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Handspring Press Release Archive
HANDSPRING EXPANDS CANADIAN DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL WITH MERISEL AS ENTERPRISE PARTNER
Merisel to help company bring Visor handhelds to Canadian enterprise customers
TORONTO, ONTARIO (August 13th, 2001) - Handspring, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAND) today announced a distribution agreement with Merisel Canada, a leading distributor of technology products, to bring the popular line of Visor handheld computers and Springboard expansion modules into the Canadian enterprise distribution channel. Beginning immediately, Merisel plans to help Handspring build on its presence in enterprise markets where handhelds are becoming commonplace tools, such as sales and field force automation, education, health care and financial institutions.
"We are pleased with the demand for the full line of our products in Canada. As a result of the Visor's easy configuration capability and plug-and-play expandability these handhelds and Springboard expansion modules appeal to consumers and businesses alike," said Jim Mandala, Director of Canadian Sales for Handspring, Inc. "We believe our relationship with Merisel Canada will enable us to reach a broader spectrum of Canadian customers with our entire product line and begin our new expansion of Handspring's presence in the Canadian VAR community."
Mitchell Martin, President of Merisel Canada, said, "We continue to see very strong growth in the handheld market in Canada, and believe that the unique products that Handspring offers, will further our goal in helping the Canadian reseller community grow more profitably."
As the enterprise market becomes increasingly larger for handheld computing solutions, Handspring anticipates high value in partnering with leading distributors like Merisel to take advantage of these new opportunities. The company is already seeing traction in the education and health care markets for its handhelds and expansion modules and plans to intensify its efforts in the broader corporate community through this new agreement.
Earlier this year Handspring Canada expanded its retail channel with the addition of Hartco's Compucentre and CompuSmart stores joining FutureShop and Business Dept as Handspring retailers.
ABOUT HANDSPRING, INC.
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.
ABOUT MERISEL CANADA INC
Recently acquired by Fremont, California-based SYNNEX Information Technologies Inc, Merisel Canada is a leading distributor of technology products to more than 10,000 resellers throughout Canada. A wholly-owned subsidiary of SYNNEX, Merisel Canada supports the growth of its partners with extensive business development and educational services, expert technical support, flexible financing options, certified configuration services and progressive, e-business solutions. For more information visit www.merisel.ca.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including those relating to: Handspring's plans to expand sales in corporate markets, the interest of resellers in Handspring's authorized reseller program, and the growing momentum and acceptance by corporate 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: the ability of authorized resellers to market and sell Handspring products to the corporate marketplace; demand for Handspring's products in general and, specifically, in the corporate marketplace; and the rapid pace of technological change and competitive developments in the handheld computer 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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