Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq: PALM) yesterday announced the availability of a Common Access Card (CAC) solution for Palm(R) Treo(TM) smartphones running Windows Mobile(R) 5.0 with Direct Push Technology.

Officially called the Smartphone Security Version 7 CAC Pack from Trust Digital(TM), the CAC Pack for Windows Mobile-based Treo smartphones addresses Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12, which requires all federal agencies to implement a system of smartcards that deliver a common, two-factor authentication method for physical doors, computers and smartphones in all federal buildings. Trust Digital is a leading provider of enterprise smartphone security and management software.

“The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), Homeland Security and other government agencies face mission-critical situations requiring secure mobile access to encrypted email, websites and applications,” said Eric Johnson, director of public sector and strategic partners at Palm, Inc. “The CAC Pack for Windows Mobile-based Treo smartphones lets authorized personnel use their smartphones to digitally sign and encrypt/decrypt email and documents, log on to secure websites and utilize other applications that may require CAC, such as Microsoft applications. It’s a powerful, turn-key way to mobilize communications and connect wirelessly and securely to IT infrastructures.”

The Treo smartphone delivers Palm’s world-class ease of use and rich media capabilities in one go-anywhere device. It combines a smarter phone with broadbandlike speeds with Microsoft’s Direct Push Technology to deliver wireless email via Exchange ActiveSync(R) software using Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 with Service Pack 2 or Exchange Server 2007. Microsoft Exchange implements FIPS 140-2 validated cryptographic modules to help protect over-the-air (OTA) email transmission or receipt.

“Trust Digital is providing federal government and military personnel with an alternative to proprietary RIM devices by introducing a powerful wireless CAC solution that combines the Palm’s world-class ease of use on Windows Mobile with advanced security management from Trust Digital,” said Dan Dearing, vice president of marketing at Trust Digital. “In combination with Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync, Smartphone Security Version 7 CAC Pack offers a secure email solution that reduces total cost of ownership , enables the adoption of open-market smartphones, and provides a superior user experience while also complying with agency and service security mandates.”