PalmSource not exactly left out in the cold

With PalmOne's reincarnation as Palm and its purchase of the rights to the name, what will become of PalmSource?

Not to worry, says PalmSource spokeswoman Maureen O'Connell.

PalmSource, which builds the Palm operating system, has rights to the trademarks for the next four years, O'Connell said. The company had previously said that it will change its name to reflect its focus on both the Palm OS--and its push into Linux thanks to its acquisition of China MobileSoft.

Several replacement names for the new PalmSource are on a short list, but O'Connell declined to specify them.

Whatever the outcome, the company will take its time in making all the necessary changes with its partners and business customers.

"It is not as though...they would have to do something overnight. There is lots of lead time involved," O'Connell said.

The transition period also includes changing all of those "Palm Powered" stickers to whatever new name PalmSource goes with.

The new Palm has also renewed its OS license contract with PalmSource through 2009, and PalmSource recently inked a licensing deal with Korea's LG Electronics, which will help PalmSource build its presence in the phone market.