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Handspring Press Release Archive
Handspring Delivers Super-Thin Expandable Visor Edge To Asia Pacific Markets
HONG KONG - (April 23, 2001) - Building on its global rollout of the newest offering in the handheld computer market, Handspring announced today availability of its super-thin Visor Edge™ to select Asian markets. The Visor Edge is Handspring's first slim-design handheld, combining a sleek and lightweight aluminum casing with the optional expandability of the Springboard platform. Visor Edge is expected to be available at retail this week throughout Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan as well as Malaysia. Handspring distributes product in Asia through The GrandTech Group and PacRim Technologies.
"Our Asian customers appreciate sleek, well-designed products and we believe the Visor Edge is a perfect fit for the market," said Bill Holtzman, vice president of international for Handspring. "The Visor and our Springboard expansion technology have been very well received and we expect this new stylish form-factor to drive momentum in Asia Pacific."
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 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 Springboard slot provides the flexibility and power of Springboard modules without compromising the thin design when modules are not being used.
In addition to supporting a broad range of hardware and software modules, including digital cameras, MP3 players, modems, global positioning systems, games and reference guides, the Springboard expansion platform can also be a superset of other expansion standards including Secure Digital (SD), SmartMedia, Compact Flash and MMC. For example, Portable Innovation Technology, a Hong Kong-based company, showcased their MemPlug Smart Media Adaptor Springboard module that enables Visor users to access to data stored on SmartMedia memory cards at Handspring's regional launch events today. Portable Innovation Technology's MemPlug Smart Media Adaptor Springboard module is currently shipping and SD and Compact Flash adaptors are expected to come to market later this year.
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 people 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 Pacific, 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 continued success of Handspring's products, including the Visor Edge, in Asian markets; the ongoing growth in the handheld computing market in spite of an economic slow down; and the continued momentum of the Springboard platform with developers. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors including, among others: consumer demand for Handspring's new products, particularly Visor Edge which just began shipping; developments in the United States and the global economy; Handspring's ability to manage and expand its reseller and distribution channels in Asian markets; the challenge of attracting and retaining Springboard developers, including developers of modules designed for the Edge connector, given their need for a very large base of Visor users and the distribution channels to reach them; and the rapid pace of technological change and competitive developments in the handheld computer industry. 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.
Figures: Visor Edge, Front and Back
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