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Handspring Press Release Archive
HANDSPRING INTRODUCES SUPER-THIN VISOR EDGE TO JAPANESE MARKET
TOKYO, Japan (April 4, 2001) - Handspring K.K. today unveiled a Japanese-language version of its super-thin Visor Edge™ handheld computer for the Japanese market. Visor Edge, already popular in the U.S. market, is Handspring's first slim-design handheld, combining a sleek and lightweight metal casing with the optional expandability of the Springboard platform. Visor Edge will sell for 44,800 Yen, excluding tax, at www.handspring.co.jp and will also be available in retail stores throughout Japan this month.
"Handheld customers in Japan have been waiting for a thin product with all the benefits of plug-and-play expansion that Handspring has become known for," said Slim Komiyama, managing director of Handspring K.K. "Visor Edge is a natural evolution of the Visor family, adding a more stylish design and greater portability while maintaining compatibility with all the exciting Springboard expansion modules."
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. With a small and easily detachable Springboard slot that slides onto and off of the back of the product, Visor Edge is compatible with all existing Springboard modules. 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. Silver and red product will be available in Japan in April and blue will ship in May.
The Edge Connector
The detachable Springboard slot for Visor Edge fits into the Edge connector, a small connector on the back of the handheld, allowing existing Springboard modules to 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 U.S. in coming months from third-party development partners. Expansion products under development for the Edge connector today are designed specifically for use with Visor Edge.
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.
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 Japan 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.
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.
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