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Handspring Press Release Archive
Handspring And Brightstar Extend Distribution Of Treo Communicators To Latin America
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIF. (March 17, 2003) - Handspring, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAND) and Brightstar Corp. will work together to bring Handspring's innovative Treo 270 GSM worldphone to Latin America. Through an agreement signed by the companies, Brightstar will distribute the Treo 270 and Treo accessories throughout all of Latin America (except Mexico and Brazil). In its role as primary distributor of Treo in the Latin America region, Brightstar will handle the importation, distribution, marketing, fulfillment and service and support for Handspring.
Brightstar will manage the Handspring business through its Wireless Data division. The product is available through Brightstar's 20 facilities in 17 countries located in Latin America serving operators, direct and indirect sales channels.
"With close to 100 million cellular subscribers and the region's migration to high-speed data networks, Latin America represents an exciting opportunity for a data-intensive converged device like Treo," said Greg Woock, vice president of worldwide sales for Handspring. "Brightstar's extensive in-country presence and expertise in wireless data products are great assets for our Treo launch in Latin America."
"We are very excited to add the Handspring Treo to our product portfolio. Our partnership with Handspring allows us to continue delivering innovative data products like the Treo, offering practical solutions to the mobility and data needs of our customers within the Latin America market," said Mike Tate VP, Wireless Data for Brightstar Corp.
The award-winning Handspring Treo, widely observed as the leading product in the smartphone category, is designed from the ground up to make mobile communications easier than ever before. Treo communicators combine a mobile phone, Palm OS organizer, email, and web browsing into one lightweight, compact device. Built-in thumbable keyboards make sending email, messages, and dialing the phone fast and easy. No other device available today offers the rich combination of wireless voice and data capabilities at such a competitive price.
About Handspring
Handspring is a leading innovator in personal communications and handheld computing. The company's products include the award-winning Treo wireless communicators and client and server software for fast Web access from handheld devices and mobile phones. Today Handspring sells its products and accessories at www.handspring.com and through select Internet, retail and carrier partners in the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada Middle East, and Mexico/Latin America.
About Brightstar
Founded in 1997, Brightstar Corporation is a solutions provider and value-added distribution and manufacturing services company. The company provides customers in the wireless industry with inventory management, logistics, fulfillment, Internet-based solutions, customized packaging and after-sales support. Brightstar ranks sixth on the Hispanic Business 500 and number one on its technology list. Its customer base includes over 100 network operators and nearly 7,000 distributors, agents, resellers and retailers around the world. Brightstar is one of Motorola's strategic partners in Latin America and the U.S. and an authorized distributor for all leading wireless equipment manufacturers. Brightstar operates 20 facilities in 16 countries worldwide. Its headquarters is based in Miami, FL, with operations in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, the United States and Puerto Rico and Venezuela. During the year ended December 31, 2002, Brightstar's consolidated revenues were $849 million. The company expects to exceed $1 billion in consolidated revenues in fiscal 2003. For more details, visit www.brightstarcorp.com.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including those relating to the ability of Handspring and Brightstar to effectively launch and market Treo communicator products in Latin America and the potential demand for data-intensive devices in Latin America. 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 Latin America; the degree to which Latin American 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 filed with the SEC. Neither Handspring nor Brightstar assume any obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.
Handspring, the Handspring logo, Treo and the Treo logo 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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