FreeRange WebReader for mobile devices. Initially the company developed a version for BlackBerry OS devices and certain J2ME devices. Subsequently the company created a version for Palm OS...
Inc, the publisher of news reader software for mobile platforms. The FreeRange product was subsequently branded the Mobile Publishing Platform].
The world headquarters is in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...