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Handspring Press Release Archive
HANDSPRING NAMES FORMER FCC CHAIRMAN TO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
William Kennard will bring telecommunications expertise to Handspring's
Board to help guide wireless and Internet initiatives
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIF. (April 10, 2001) - Handspring, Inc. (Nasdaq: HAND) today announced the addition of former FCC Chairman William E. Kennard to its board of directors. Having presided over the FCC during a significant growth period in the telecommunications industry, Kennard brings broad experience and a strong commitment to innovation and better consumer services to Handspring as the company moves forward in its role as a communications leader.
Called "a consumer champion for the digital world" by US News and World Report, Kennard served as Chairman of the FCC from November 1997 through January 19, 2001. Under his guidance the FCC strongly defended the market-opening provisions of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and Kennard is credited with removing unnecessary and burdensome regulations and streamlining the operations of the FCC. Kennard has also been called "the Broadband Chairman" for his relentless push to deliver high-speed Internet access to the American people.
Kennard joins a world-class group of six other members of the Handspring Board: Jeff Hawkins and Donna Dubinsky, the original founders of both Handspring and Palm Computing (chief product officer and chief executive officer of Handspring respectively); John Doerr, general partner at Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers; Bruce Dunlevie, managing member with Benchmark Capital; Mitchell Kertzman, CEO of Liberate, Inc.; and Kim Clark, dean of Harvard Business School.
"I am delighted that Bill Kennard has agreed to join the Handspring board of directors. With his recent experience at the FCC, Bill brings to our board extraordinary breadth and depth in the field of wireless communications, an area of increased focus for Handspring. We're excited about the contribution he can bring to Handspring," said Donna Dubinsky.
William Kennard said, "We are only beginning to witness a great fusion between handheld computing and wireless technology. I see Handspring as one of the clear innovators in defining and realizing this exciting future of what will be truly personal computing and communications. I look forward to making a contribution as this promising market evolves."
Since leaving the FCC, Kennard has served as a Senior Fellow at the Aspen Institute in Washington, D.C. He is there temporarily to advise on telecommunications policy and program activities for the Institute's
Communications and Society Program. He will also become the first chairman of the program's new advisory board. The Aspen Institute is a global, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization. Through its seminar and policy programs, the Institute fosters enlightened, morally responsible leadership and convenes leaders and policy makers to address the foremost challenges of the new century.
A native of Los Angeles, Calif., Kennard graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University and received his law degree from Yale Law School in 1981. Before his appointment as FCC Chairman, Kennard was the FCC's General Counsel, the Commission's principal legal advisor and representative in court. Prior to joining the FCC, Kennard was a partner and member of the board of directors of the Washington D.C. law firm of Verner, Liipfert, Bernhard, McPherson, and Hand.
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 Asia, Canada, Europe, Japan, the Middle East and the United States.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including those relating to: the growth of the market for products utilizing handheld computing and wireless technology, the growth of the handheld, wireless and communications industries, respectively, and the growing momentum and acceptance by purchasers of the Visor line of expandable handheld computers, modules and accessories. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors including, among others: consumer acceptance of, and demand for, products combining handheld computing features with wireless and communications functionality; and the rapid pace of technological change and competitive developments in the handheld computer, communications and wireless 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 Securities and Exchange Commission. Handspring assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.
Handspring, the Handspring logo, Visor and Springboard are trademarks of Handspring, Inc. and may be registered in certain jurisdictions. All other brand and company names are trademarks of their respective owners.
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