<PAGE>

       As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 6, 2001.
                                                      Registration No. 333-
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                 PUMATECH, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

              DELAWARE                            77-0349154
              --------                            ----------
        (State of incorporation)       (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

                          2550 NORTH FIRST STREET, #500
                           SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95131
                                 (408) 321-7650
   (Address, including zip code, of Registrant's principal executive offices)

                                 PUMATECH, INC.
                   AMENDED AND RESTATED 1993 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the Plans)

                                 KELLY J. HICKS
             VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                          2550 NORTH FIRST STREET, #500
                           SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95131
                                 (408) 321-7650
 (Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                                   COPIES TO:

                             ADELE C. FREEDMAN, ESQ.
                         GENERAL COUNSEL ASSOCIATES LLP
                               1891 LANDINGS DRIVE
                             MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA 94043
                                 (650) 428-3900

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
======================================================================================================================
                                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
======================================================================================================================
                                                                Proposed              Proposed
     Title of                           Maximum                  Maximum              Maximum
    Securities                           Amount                 Offering             Aggregate            Amount of
       to be                             to be                  Price Per             Offering           Registration
    Registered                         Registered                 Share                Price                  Fee
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                <C>                      <C>                 <C>                    <C>
Common Stock,
$.001 par value.............         500,000 shares (1)         $7.16 (2)           $3,578,125.00 (2)      $894.54
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

(1) This subtotal represents the number of shares issuable upon exercise of
options that have not yet been granted under the Amended and Restated 1993 Stock
Option Plan as of the date of this Registration Statement.

(2) Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933
solely for the purpose of calculating the total registration fee. Computation
based upon the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock as
reported on the Nasdaq National Market on February 5, 2001 because the price at
which the options to be granted in the future may be exercised is not currently
determinable.

================================================================================

<PAGE>

PART II:

      INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
         -------------------------------------

      The following documents and information heretofore filed by Pumatech, Inc.
(the "Registrant") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") are hereby incorporated by reference:

      (a) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2000,
filed with the SEC on October 27, 2000, including certain information in our
Definitive Proxy Statement in connection with our 2000 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders;

      (b) Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 17, 2000;

      (c) Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended October
31, 2000 filed December 15, 2000;

      (d) Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 11, 2001;

      (e) Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 6, 2001; and

      (f) The description of our common stock contained in our registration
statement on Form 8-A filed November 8, 1996, including any amendments or
reports filed for the purpose of updating such descriptions.

      All documents subsequently filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c),
14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment to this registration statement which indicates that all securities
offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration
statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
         -------------------------

      Not Applicable.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
         --------------------------------------

      Not Applicable.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
         -----------------------------------------

      Delaware law authorizes corporations to eliminate the personal liability
of directors to corporations and their stockholders for monetary damages for
breach or alleged breach of the directors' "duty of care." While the relevant
statute does not change the directors' duty of care, it enables corporations to
limit available relief to equitable remedies such as injunction or rescission.
The statute has no effect on directors' duty of loyalty, acts or omissions not
in good faith or involving intentional misconduct or knowing violations of law,
illegal payment of dividends and approval of any transaction from which a
director derives an improper personal benefit.

      The Registrant has adopted provisions in its Certificate of Incorporation
which eliminate the personal liability of its directors and its stockholders for
monetary damages for breach or alleged breach of their duty of care. The
Registrant's Bylaws provide for indemnification of its directors, officers,
employees and agents to the full extent permitted by the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware, the Registrant's state of incorporation, including
those circumstances in which indemnification would otherwise be discretionary
under Delaware law. Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware provides for indemnification in terms sufficiently broad to indemnify
such individuals, under certain circumstances, for liabilities (including
reimbursement of expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act").


                                      -2-
<PAGE>


ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED
         -----------------------------------

      Not Applicable.

ITEM 8   EXHIBITS
         --------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      Exhibit
      Number      Document
      ------      --------

<S>            <C>
         4.1   Pumatech, Inc. Amended and Restated 1993 Stock Option Plan.

         5.1   Opinion of Counsel as to Legality of Securities Being Registered.

        23.1   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Accountants for Pumatech, Inc.

        23.2   Consent of General Counsel Associates LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1 hereto).

        24.1   Power of Attorney (included on the signature page to the Registration Statement; see page 4).
</TABLE>

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS
         ------------

      A. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

         (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include any
material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement.

         (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), each such post-effective
amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

      B. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of its annual
report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and,
where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report
pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

      C. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.



                                      -3-
<PAGE>

                                   SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant, PUMATECH, INC., a corporation organized and existing under the laws
of the State of Delaware, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused
this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of San Jose, State of California, on
February 6, 2001.

                                 PUMATECH, INC.

                                 By: /s/ Kelly J. Hicks
                                     ---------------------------------------
                                     Kelly J. Hicks, Vice President of
                                     Operations and Chief Financial Officer


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Kelly J. Hicks, Karen A. Ammer and Adele
C. Freedman, jointly and severally, as his or her attorneys-in-fact, each with
the power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any
amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-8, and to file the same,
with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that
each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons on February 6,
2001 in the capacities indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
               SIGNATURES                         TITLE

<S>                                          <C>
        /s/ Michael M. Clair                   Chairman of the Board of Directors
----------------------------------
         MICHAEL M. CLAIR

       /s/ Bradley A. Rowe                     Chief Executive Officer and Director
----------------------------------             (Principal Executive Officer)
         BRADLEY A. ROWE

         /s/ Kelly J. Hicks                    Vice President of Operations and
----------------------------------             Chief Financial Officer
         KELLY J. HICKS                        (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

         /s/ M. Bruce Nakao                    Director
----------------------------------
         M. BRUCE NAKAO

         /s/ Stephen A. Nicol                  Director
----------------------------------
         STEPHEN A. NICOL
</TABLE>




                                      -4-
<PAGE>



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      Exhibit
      Number      Document
      ------      --------

<S>            <C>
         4.1   Pumatech, Inc. Amended and Restated 1993 Stock Option Plan.

         5.1   Opinion of Counsel as to Legality of Securities Being Registered.

        23.1   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Accountants for Pumatech, Inc.

        23.2   Consent of General Counsel Associates LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1 hereto).

        24.1   Power of Attorney (included on the signature page to the Registration Statement; see page 4).
</TABLE>
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "a2036801zs-8.txt", "description": "FORM S-8", "secsgml_size_bytes": 14406}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "PUMATECH INC", "cik": "0001020716", "assigned-sic": "7372", "irs-number": "770349154", "state-of-incorporation": "DE", "fiscal-year-end": "0731"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-55092", "film-number": "1526446"}, "business-address": {"street1": "2550 N FIRST ST", "street2": "STE 500", "city": "SAN JOSE", "state": "CA", "zip": "95131", "phone": "4083217650"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "2550 N FIRST ST", "street2": "SUITE 500", "city": "SAN JOSE", "state": "CA", "zip": "95131"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "PUMA TECHNOLOGY INC", "date-changed": "19960808"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 6, 2001.
                                                      Registration No. 333-
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                                 PUMATECH, INC.
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

              DELAWARE                            77-0349154
              --------                            ----------
        (State of incorporation)       (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

                          2550 NORTH FIRST STREET, #500
                           SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95131
                                 (408) 321-7650
   (Address, including zip code, of Registrant's principal executive offices)

                                 PUMATECH, INC.
                   AMENDED AND RESTATED 1993 STOCK OPTION PLAN
                            (Full title of the Plans)

                                 KELLY J. HICKS
             VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                          2550 NORTH FIRST STREET, #500
                           SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95131
                                 (408) 321-7650
 (Name, address and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                                   COPIES TO:

                             ADELE C. FREEDMAN, ESQ.
                         GENERAL COUNSEL ASSOCIATES LLP
                               1891 LANDINGS DRIVE
                             MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA 94043
                                 (650) 428-3900
======================================================================================================================
                                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
======================================================================================================================
                                                                Proposed              Proposed
     Title of                           Maximum                  Maximum              Maximum
    Securities                           Amount                 Offering             Aggregate            Amount of
       to be                             to be                  Price Per             Offering           Registration
    Registered                         Registered                 Share                Price                  Fee
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Common Stock,
$.001 par value.............         500,000 shares (1)         $7.16 (2)           $3,578,125.00 (2)      $894.54
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) This subtotal represents the number of shares issuable upon exercise of
options that have not yet been granted under the Amended and Restated 1993 Stock
Option Plan as of the date of this Registration Statement.

(2) Estimated in accordance with Rule 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933
solely for the purpose of calculating the total registration fee. Computation
based upon the average of the high and low prices of the Common Stock as
reported on the Nasdaq National Market on February 5, 2001 because the price at
which the options to be granted in the future may be exercised is not currently
determinable.

================================================================================
PART II:

      INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
         -------------------------------------

      The following documents and information heretofore filed by Pumatech, Inc.
(the "Registrant") with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") are hereby incorporated by reference:

      (a) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 31, 2000,
filed with the SEC on October 27, 2000, including certain information in our
Definitive Proxy Statement in connection with our 2000 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders;

      (b) Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 17, 2000;

      (c) Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended October
31, 2000 filed December 15, 2000;

      (d) Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 11, 2001;

      (e) Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 6, 2001; and

      (f) The description of our common stock contained in our registration
statement on Form 8-A filed November 8, 1996, including any amendments or
reports filed for the purpose of updating such descriptions.

      All documents subsequently filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c),
14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective
amendment to this registration statement which indicates that all securities
offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities remaining
unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this registration
statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.

ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
         -------------------------

      Not Applicable.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
         --------------------------------------

      Not Applicable.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
         -----------------------------------------

      Delaware law authorizes corporations to eliminate the personal liability
of directors to corporations and their stockholders for monetary damages for
breach or alleged breach of the directors' "duty of care." While the relevant
statute does not change the directors' duty of care, it enables corporations to
limit available relief to equitable remedies such as injunction or rescission.
The statute has no effect on directors' duty of loyalty, acts or omissions not
in good faith or involving intentional misconduct or knowing violations of law,
illegal payment of dividends and approval of any transaction from which a
director derives an improper personal benefit.

      The Registrant has adopted provisions in its Certificate of Incorporation
which eliminate the personal liability of its directors and its stockholders for
monetary damages for breach or alleged breach of their duty of care. The
Registrant's Bylaws provide for indemnification of its directors, officers,
employees and agents to the full extent permitted by the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware, the Registrant's state of incorporation, including
those circumstances in which indemnification would otherwise be discretionary
under Delaware law. Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware provides for indemnification in terms sufficiently broad to indemnify
such individuals, under certain circumstances, for liabilities (including
reimbursement of expenses incurred) arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act").

                                      -2-
ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED
         -----------------------------------

      Not Applicable.

ITEM 8   EXHIBITS
         --------
Exhibit
      Number      Document
      ------      --------
4.1   Pumatech, Inc. Amended and Restated 1993 Stock Option Plan.

         5.1   Opinion of Counsel as to Legality of Securities Being Registered.

        23.1   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Accountants for Pumatech, Inc.

        23.2   Consent of General Counsel Associates LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1 hereto).

        24.1   Power of Attorney (included on the signature page to the Registration Statement; see page 4).
ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS
         ------------

      A. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

         (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include any
material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement.

         (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"), each such post-effective
amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

         (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

      B. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of its annual
report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and,
where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report
pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

      C. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.

                                      -3-
SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant, PUMATECH, INC., a corporation organized and existing under the laws
of the State of Delaware, certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused
this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in the City of San Jose, State of California, on
February 6, 2001.

                                 PUMATECH, INC.

                                 By: /s/ Kelly J. Hicks
                                     ---------------------------------------
                                     Kelly J. Hicks, Vice President of
                                     Operations and Chief Financial Officer

                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

      KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature
appears below constitutes and appoints Kelly J. Hicks, Karen A. Ammer and Adele
C. Freedman, jointly and severally, as his or her attorneys-in-fact, each with
the power of substitution, for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any
amendments to this Registration Statement on Form S-8, and to file the same,
with exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that
each of said attorneys-in-fact, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may do
or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons on February 6,
2001 in the capacities indicated.
SIGNATURES                         TITLE
/s/ Michael M. Clair                   Chairman of the Board of Directors
----------------------------------
         MICHAEL M. CLAIR

       /s/ Bradley A. Rowe                     Chief Executive Officer and Director
----------------------------------             (Principal Executive Officer)
         BRADLEY A. ROWE

         /s/ Kelly J. Hicks                    Vice President of Operations and
----------------------------------             Chief Financial Officer
         KELLY J. HICKS                        (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

         /s/ M. Bruce Nakao                    Director
----------------------------------
         M. BRUCE NAKAO

         /s/ Stephen A. Nicol                  Director
----------------------------------
         STEPHEN A. NICOL
-4-
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
      Number      Document
      ------      --------
4.1   Pumatech, Inc. Amended and Restated 1993 Stock Option Plan.

         5.1   Opinion of Counsel as to Legality of Securities Being Registered.

        23.1   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Independent Accountants for Pumatech, Inc.

        23.2   Consent of General Counsel Associates LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1 hereto).

        24.1   Power of Attorney (included on the signature page to the Registration Statement; see page 4).