Handspring Press Release Archive
HANDSPRING LAUNCHES VISOR™ ACROSS CENTRAL EUROPE
Handspring International brings its award-winning expandable handheld computers to Central European markets via agreement with the MDS Holdings group
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND (June 5, 2000) -
Handspring International Sarl. today announced it will begin selling its popular line of Visor™ expandable handheld computers and Springboard™ expansion modules across Central Europe this summer through an independent management company agreement with the MDS Holdings group. The countries covered by this agreement are Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania and Turkey. Handspring Vice President and General Manager of Handspring International Sarl. Roger Kermisch will be on hand to outline the company's plans for Central Europe at press events to be held in Budapest, Hungary on June 5 and in Prague, Czech Republic on June 6.
This announcement comes on the heels of introductions of Visor and Springboard modules and accessories in 15 countries throughout Western Europe in May. The move into central Europe is the next phase in the company's plans to bring its product line to a more broad range of consumers around the world. Visor will be available in the above-mentioned countries through both reseller and retail channels, where sales and marketing will be managed by each local entity of MDS holdings.
Roger Kermisch said, "We are very pleased with the success of our Visor rollout in Western Europe this spring. The public here has been quick to embrace our products and we plan to carry this momentum into Central Europe, where there is a growing demand for useful and affordable handheld computers."
Gilles Mouchonnet, General Manager of MDS Holdings in Central Europe said, "Mobility today requires intuitive, pocket-sized computing products that can easily converge with voice and data communications. Handspring, with its compelling Visor line and Springboard expansion technology, is helping people reach this objective in a simple, affordable and elegant way. Handspring represents a wonderful business growth opportunity into our markets, and we are delighted about this new activity. In our price-sensitive, but competitive markets, we expect Visor to be popular among consumers here."
Handspring's European headquarters opened earlier this spring in Geneva, Switzerland, with logistics and customer support operations in the Netherlands. MDS Holdings' Central European head office is based in Budapest, Hungary, with sales and marketing offices in eight different countries in the region.
About Visor and the Springboard Expansion Platform
All Visor products are based on Palm OS™ software. Built from the ground up for expansion, all Visor products feature the Springboard slot for plug-and-play integration with Springboard modules that are sold separately. With Springboard expansion modules - hardware components that slide easily in and out of the Springboard slot on the back of the Visor products - people can easily tailor their handhelds to suit their specific needs, with the flexibility to interchange modules as desired. For the central European markets, Handspring will offer its Visor and the Visor Deluxe handheld computers along with its line of Springboard modules. Both Visor and Visor Deluxe come with a cradle and HotSync™ software for desktop synchronization and a conduit to Microsoft Outlook™.
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 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.
About MDS Holdings
For over 33 years the MDS Group of Companies has distinguished itself by developing prosperous enterprises in many of the world's most challenging markets for the highly demanding IT industry. MDS is a diversified holding company controlling a portfolio of autonomous businesses dedicated to the selling, marketing, support and servicing of commercial office equipment, information and telecommunications systems and software.
Since its creation the company has enjoyed consistent growth through a disciplined approach to developing niche market opportunities. Its initial success was established through multiple investments in developing countries, followed by systematic diversification into more stable and mature economies.
Today, the MDS Group of Companies is conducting business in 38 countries throughout three continents.
The company's organizational structure and expertise make it an ideal partner for leading IT manufacturers who share the MDS 's goal to expand the markets it serves. For more information, please visit: www.mdsholdings.com
The MDS Holdings agreement covers the following countries. Respective MDS Companies are listed with each respective country.
Bulgaria - Bulgarian Business Systems
World Trade Center, 36 Dragan Tsankov Blvd., 1172 Sofia. Bulgaria
Tel: (359 2) 973 3177,Fax: (359 2) 973 3179
Croatia and Slovenia - PowerCom Sistemi
Samoborska bb. 10431 Sveta Nedjelja. Croatia
Tel: (3851) 33 22 666, Fax ( 3851) 33 22 667
Czech Republic & Slovakia - Czech Data Systems
Na Safrance 22,101 00 Praha 10. Czech Republic
Tel: (420 2) 7174 0202,Fax: (420 2) 7174 0204
Hungary - Hungarian Data Systems
Bokor utca 10, 1037 Budapest. Hungary
Tel: (36 1) 250 3260 , Fax: (36 1) 388 8387
Poland - MDS Poland
Langiewicza Street 25, 02-071 Warsaw. Poland
Tel: (48 22) 825 17 95 , Fax: (48 22) 825 77 73
Romania - Iris
1A W.A. Mozart st., P.O. Box 41-123, Sector 2, Bucharest. Romania
Tel: (40 1) 231 57 51, 57 52, Fax: (40 1) 230 16 19
Turkey
Compucom Bilgi ve Iletisim Sistemleri A,S
Esksi Buyukdere Cad. 35/5 80650 4.Levent - Istanbul. Turkey
Tel:(90 212) 283 15 53, Fax:(90 212) 264 24 94
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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