PalmGear, the largest Palm OS-based Internet retailer, is expanding into China with the opening of headquarters in Shanghai and offices in Beijing, not to mention the creation of a new new online presence.

According to PalmGear, this expansion will bring software, eBooks and content to consumers and enterprise customers throughout China. The online store was developed in Beijing by PalmGear China and is the first online distribution site for Palm OS hardware, software and content to be fully localized in mainland China.

According to PalmGear, its Chinese site includes full product description translations of the Top 100 software applications into Simplified Chinese with hundreds of additional titles to be added throughout Q1 2004.

In addition, PalmGear China said it is working to launch a program to assist Palm OS developers worldwide with the full translation of their applications for expansion into the China market. The company also plans to give mobile device users access to wireless content delivery through its partnership with PalmSource's Palm Powered Mobile World program.

PalmGear, which has been around since 1997, recently acquired Palm Digital Media, a online distributor of eBooks, from PalmSource. It said it plans to expand its eBook platform into the China market next year.