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Handspring Press Release Archive
HANDSPRING INTRODUCES SUPER-THIN VISOR WITH ROBUST EXPANSION CAPABILITIES
Visor Edge combines slim, cutting edge design with
Springboard expandability in a new rechargeable handheld computer
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA, (March 12, 2001) - Handspring, Inc., (NASDAQ: HAND) today introduced Visor Edge™, an extremely thin, infinitely expandable handheld computer that brings ultimate portability and flexibility to the popular Visor family of expandable handheld computers. Visor Edge is Handspring's first slim-design handheld, combining a sleek and lightweight metal casing with the optional expandability of the Springboard platform. Available immediately in three metallic colors at Handspring.com, and in select retail stores across North America and English-speaking regions throughout the world by the end of the month, Visor Edge will sell for U.S. $399. Availability of colors may vary at retail stores.
The company also introduced a new graphite color version of its popular Visor Platinum today, which is available immediately in the U.S. at Handspring.com for $299. Handspring will introduce the products at simultaneous events today in Mountain View, Calif., New York, NY and London, England. Handspring will Webcast the Mountain View event from the Handspring corporate headquarters at 11:30am PST. A link to the Webcast can be found at Handspring.com.
Visor Edge offers a crisp monochrome screen, a rechargeable battery and all of the enhanced performance benefits of the popular Visor Platinum edition. Based on Palm OS 3.5.2H2, Visor Edge is also the first Visor product to be available in a metal casing, which comes in three new metallic colors: silver, blue and red. Availability of colors will vary in the retail channel but all can be purchased at Handspring.com. With a small and easily detachable Springboard slot that simply slides onto and off of the back of the product, Visor Edge is compatible with all existing Springboard modules that support Palm OS 3.5, including VisorPhone. The detachable slot gives people the option to use Springboard expansion products as needed while affording the benefits of a more slim design when modules are not in use.
"Consumers embraced our first Visor products because of the infinite possibilities made real by the Springboard expansion slot. Visor Edge is a natural evolution of that family, adding a more stylish design and greater portability while maintaining compatibility with all the exciting Springboard expansion modules," said Ed Colligan, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Handspring. "We've received fantastic feedback on Visor Edge's fun, cool design, and people find the ability to instantly add the Springboard expansion slot a wonderful bonus."
Handspring expects to ship international language versions of Visor Edge beginning in April. The international English version of Visor Edge is expected to be available this year in all English-speaking regions throughout Europe and Asia where Visor is sold. Handspring will also begin selling its full line of Visor handhelds, including Visor Edge, in Australia and New Zealand this month.
Enhanced Features
In addition to its sleek style, Handspring has enhanced two key software functions that are unique to Visor Edge: Fast Lookup and Silent Alarm. With the Fast Lookup feature, people can access contact information more rapidly using the application buttons, without having to use the stylus or Graffiti text input.
The Silent Alarm feature offers users a purely visual reminder of appointments, ideal for use in meetings or other occasions when audible alarms are inappropriate. When the Silent Alarm is activated, the light underneath the power button will blink to alert you of your next appointment without disturbing others.
The Edge Connector
The detachable Springboard slot for Visor Edge fits into the Edge connector, a small connector on the back of the handheld, so existing Springboard modules can work easily with Visor Edge. When expansion products are not in use, the Edge connector is protected by a small metal hinged door on Visor Edge's metal flip cover.
Other expansion products can be built specifically to fit the design of Visor Edge. Expansion products that fit directly into the Edge connector are expected in the coming months from third party development partners. Expansion products under development for the Edge connector today are designed specifically for use with Visor Edge. More information about the Edge connector and free developer materials are available at Handspring.com/developers.
Visor Edge Details
Visor Edge comes with 8MB of RAM and includes the basic features of the Visor line of products such as enhanced applications, USB support, Mac OS compatibility out of the box and the innovative Springboard expansion slot. The detachable Springboard slot provides the flexibility and power of Springboard modules without compromising the thin design when modules are not being used.
A rechargeable lithium ion battery powers Visor Edge, providing approximately three to four weeks of normal use on a single charge. In addition, Visor Edge has a fast top-off time that allows the handheld to be charged within minutes when docked in the charging cradle. Visor Edge uses the fastest Palm OS processor, the DragonBall VZ 33MHz processor, which makes tasks such as finding data in the address book and memo pad applications, sorting records and accessing and deleting items from the applications launcher extremely fast. Its monochrome display supports 16 shades of gray (4-bit grayscale) for crisp, clear graphics.
Visor Edge is based on Palm OS 3.5 that Handspring has optimized for fast performance and USB connectivity. As with all Visor products, Visor Edge is one hundred percent Palm OS compatible, allowing users to download thousands of applications.
Accessories
Handspring also introduced today a full line of Visor Edge accessories including a stylish metal hard case, a full line of value leather cases and three lines of premier leather cases. Handspring will also sell optional serial and USB charging cradles for Visor Edge, a travel charger and a USB HotSync cable. Lastly, Handspring will offer replacement flip covers in all three Visor Edge colors and a replacement detachable Springboard slot.
About Handspring
Handspring is a leading innovator in the handheld computing industry. The company develops, manufactures and markets a family of expandable handheld computers for a broad range of markets and customers. Founded in 1998, Handspring's flagship technology is the Springboard platform that provides a simple and easy method
for hardware and software expansion. Today Handspring sells its Visor line of handheld computers, along with a line of Springboard expansion modules and accessories, at Handspring.com and through select Internet and retail partners in the U.S., Asia, Canada, the Middle East and Europe.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including those relating to: the future availability of Visor Edge and expansion modules designed for the Edge connector, and the benefits to consumers resulting from handheld computers offering thin industrial design and
increased speed. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors including, among others: Handspring's ability to ship Visor Edge in the United States and internationally by the anticipated delivery dates; the willingness of developers to design modules for Visor Edge; consumer acceptance of the product; the rapid pace of technological change and competitive developments in the handheld computer industry, and Handspring's and its suppliers' capacity to meet demand in light of component constraints. The matters discussed in this press release also involve risks and uncertainties described in Handspring's most recent Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Handspring assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.
Figures: Visor Edge, Front and Back
The Handspring Visor Family
| Edition
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Available Colors
(US)
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Price
($ US)
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Comments
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Visor Solo
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Graphite
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$149.00
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2 MB memory, HotSync cradle not included, 16 MHz processor
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Visor
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Graphite
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$169.00
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2 MB memory, HotSync cradle and Outlook conduit included
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Visor Deluxe
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Graphite, Blue, Orange, Green and Ice (all but Graphite are translucent)
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$249.00
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8 MB memory, includes everything in standard Visor package plus carrying case
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Visor Platinum
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Graphite, Metallic Silver
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$299.00
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Fast performance, enhanced display w/16 shades of
gray, Palm OS 3.5.2H, 8 MB memory, 33 MHz processor
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Visor Edge
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Silver, Blue and Red (All Metallic colors)
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$399.00
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Slim design, detachable Springboard slot,
performance & display benefits of Platinum edition, Fast Lookup and
Silent Alarm features
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Visor Prism
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Cobalt Blue (Metallic)
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$449.00
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16-bit color display for picture-quality graphics,
33 MHz processor, 8 MB, Palm OS 3.5.2H
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Handspring, the Handspring logo, Springboard, Visor and Visor Edge are trademarks of Handspring, Inc. and may be registered in certain jurisdictions. All other brands and company names are trademarks of their respective owners.
Press Contacts:
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