Handspring Releases Beta Version of Treo Mail, New Wireless Email Service.Business/Technology Editors MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 18, 2002 Treo Mail delivers email to Treo communicators allowing users to stay current with their desktop inbox while on the go Handspring, Inc. (NASDAQ NASDAQ in full National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations U.S. market for over-the-counter securities. Established in 1971 by the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), NASDAQ is an automated quotation system that reports on : HAND), a leading innovator in handheld computers and personal communicators, today released a beta version A pre-shipping release of hardware or software that has gone through alpha test. A beta version of software is supposed to be very close to the final product, but, in practice, it is more a way of getting users to test the software in the first place under real conditions. of Treo Mail, its new wireless email Wireless Email or Push E-mail for enterprises is an email solution for small handheld platforms that is secure and managed centrally by enterprise server. Wireless technology adoption has seen a dramatic increase over the past few years. service, available exclusively for Treo communicators. Treo Mail provides mobile, secure access to desktop email. This beta software Noun 1. beta software - software that has not yet been released but has received an alpha test and still has more bugs than a regular release; "beta software is usually available only to particular users who will test it" is available today at www.handspring.com for a limited time. Handspring expects to begin selling subscriptions for the commercial version of Treo Mail in mid-2002. "Treo Mail enables owners of our Treo communicators to stay in touch via email while on the go with a small, compact device that excels as a mobile phone, organizer and Internet browser See Web browser. ," said Joe Sipher, vice president of product marketing for Handspring. "The flexibility of Treo Mail's delivery options means that mobile professionals and individuals have convenient access to their existing work or home email inbox when they want it." Treo Mail, powered by Visto, provides tight integration with a Microsoft Outlook/Exchange or POP3 email inbox, enabling users to maintain the work or home email address See Internet address. that they already have. With Treo Mail, customers can send and receive email from their Treo communicator as if they were at their desks. Additionally, Microsoft Outlook/Exchange users enjoy the benefits of wireless inbox synchronization, so that messages read, sent or deleted on Treo will appear as such on the desktop. Handspring's Treo communicator works on the GSM network, the most widely used digital network in the world with 80 percent of the global market. Because GSM coverage is available in 4,000 towns and cities in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and in 135 countries, Treo Mail customers can access their email throughout much of the United States and in countries around the world. Treo Mail does require Internet access See how to access the Internet. and wireless data services which are not available in all geographies or with all carriers and may be intermittent depending upon the coverage area. Flexible Delivery Options Treo Mail offers flexible, customizable delivery options to fit a variety of personal preferences that let users control when and how they send and receive email while on the go. Customers can choose to have email automatically delivered to Treo at scheduled intervals that they define. Email can also be delivered at anytime manually with the touch of a button. They can select filters to exclude messages that they do not want forwarded to Treo, thus keeping out spam and other unwanted email. Also, a customer may choose to retrieve only unread, recent messages or all messages from the last week. Customers can access, read and compose email on Treo while offline, which allows the user to view email while talking on the phone. Treo Mail can also forward email attachments. Designed for Treo Communicators Treo Mail is designed specifically for Treo communicators and is optimized for Treo's unique features. Treo Mail takes full advantage of the Treo 180 QWERTY keyboard The standard English language typewriter keyboard. Q, W, E, R, T and Y are the letters on the top left, alphabetic row. Designed by Christopher Sholes, who invented the typewriter, the keyboard layout was organized to prevent people from typing too fast and jamming the keys. , so that people can quickly compose and respond to email, without using a stylus or touching the screen. The rocker switch and scroll buttons can be used to toggle To alternate back and forth between two states. toggle - To change a bit from whatever state it is in to the other state; to change from 1 to 0 or from 0 to 1. This comes from "toggle switches", such as standard light switches, though the word "toggle" actually refers to through and select messages to read using one hand and without opening the flip lid. Messages are formatted to fit Treo's screen. People can directly address messages from Treo's PhoneBook, similar to the SMS (1) (Storage Management System) Software used to routinely back up and archive files. See HSM. (2) (Systems Management Server) Systems management software from Microsoft that runs on Windows NT Server. application already available on Treo. One of the main application buttons can be mapped to Treo Mail for quick, one button access to email. Treo Mail and the Visto Mobile Access Solution, Server Edition Treo Mail is available in two versions. Treo Mail Corporate Edition is for an individual business professional to access a Microsoft Outlook/Exchange or POP3 email account email account email n → compte m (e-)mail behind a corporate firewall. Treo Mail Internet Edition is for consumers using a personal POP3 email account offered by a service provider such as Earthlink, Yahoo!, or AT&T Worldnet. The Treo Mail service consists of handheld software, PC desktop software (for Corporate Edition users), and a Service Operations Center The facility or location on an installation, base, or facility used by the commander to command, control, and coordinate all crisis activities. See also base defense operations center; command center. that stores and forwards messages when the communicator is off or out of coverage. Treo Mail is designed to work on both worldwide GSM networks as well as GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) The first high-speed digital data service provided by cellular carriers that used the GSM technology. GPRS added a packet-switched channel to GSM, which uses dedicated, circuit-switched channels for voice conversations. and CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) A method for transmitting simultaneous signals over a shared portion of the spectrum. The foremost application of CDMA is the digital cellular phone technology from QUALCOMM that operates in the 800 MHz band and 1.9 GHz PCS band. 1xRTT networks as they become available. These new packet data networks are designed to offer faster data connections and higher bandwidth data transfer. Treo Mail is powered by Visto, a leading provider of proven mobile access solutions that are simple to install, administer and use. The Visto Mobile Access Solution, Server Edition provides complete, secure and cost-effective access to corporate email with the Treo Mail user experience for a workgroup or an entire enterprise. It offers easy installation, centralized administration, automated synchronization and end-to-end security for enterprise-wide access to corporate email. Feature details, pricing and availability information is available directly from Visto Corporation at www.visto.com. Security Treo Mail offers 128-bit SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) The leading security protocol on the Internet. Developed by Netscape, SSL is widely used to do two things: to validate the identity of a Web site and to create an encrypted connection for sending credit card and other personal data. strong encryption ensuring that email is delivered to and from Treo safely and securely. Email is secure in transit between Treo and the Treo Mail Service Operations Center, where it is cached in encrypted form, and then delivered to a Corporate Edition customer's PC. Secure access is built in; Treo Mail does not require a VPN (Virtual Private Network) A private network that is configured within a public network (a carrier's network or the Internet) in order to take advantage of the economies of scale and management facilities of large networks. or direct dial into a corporate LAN (Local Area Network) A communications network that serves users within a confined geographical area. The "clients" are the user's workstations typically running Windows, although Mac and Linux clients are also used. . Additionally, with the Visto Mobile Access Solution, Server Edition, Visto leverages Certicom, VeriSign, and RSA encryption technologies that ensure privacy of the data while in transit, and provide data encryption and authentication. Treo Mail Beta Program Treo Mail is currently in the beta stage of development, and Handspring will solicit feedback from participants to refine the service. Treo Mail service is free for a limited time during the beta period. Participants must have a Treo communicator, Internet access through an ISP (1) See in-system programmable. (2) (Internet Service Provider) An organization that provides access to the Internet. Connection to the user is provided via dial-up, ISDN, cable, DSL and T1/T3 lines. or carrier, a wireless service plan that includes data services and will incur data charges from their mobile operator. Commercial availability and subscription pricing for Treo Mail is expected to be announced To be announced (TBA) A contract for the purchase or sale of an MBS to be delivered at an agreed-upon future date but does not include a specified pool number and number of pools or precise amount to be delivered. in mid-2002. About Treo Treo is a compact communicator that integrates the functions of a mobile phone and a handheld computer with Web browsing and text messaging. Treo is small, measuring 4.3 x 2.7 x 0.7 inches and weighing only 5.2 ounces, but its flip-open design makes possible a large screen suitable for Web page viewing and text messaging. The Treo has a rechargeable battery, speaker, antenna, and four buttons: Phonebook, Date Book, short messaging service (SMS), and one that automatically launches Handspring's award-winning Blazer web microbrowser A Web browser designed for small display screens on smartphones and other handheld wireless devices. See smartphone and WAP. , which provides full, secure Web content. SMS may require a separate data plan from your carrier and web browsing requires Internet access either through your carrier or an ISP, as well as a GSM wireless plan that includes data services. The steel-blue colored Treo features a rocker switch for easy one-handed navigation, speakerphone capability and compatibility to GPRS, a new industry standard that will optimize wireless data transfer, once access to those networks becomes widely available. About Handspring Handspring is a leading innovator in personal communications and handheld computing. The company develops, manufactures and markets the Treo family of communicators, the Visor family of expandable handheld computers, and client and server software for fast web access from handheld devices and mobile phones. Founded in 1998, the company established itself as an industry leader with its Springboard platform, which provides a simple and easy method for hardware and software expansion. Today Handspring sells its Visor line of handheld computers and Springboard expansion modules and accessories at www.handspring.com and through select Internet and retail partners in the United States, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand New Zealand (zē`lənd), island country (2005 est. pop. 4,035,000), 104,454 sq mi (270,534 sq km), in the S Pacific Ocean, over 1,000 mi (1,600 km) SE of Australia. The capital is Wellington; the largest city and leading port is Auckland. , Canada and the Middle East. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including those relating to: the ability of Handspring to effectively launch and market the Treo Mail beta program; the availability of voice and data wireless service plans from GSM carriers, the timing and availability of a commercial version of Treo Mail, the timing and availability of the GPRS software upgrade for Treo, and Handspring's ability to qualify Treo for use with GSM wireless operators. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors including, among others: future economic conditions; consumer acceptance of and demand for Handspring's Treo communicator products and the Treo Mail application; the availability of Treo communicator products in the US and internationally; the timing of the build-out of advanced wireless networks and the quality and scope of voice and data service coverage offered by wireless carriers; the degree to which wireless carriers will facilitate the successful introduction of 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 Form 10-Q See 10-Q. . Handspring assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release. Note to Editors: Handspring, the Handspring logo, Blazer, Treo, Visor and Springboard are trademarks of Handspring, Inc. Visto, Powered by Visto and Visto Mobile Access Solution, Server Edition are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Visto Corporation. All other product names mentioned herein may be trademarks of the companies with which they are associated. |
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