One-time networking leader Novell Inc. said Thursday that it was getting into the business of providing software to enterprises to manage wireless devices such as handhelds.

Specifically, the company said it has acquired Callisto Software, which develops device management software that includes the ability to manage wireless devices. Novell said it would add Callisto's technology to its ZENworks for Desktops and ZENworks for Servers network management software. The new product will be called ZENworks for Handhelds.

The company said it expected to close the Callisto acquisition within 30 days. It said that ZENworks for Desktops currently has 35 million customers, many of whom said they also need to manage their mobile and handheld devices.

Novell's NetWare once held a huge lead in the enterprise network platform market and is still widely used. Besides ZENworks, it also is the developer of the widely-used GroupWise groupware product that competes with Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes.

The company said that it will provide more details about ZENworks for Handhelds early in 2002.