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Press Release
U.S. Robotics Announces Two New Models of the Best
Selling Pilot Connected Organizer
Pocket e-mail, Network HotSync and enhanced software among new features;
easy upgrade path announced for current Pilot owners
Mountain View, Calif. -- March 10, 1997 -- U.S. Robotics
(NASDAQ: USRX) today announced the PalmPilotTM
Professional and the
PalmPilot Personal, two new models of its market-leading Pilot
connected organizer. The PalmPilot Professional model offers
e-mail connectivity and the option to synchronize PalmPilot
information with the users' desktop computer locally over TCP/IP
networks or remotely via a portable snap-on modem. Both models
feature new expense management software, a backlit screen, enhanced
Personal Information Management (PIM) software applications, and new
games.
The family of PalmPilot connected organizers, designed
as companion products to personal computers, enable mobile users to
manage their schedule, personal information, and e-mail on the road
and at their desktops. PalmPilot's HotSyncTM technology enables users
to synchronize all of their e-mail, contact, scheduling, and
personal information on their PalmPilot with the information on
their personal computer at the touch of a button.
"U.S. Robotics set
a new standard for value in handheld computers when it introduced
Pilot last year, and by adding the e-mail and network capabilities
at a similar price point, the company has raised the bar yet again.
U.S. Robotics has played an instrumental role in moving the handheld
category into a mainstream consumer market," said Mike McGuire,
mobile computing industry analyst for Dataquest.
The two new models
maintain U.S. Robotics design objective of providing maximum
functionality at compelling consumer price points. PalmPilot
Professional edition includes e-mail connectivity software, expense
tracking software, a backlit screen, enhanced PalmPilot PIM
software, and 1MB of memory, and sells for $399. The PalmPilot
Personal edition features the same expense management software,
backlit screen, and enhanced PIM software, and includes 512K of
memory, for the groundbreaking price of $299. The Personal edition
is available immediately, and the Professional edition will be
available at the end of March.
Pilot has won broad praise and
numerous industry awards, including being named to Rolling Stone
Magazines 1996 Hot List, a Popular Science "Best of What's New"
award, PC/Computing Magazines Useability Achievement of the Year
award and a "Five Stars" evaluation, Boot Magazine's "Kick-Ass
Product" award, a Windows Sources "Stellar" award, and Business
Weeks Best Products of 1996. In addition, Pilot, which is available
in English, French, and German localized versions throughout the
world, has won acclaim internationally. Pilot was recognized for
BYTE Magazine's Best of CeBit award, the Australian Computer
Association Award, and the Comdex Canada Best Handheld Computer
award from the Computer Paper. PalmPilot will now also be offered
in Spanish and Italian localized versions.
"While the first Pilot
was targeted as a personal organizer, the introduction of the
PalmPilot Professional and PalmPilot Personal demonstrates the wider
degree of functionality that can be supported by our platform," said
Ed Colligan, vice president of marketing of Palm Computing, Inc.,
the subsidiary of U.S. Robotics that designs and markets the
handheld computers. "We've stayed in close contact with our
customers to develop additional features that will help make them
more productive and organized, while preserving the size,
ease-of-use and value that make PalmPilot so appealing."
Owners of
the Pilot 1000 and Pilot 5000 will be able to upgrade to the new
software features of the PalmPilot Professional through a
user-installable upgrade card and desktop software. Priced at $129,
the upgrade includes the expense management and e-mail
connectivity software, all the enhanced PIM software, and 1MB of memory. For a
limited time, registered Pilot customers will be able to purchase
the PalmPilot Professional 1MB Upgrade for $99.
New PalmPilot Features
E-mail
The PalmPilot e-mail software enables users of Microsoft Mail,
Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Outlook, and Lotus cc:mail to create
new messages, reply to, or forward messages, and manage the contents
of their desktop mailbox remotely. To send or receive new messages,
users simply HotSync their PalmPilot, and the PalmPilots mailbox is
intelligently synchronized with the desktop mailbox.
Network HotSync
PalmPilot users will have two new ways to synchronize remotely,
both over networks and via dial-up access. Network
HotSyncTM, the new TCP/IP-based network
synchronization capability, is a next-generation version of
PalmPilots HotSync capability that will enable users to synchronize
with their desktop information across Local Area Networks and Wide
Area Networks. Network HotSync will be offered for $69 per user,
and corporate site licenses will be offered. Network HotSync will
be available in June.
PalmPilot Modem
The new snap-on PalmPilot Modem, priced at $129, enables users to
dial a modem at their desktop to synchronize remotely, or when used
with Network HotSync, to synchronize remotely via dial-up access to
the network. The PalmPilot Modem enables users to HotSync
approximately 150 times on two AAA batteries, with each HotSync
taking approximately 2 minutes.
Expense Management Software
The new expense management application included with PalmPilot
enables users to electronically log expenditures, dates, and
pertinent information, which can then be exported at a touch of the
HotSync button to standard Microsoft Excel templates included with
PalmPilot. Users can also easily customize their own Excel 5.0
expense report form.
Backlit Screen
The new PalmPilot backlit screen enables users to work in low-light
environments, while having minimal effect on the devices battery
life. Even with frequent use of the backlight, users can expect
approximately two months of operation from two AAA batteries.
Enhanced PIM Applications
All of PalmPilots standard PIM applications the Date Book, Address
Book, To-Do List, and Memo Pad have been enhanced to enable better
useability, greater data linkage between applications, and more
flexible screen views. Rather than entering data about an
individual in multiple applications, using the new Look-up function,
users can automatically transfer data about an individual from the
address book into an entry in the date book or to-do list. In
addition, the PalmPilot PIM now offers an enhanced week view and a
new month view in the date book, and new organization and sorting
functions for the note-taking application.
Broad Desktop Application Support
Many vendors continue to build "conduits," desktop links that enable
one-button HotSync synchronization between PalmPilot and their
PC-based software. These include links to Symantec Act!, Goldmine
Softwares Goldmine, Lotus Notes, Microsoft Schedule+, NetManage
ECCO, Now Software's Now-up-to-Date, Franklin Quest Ascend 97,
Maximizer from Maximizer Technologies, and Internet Sidekick from
Starfish Software. An optional conduit for Microsoft Outlook will
be available by the second quarter of 1997. Optional links are sold
separately, or provided by the software vendor.
The PalmPilot is based on the Palm Operating System (Palm
OSTM), a handheld computer operating
system platform that enables low-cost, low-power, small form-factor
devices to integrate seamlessly with desktop personal computers.
The Palm OS features highly efficient operating system software for
the handheld, and HotSync, the desktop software that manages
synchronization of the handheld and the PC. PalmPilot is distributed
through leading consumer electronics and office supply stores
nationwide, including Circuit City, CompUSA, Computer City, Egghead,
Office Depot, OfficeMax, Staples, and other fine retailers. In
addition, Franklin Quest offers the Franklin Electronic DayPlanner,
which incorporates the PalmPilot with Ascend 97 software, and is
available at Franklin Quest retail outlets and directly from
Franklin Quest. U.S. Robotics is one of the worlds leading suppliers
of products and systems that provide access to information. The
company designs, manufactures, markets and supports remote access
servers, LAN switching equipment, desktop/mobile client products and
modems, telephony products, and handheld organizers. U.S. Robotics
products connect computers and other equipment over analog, digital
and switched cellular networks, enabling users to gain access to,
manage and share data, fax and voice information. Its customers
include Internet service providers, regional Bell operating
companies and a wide range of other large corporations, businesses,
institutions and individuals. The company's fiscal 1996 revenues
were $1.97 billion. For further product information, customers can
contact U.S. Robotics at 800-881-7256 or visit the PalmPilot web
site at http://www.usr.com/palm.
U.S. Robotics, the U.S. Robotics logo, Palm Computing and
Graffiti are registered trademarks of U.S. Robotics, and HotSync,
PalmPilot, the Palm OS, and the PalmPilot logo are trademarks of U.S.
Robotics and its subsidiaries. All other brands and product names
are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective
holders.
Contact:
Robson Grieve
A&R Partners
(415) 363-0982, ext. 221
robson_grieve@arpartners.com
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