Source: America Online Geoworks ForumGEOWORKS ANNOUNCES EUROPEAN LAUNCH OF FIRST "SMART PHONE" INCORPORATING GEOS SYSTEM SOFTWARE
Nokia 9000 Communicator launched this morning at London retailer, The Link.
Alameda, Calif. (August 15, 1996) -- Geoworks (Nasdaq:GWRX) today announced that the result of its first collaboration with Nokia, the Nokia 9000 Communicator, began shipping in Europe this morning. At the heart of the Nokia 9000 is the GEOS 3.0, operating system platform developed by Geoworks. The Nokia 9000 Communicator, which won "Best of Show" following its introduction at CeBit in March, has received tremendous fan fare throughout Europe. Today's shipment of this innovative product into the hands of consumers represents a significant milestone in mobile communications.
The Nokia 9000 Communicator demonstrates a real-life example of the power of the GEOS 3.0 platform with its broad range of communications capabilities. Now European consumers can use a Nokia 9000 Communicator to expand the use of their digital (GSM) cellular phones to easily send and receive email, faxes, SMS messages (electronic pages) and to connect to the Internet and corporate databases with an easy-to-use graphical interface.
"The flexibility of the GEOS operating system platform let us optimize the interface of the Nokia 9000 Communicator so users can access its broad capabilities in the most intuitive way," said Reijo Paajanen, vice president, wireless data, Nokia Mobile Phones. "And, since GEOS provides an open development environment, customers will be able to add innovative new functionality as it's available from service providers, software developers, Nokia and Geoworks. The Nokia 9000 Communicator sets an entirely new standard for the future of digital (GSM) cellular phones."
Geoworks' recently announced the formation of its Wireless Content & Services Division that intends to work with its partners to deliver compelling content and services to customers of the Nokia 9000 Communicator. With the power of the digital (GSM) cellular network and the rich functionality of smart phones, it will be possible to use the Internet to distribute packaged, targeted content to expand the usage of digital cellular phones throughout Europe initially and extending to Japan and the U.S. in the future.
"Cellnet is committed to developing innovative solutions to meet today's needs," said Cellnet's managing director, Howard Ford. "This world first, Nokia 9000 Communicator, offers fast and convenient access to Cellnet's existing GSM voice, data and messaging services in the palm of your hand. This is in addition to Internet, email and World Wide Web access via a dedicated link between the Cellnet network and Pipex. Our development with Nokia is an excellent example of how leading companies can harness their combined expertise to extend communications frontiers."
The digital GSM cellular standard is prevalent throughout Europe, with approximately 13.3 million subscribers as of June 30, 1996. This provides a significant installed base of customers who will have the ability to expand their usage into data services. Customers using digital-cellular smart phones incorporating the GEOS operating system will be able to take advantage of the value-added services available with this network.
"We have a long history of working with Nokia, and are pleased to be one of the first retail outlets to carry the Nokia 9000 Communicator. The Nokia 9000 is definitely one of the most exciting products we've seen this year," said Jonathan Hart, managing director at The Link. "With its built-in functionality and communications capabilities for combining voice and data, we are anticipating extremely strong response from our customers for this product."
"Geoworks has been working with Nokia and Intel for the past few years on the Nokia 9000. Seeing the first smart phone incorporating the GEOS operating system reach actual consumers is a major milestone for us," said Gordon Mayer, president & CEO of Geoworks. "We continue to believe that the market for products that combine voice, data, content and services is an expanding one. We are fortunate we have had the opportunity to work with such world-renowned companies to bring this innovative product to market."
"We recognize smart phones as an exciting new market opportunity for Intel," said Tom Franz, general manager of Intel's Advanced Personal Communications Division. "The Intel386(tm) processor we developed for the Nokia 9000 Communicator along with SmartVoltage flash memory deliver the performance, memory and power management required for the cellular usage model. By working together with Nokia and Geoworks, we have become leaders in this emerging market."
The efforts of industry leaders Nokia, Intel, Geoworks and Cellnet, come together by giving consumers their first hands-on smart phone experience this morning at the launch of the Nokia 9000 Communicator at The Link, a leading London retailer, at its Central London location. Promoting the announcement and adding to the excitement, The Link is holding a drawing, the winner of which will be entitled to purchase a Nokia 9000 Communicator for 9000p, with 9000 complimentary minutes of airtime plus connection and a year's free subscription from Cellnet. The winner will be chosen by Britain's 1996 Olympic Gold medallists, Steven Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent.
For additional information concerning today's launch of the Nokia 9000 Communicator, please also see today's announcement from Nokia.
About Geoworks
Based in Alameda, California, Geoworks develops and markets the GEOS operating system and application software for the emerging Consumer Computing Devices (CCD) market. The company is focused on enabling the development of smart phones and electronic organizers, and has licensed GEOS to leading manufacturers such as Hewlett-Packard Company, Nokia, Ericsson, Toshiba Corporation, Brother International Corp. and Canon Business Machines.
For additional information, contact Geoworks on the World Wide Web at http://www.geoworks.com/.
About Cellnet
Cellnet is the UK's biggest mobile phone success story. The company was formed by BT (majority shareholder 60%) and Securicor, and was granted a license to become a mobile communications network operator in 1983. Cellnet's network service was formally launched in January 1985.
Today well over 2 million customers are connected to Cellnet. Cellnet has already invested more than 1 billion pounds in building the UK network. Another 1 billion pounds is also committed to expand and enhance its UK service over the next five years.
In 1994, Cellnet introduced its international digital service for UK customers at home and abroad. The service conforms to the international standard known as GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) which offers customers the opportunity to use their cellphones when traveling overseas. For more information contact Cellnet at http://www.cellnet.co.uk.