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Treos smartphones are far more popular in North America than most other regions.

In one attempt to change this reality, Palm, Inc. - with the support of Ireland's Industrial Development Agency (IDA) - has opened a Research and Development Center in Dublin to create custom Treo applications for mobile operators in the European, Middle Eastern and African (EMEA) regions.

Due to the differences in global wireless-communications systems, Palm says it believes mobile solutions are best delivered with targeted R&D activities and close collaboration with European mobile operators; hence the location of the new center.

According to Palm president & CEO Ed Colligan, the European center is "a significant step up for our R&D function." He adds, "This move reflects our intention to accelerate the delivery of next-generation smartphones to European mobile operators and their customers."

The Palm European Engineering Centre is responsible for choosing and developing core, leading-edge technologies, such as 3G/UMTS, to help Palm accelerate the delivery of next-generation smartphones to European mobile operators and their customers; supporting the mobile operators in their certification processes and helping field-qualification teams; implementing radio technology and mobile operator-specific services and applications; and focusing on quality assurance across the European networks and infrastructures.

Ireland's government welcomes Palm's investment.

At the official opening of the new center, the Country's Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin said, "The impact of attracting an R&D investment to Ireland from a company such as Palm, a high-profile brand leader with a reputation for innovation in wireless and communications, underlines this country's ability to successfully attract high-end R&D projects."

"Palm represents an important addition to the emerging wireless sector in this country, a key target area for IDA Ireland. It also is an ideal fit with IDA's strategy of adding higher-value knowledge-intensive activities and strategic mandates to existing operations here," according to Martin.