Psion holds Citrix deal in its palmtop

Psion has licensed software that allows its palmtops to act as 32-bit Windows clients, in a move to counter the threat from the new breed of Windows CE handheld devices.

Psion will run Citrix Systems? ICA Client software on its Series 3 palmtops under its Epoc 32 operating system.

The firm has also acquired the rights to develop the software further and to relicense its versions for use in many handheld communications devices such as smartphones and mobile Web browsers.

The deal aroused speculation that Citrix? software will also be licensed for use on network computers. The Psion Series 3 runs on the ARM Risc microprocessor, the basis of the Oracle NC specification.

?We have made no announcements in that area,? was all Citrix would say on the subject, making it clear that further relicensing deals are Psion?s domain now.

Other licensees of Citrix? ICA Client include Sun and Cruise Technology, a subsidiary of Zenith Data Systems that will use the software for its wireless tablet computers.