Palm ends iTunes sync cat-and-mouse game

Palm released its webOS version 1.2, adding a series of new features to its Pre smartphone but not restoring the device's access to the iTunes digital media storefront, effectively concluding its ongoing cat-and-mouse game with rival Apple. According to The Official Palm Blog, webOS 1.2 includes integration with LinkedIn contacts and facilitates links with different flavors of IM contacts--in addition, users can now cut-and-paste webpage and email content, download files in the browser, filter emails via search and download content from the Amazon MP3 store from either WiFI or WAN.

Perhaps most significant, webOS adds billing features that set the stage for the addition of premium applications to the Palm App Catalog storefront. Users can store their credit card information by selecting Preferences & Accounts from the App Catalog's application menu--Palm adds that card info is stored with the Palm profile, not on the phone itself. A new Share button enables users to send a link to an app page in an email or text message.

But absent from the Pre's Palm Support webpage is any mention of webOS 1.2 restoring the smartphone's connection to the App Store, indicating Palm has conceded defeat in its long-running skirmish with Apple. Last week, non-profit industry standards group the USB Implementers Forum sided with Apple in response to a Palm complaint alleging Apple restrains trade by blocking the Pre's access to the iTunes digital media storefront. In its complaint to the USB-IF--an organization dedicated to promoting and marketing USB, Wireless USB and USB On-The-Go standards, maintenance of the specifications and industry compliance--Palm charged that Apple abuses standards instituted to foster interoperability between computers and devices using a USB connection by enabling only its own devices to connect directly to iTunes software. But the USB-IF disagrees--in a letter sent to both firms, it also warns that if future Pre software updates include Apple's vendor code (a move Palm indicated in its complaint it would make to restore iTunes access) it would violate the forum's rules.

Palm first confirmed the Pre would enable users to synchronize with iTunes at The Wall Street Journal's D: All Things Digital event in late May. Palm executive chairman (and Apple veteran) Jon Rubinstein said users who plug their Pre into their computer would be offered the option of using the device as a USB drive, charging it or beginning a "media sync" session--the device would sync with iTunes, although it would not be able to download DRM-protected digital music or mobile applications optimized for Apple's iPhone or iPod touch.

In mid-July, Apple made good on its threat to guarantee newer versions of iTunes would not provide syncing functionality with non-Apple media players via the release of its iTunes 8.2.1 update. "iTunes 8.2.1 is a free software update that provides a number of important bug fixes," an Apple spokesperson told BusinessWeek. "It also disables devices falsely pretending to be iPods, including the Palm Pre. As we've said before, newer versions of Apple's iTunes software may no longer provide syncing functionality with unsupported digital media players."

The skirmish continued a week later with the release of Palm's own webOS 1.1 update, which the device maker promised re-enables media sync. "That's right--you once again can have seamless access to your music, photos and videos from the current version of iTunes (8.2.1)," wrote Palm VP of business products John Traynor on The Official Palm Blog. The September release of iTunes 9.0 again terminated Pre sync, bringing the soap opera to an end.

For more on the webOS 1.2. update:
- read this Official Palm Blog entry