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Handspring Press Release Archive
HANDSPRING FUELS DEVELOPER SOLUTIONS FOR TREO 600 SMARTPHONE
Critical developer tools are now freely available including a preliminary developer kit and Treo Optimized guidelines for the highly anticipated next-generation Treo 600 series smartphones
MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIF. (July 22, 2003) - To catalyze development of applications, services and add-ons for its upcoming Treo 600 series smartphones, Handspring, Inc. (Nasdaq: HAND) today released preliminary software development tools to help developers optimize solutions for the Treo 600. The software developer kit enables Palm OS developers to design both new and existing applications for Treo 600's unique feature set, including advanced telephony and messaging capabilities, an integrated QWERTY keyboard, a five-way navigation system, a Palm OS 5 software foundation, an SD/IO expansion slot, a built-in camera, a bright color display and enhanced speaker and system sounds. Handspring expects to deliver Treo 600 this fall worldwide.
The preliminary developer kit contains detailed technical information for the Treo 600 including application programming interfaces; libraries for telephony, data communications, imaging, and audio control; specifications for system extensions, electrical interfaces and mechanical design; and a Treo 600 style guide.
Handspring today also introduced Treo Optimized guidelines through which developers can ensure the highest level of compatibility and ease of use for solutions running on Treo 600 or any other wireless member of the Treo family. This self-administered program is designed to deliver the best possible customer experience for third-party solutions. Treo Optimized solutions receive additional sales support prioritization through Handspring's and its carrier partners' online and retail channels. A number of development partners have already optimized their Palm OS applications for the Treo 600 series in a matter of days, ensuring an improved customer experience in typical smartphone usage scenarios.
The free developer kit and Treo Optimized guideline information are available at www.handspring.com/developers.
"A significant part of delivering the best possible smartphone to customers is enabling third-party solutions to run seamlessly on Treo," said Calin Pacurariu, director of developer solutions for Handspring, Inc. "We anticipate some of the most exciting things people can do with Treo will come from our solution partners. Providing these tools now will help ensure timely delivery of applications when the product becomes available this fall."
Direct access to thousands of applications
A major component of the new Treo 600 series smartphone is its native ability to allow direct purchase and download of media files, applications, and updates over the air on wireless data networks. This capability opens up a significant new sales channel for thousands of existing Palm OS applications and developers while providing a broad base of robust applications for Treo customers and carrier partners alike.
Flexible and extensible support for direct downloads to Treo 600 series utilizes standard Palm OS 5 interfaces allowing developers to quickly optimize their applications for over the air delivery. The open standards based browser platform on the Treo 600 enables the secure transaction and download capability that is required for successful commercial deployment of online storefronts by Handspring carrier, distributor and developer partners with minimal modification to existing systems.
"The native secure transaction and download capabilities of the Treo 600 series combines the rich applications base of the Palm OS with a direct ability to purchase and download a particular application whenever you are connected to a wireless data network" said Pacurariu "No matter where you' are, you'll be able to access the latest software update from your service provider, buy a new application for your smartphone, or make a secure transaction from an online store.
About Treo 600
Last month Handspring introduced the design for its new smartphone family, the Treo 600 series. The Treo 600 is an innovative design that combines a fully integrated QWERTY keyboard with a smaller, more phone-like form factor. The sleek design is the result of significant research and development focused on reducing size, maximizing the utility and ease of use of both phone and data functions, and minimizing trade-offs typically found in converged products. All products in the Treo 600 series will combine a world-class phone, a Palm OS 5-based organizer with messaging, email, and web browsing features. The first Treo 600 products are expected this fall worldwide.
About Handspring
Handspring is a leading innovator in personal communications and handheld computing. The company's products include the Treo wireless communicators and Treo 90 organizer, the Visor expandable handheld computers, and client and server software for fast Web access from handheld devices and mobile phones. Today Handspring sells its products and accessories at www.handspring.com and through select Internet, retail and carrier partners in the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the Middle East and Mexico/Latin America.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including those relating to: the successful and timely development, delivery, and availability of third party wireless, business and consumer applications for Treo 600 smartphones. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors including, among others: whether the software development tools made available by Handspring will catalyze third party development of applications for Treo 600; future economic conditions; consumer acceptance of and demand for Handspring's Treo communicator products, the degree to which wireless carriers will facilitate the successful introduction o Handspring's wireless products; and the rapid pace of technological change and competitive developments in the handheld computer and wireless communications 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, except as otherwise required by applicable law.
Handspring, the Handspring logo, Treo, the Treo logo and Visor, are trademarks of Handspring, Inc. and may be registered in certain jurisdictions. All other brand names are trademarks of their respective owners.
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