Drupal - Theming

If you want a passing variable value from template file to specific template file, do like this:
For example, your theme name is ipod
template.php

<?php

function ipod_process_page(&$variables){

     $variables['name'] = 'Lady Gaga';

}

So in the page.tpl.php, you would print

<div id="page">

    <?php print $name ? $name : 'No name';?>

</div>

Drupal - Theming