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In theory, Palm smartphones and PDAs should work with other operating systems besides the Palm OS. That is ever since PalmSource moved the Palm platform to ARM-based processors a couple of years back.

Although no vendors have attempted this yet, there have been rumors that even the platform's founder, palmOne, may introduce a Windows Mobile edition of the Treo 650—the highest profile Palm-based device currently on the market.

With its plans for a Linux version of the Palm OS, PalmSource—formally a part of palmOne and the keeper of the Palm flame—has already committed itself to a future that includes at least two versions of the platform.

Singapore's Oswin Technology plans to take the multi-platform stakes to another level, according to The Business Times. Purportedly, the company will release Palm, Pocket PC, Linux, MXI, and Windows CE editions of its new Zircon Axia A108 smartphone ($899), all using the same exact hardware.

Interestingly, the version of the Palm platform slated for the Axia A108 is Cobalt, the next-generation of the OS. Although PalmSource shipped it to licensees over a year ago, no devices running Cobalt have made it to market yet.

Oswin is only the second vendor, after Asian reseller Group Sense PDA (GSPDA)—which happens to be affiliated with Oswin—to commit to releasing a smartphone built on Cobalt. GSPDA general manager Tim Wong showed us a mock non-working version of the company's upcoming Cobalt handset at CITA Wireless 2005 in New Orleans last month.

Features of the Axia A108 includes a Freescale i.MX21 CPU, 64 MB of RAM, a 1.3 megapixel camera, and a 2.2-inch QVGA (240 x 320 pixel) resolution display. According to Oswin, future smartphones will come with retractable keyboards or numberpads.

The candybar-style Axia A108 is a tri-band GSM/GPRS (900, 1800, 1900 MHz) handset that the company plans to release worldwide.

The Windows CE version of the Axia A108 is already shipping with the MXI and Pocket PC editions due for release during the third quarter. The Cobalt and Linux models won't arrive until the last quarter of the year.

Axia A108 owners will be able to ship their phone back to Oswin and have their smartphone's OS changed.