Handspring Press Release Archive
HANDSPRING LAUNCHES VISOR™ ACROSS EUROPE
Handspring International brings its award-winning expandable handheld computers to European markets via Web and retail
Geneva, Switzerland (May 2nd, 2000) - Handspring International Sarl. today announced it will begin selling its popular line of Visor™ expandable handheld computers and Springboard™ expansion modules across Europe. European customers can now buy the colourful family of Visor handhelds in localised versions of International English and German from the European Handspring web site at www.handspring.com/europe, with prices starting at £99, 344DM and €175. All prices are quoted excluding VAT.
Visor will also be available this month through leading computer and consumer electronics retailers MediaMarkt in Germany and Dixons in the UK. Microwarehouse and Computer Warehouse will both offer the Visor along with Springboard modules and accessories via mail order in the UK. Microwarehouse will also provide mail order sales in the German and Nordic regions.
Handspring expects its channel partners to begin carrying a variety of Springboard modules as they become available, and will begin selling the Visor in other European countries through retail channels later in the year.
Roger Kermisch, vice president and general manager of Handspring Europe, said, "Handspring sees a great opportunity to bring its new breed of expandable handheld computers to the continent, where the demand for stylish, easy-to-use products is high. With our Springboard technology and fast-growing developer community this is an ideal time to fuel the European market with more innovation and enable a ground-breaking mix of expansion possibilities ranging from cameras and music players to wireless voice and data modules."
About Visor
Visor will be available from the Handspring web store in three models: Visor Solo, Visor and Visor Deluxe edition. Availability at retail may vary.
All Visor products are based on Palm OS™ software. Built from the ground up for expansion, all three feature the Springboard slot for plug-and-play integration of Springboard modules that are sold separately. Both the Visor and the Visor Deluxe come with a synchronisation cradle and HotSync™ software for desktop synchronisation and a conduit to Microsoft Outlook™.
The Visor Solo edition ships without a synchronisation cradle, and is ideal for people wanting additional units for a household or office environment where a single cradle can be used for synchronising multiple devices. It also provides a cost-effective option for people who choose not to synchronise with a PC, or wish to use the Handspring Backup module as their primary means of backing up their data. Handspring sells synchronisation cradles and cables separately for Visor Solo customers wishing to upgrade.
The three products in the Visor family will have suggested retail prices of &#pound;99, 344DM or €175 for the Visor Solo; &#pound;127, 430DM or €219 for the Visor; and &#pound;169, 559DM and €285 for the Visor Deluxe edition. All prices are quoted excluding VAT.
Visor Handheld Computer Features
- Springboard expansion slot
- Address Book, Date Book, To Do list, Memo Pad, expense tracking and email applications
(email requires synchronization with a desktop computer, n/a for Visor Solo edition)
- Advanced Date Book application
- Advanced scientific and business calculator
- World Clock
- Trim design (4.8" x 3.0" by 0.7")
- Light weight (5.4 oz.)
- Built-in USB support
- Native support for the Macintosh OS
- USB Synchronisation cradle (except Visor Solo)
- Infrared transceiver
- Backlight
- Built-in microphone
- Compatibility with thousands of Palm OS applications
- Synchronises with Microsoft Outlook or Palm Desktop (n/a for Visor Solo edition)
Visor and Visor Solo are graphite in colour and come with 2MB of RAM. The Visor Deluxe features 8MB of RAM, a slip case and a choice of five different colours (graphite, green, orange, blue and ice).
About the Springboard expansion platform
The Springboard slot is a true plug-and-play hardware expansion slot that is an integrated part of every Visor product. Modules can be plugged in and removed quickly and easily without having to load drivers or turn off the Visor. Information regarding the free Springboard development kit and related support programs is available at www.handspring.com
Serial Bus Support
The Visor products are the first handheld computing products to directly support universal serial bus (USB) technology. Synchronisation via USB technology is faster and easier than synchronisation with a standard serial port. With the included USB cradle, Visor can synchronise with desktop computers running the Windows 98, Windows 2000 and Macintosh™ operating systems. For customers using desktop systems not equipped with USB ports, Handspring sells separately a low-cost synchronisation cradle that will connect directly with a serial port.
Enhanced Applications
Visor ships with the core Palm Computing platform applications for organising personal and business information: Address Book, Date Book, To Do List, Memo Pad and software for expense tracking and managing email. Visor also includes an Advanced Date Book application featuring expanded views of weekly, monthly and yearly schedules. The Advanced Date Book integrates the To Do application, so important To Do items appear in the calendar views. Advanced Date Book will automatically move any unchecked To Do items to the next day so they are not ignored or forgotten. Other Visor features include an advanced calculator with financial and scientific modes, a world clock and a built-in microphone for use with voice recording and communications modules expected later this year.
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 by the creators of the world-leading 3Com Palm Computing platform, 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 handhelds at handspring.com and in select retail partners in the U.S. and Europe, along with a line of Springboard expansion modules and accessories.
Handspring, the Handspring logo, Visor and Springboard are trademarks of Handspring, Inc. All other product names mentioned herein may be trademarks of the companies with which they are associated.
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