Handspring Press Release Archive
HANDSPRING AND ORANGE COMMUNICATIONS SA LAUNCH TREO IN SWITZERLAND
Treo Communicator to be made available to Swiss consumers via Orange network
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIF. and GENEVA, SWITZERLAND—Feb 25th, 2002— Handspring (NASDAQ:HAND) announced today that their revolutionary communicator, Treo, will be available through Orange Switzerland, a leading provider of Swiss mobile communications services. Treo will be operational on Orange Switzerland's widespread GSM network and will be available to Swiss customers for 599.00 CHF with a service contract and 1099.00 CHF without a service contract.
Both the Treo 180, with built-in keyboard for text input, and the Treo 180g with Palm OS 'Graffiti' text input will initially be made available towards the end of March via retail partner Interdiscount and Orange Switzerland stores via a distribution agreement with Comlight, Handspring's Swiss distributor. Handspring intends to work with Comlight to expand distribution through traditional IT channels and other telecommunications outlets in the future. Joint marketing activities such as advertising and point of sale merchandising will support this cooperation.
Dr. Thomas Kohler, CCO of Orange Switzerland said: "Treo supports the mobile office services of Orange Switzerland like mobile e-mail, agenda and tasklist. Orange Switzerland believes in the partnership with Handspring because the Treo is a great platform for our customers to use these mobile office services and we also believe that Treo is uniquely positioned to take advantage of Orange's location based information services."
Roger Kermisch, Vice President and General Manager of Handspring International, comments; "Handspring has a firm belief that the future of wireless services lies in the development of user-friendly devices that support the integration of voice and data. The Treo family of communicators is the beginning of an era in wireless communication and we are delighted to have the assistance of Orange Switzerland in the launch of this revolutionary product. Orange Switzerland is renowned for innovation and commitment to customers, association with such operators will be vital to our success in this industry."
Treo is ideally suited for people who carry both a mobile phone and a handheld computer but wish to have all their information in one device, as it is the first integrated Palm OS wireless communicator product with seamlessly integrated voice and data services. Treo combines a GSM mobile phone, a Palm OS organiser, wireless email, SMS text messaging and Internet access in a small, lightweight and elegant device. Treo will be GPRS upgradeable upon availability of software that Handspring plans to deliver this summer.
ABOUT TREO
Treo is a compact communicator that integrates the functions of a mobile phone and a handheld computer with Web browsing and text messaging. Treo is small, measuring 11cm x 6.9 cm x 1.8 cm inches and weighing only 147 grams, but its flip-open design makes possible a large screen suitable for Web page viewing and text messaging. The Treo has a rechargeable battery, a rocker switch for easy one-handed navigation and a speakerphone.
With Treo, dialling and caller recognition from contact databases with thousands of entries are easier than ever before. Treo users also have access to the broader Internet through Handspring's award-winning Blazer web browser, optimised for use on communicators and handheld computers. Blazer provides fast access to almost any site on the Internet, not just those web sites designed exclusively for mobile access. Treo also includes standard Palm OS features like desktop synchronization with email clients such as Microsoft Outlook and Lotus Notes, and compatibility with thousands of Palm OS applications.
ABOUT HANDSPRING
Handspring is a leading innovator in personal communication and handheld computing. The company develops, manufactures and markets the Treo family of communicators, the Visor family of expandable handheld computers, and client and server software for fast web access from handheld devices and mobile phones. Founded in 1998, the company established itself as an industry leader with its Springboard platform, which provides a simple and easy method for hardware and software expansion. Today Handspring sells its Visor line of handheld computers and Springboard expansion modules and accessories at www.handpsring.com and through select Internet and retail partners in the United States, Asia, Canada, the Middle East and Europe.
ABOUT ORANGE SWITZERLAND
Orange Communications SA is owned by Orange SA/France Telecom (99.9%) and Banque Cantonale Vaudoise (0.1%). On 29 May 1998, Orange Communications S.A. obtained a licence to set up and operate a GSM 1800 MHz mobile communications network and in December 2000 Orange obtained one of the four UMTS licences. Orange launched its GSM services on 29 June 1999. Orange's corporate vision is that wirefree services will become the preferred personal communications tool for all communication needs. Orange's mission is to become the leading provider of high quality wirefree communications services to the people of Switzerland. After only 30 months since launch, Orange has 925,000 mobile customers.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENT
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including those relating to: the ability of Handspring to effectively launch and market Treo through its Swiss distribution channel and to expand that distribution channel, the timing and availability of the GPRS software upgrade for Treo, and Handspring's ability to qualify Treo for use with wireless operators such as Orange Switzerland. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors including, among others: future economic conditions; consumer acceptance of and demand for Handspring's Treo communicator products; the availability of Treo communicator products in the US and internationally; the timing of the build-out of advanced wireless networks and the quality and scope of voice and data service coverage offered by wireless carriers; the degree to which wireless carriers will facilitate the successful introduction of Handspring's wireless products; and the rapid pace of technological change and competitive developments in the handheld computer and wireless communications industries. The matters discussed in this press release also involve risks and uncertainties described in Handspring's most recent Form 10-Q. Handspring assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.
Handspring, the Handspring logo, Treo, Blazer, Visor, VisorPhone and Springboard are trademarks of Handspring, Inc. and may be registered in certain jurisdictions. All other brand names are trademarks of their respective owners.
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