Source: GeoworksGEOWORKS ENTERS AGREEMENT WITH UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL TO LICENSE NEWS CONTENT FOR WIRELESS INFORMATION SERVICE
New Service Would Give Wireless Customers Instant Access to Breaking News
Alameda, Calif. - May 5, 1998 - Geoworks Corporation (NASDAQ: GWRX), a leading provider of smart phone software solutions, has entered into an agreement with United Press International to deliver headlines and news summaries from around the world to wireless devices.
Geoworks has licensed news content from UPI, a leading global news gathering agency. Technology engineered by Geoworks reformats the news content and tailors it to fit each kind of device receiving the service. Cellular network providers, in turn, will be able to offer the real-time information to their customers in a format that is appropriate for viewing on mobile wireless device.
"With Geoworks' strong background in designing services for mobile devices, UPI views this agreement as an important new way of delivering global, breaking news directly to consumers," said James Adams, CEO for UPI. "Geoworks is now our ally in keeping the people informed anywhere in the world."
In addition, Geoworks will leverage UPI's editorial databases to let carriers offer content-sensitive search capabilities from mobile devices. Device users receiving UPI news on their handsets will be able to quickly and easily search for news by topics, names or other identifying key words.
"UPI offers a wealth of content on a broad range of topics all over the world, so it's a natural partnership with our wireless content and services solutions," said Gad Benett, product manager, Wireless Content and Services group at Geoworks. "The UPI service is an example of how Geoworks is continuing to fulfill its goal of working with prominent information sources to create compelling services that meet the needs of wireless data users."
UPI has been a leading news provider for nearly a century. UPI offices around the world gather a breadth of news and then disseminate the headlines, abstracts, articles and audio feeds via wire and satellite transmission to the mass media.
The agreement with UPI is the latest in a line of content partnerships forged by Geoworks to provide useful, up-to-the-minute information to carriers. Other content partners include Zagat Survey and Hotwired.
About UPI
United Press International is a leading global information service. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., UPI produces national and international news and features including politics, sports, business, entertainment, and science and health for broadcast and print media, as well as for electronic content providers. To find out more about UPI, visit www.upi.com.About Geoworks
Based in Alameda, Calif., Geoworks Corporation is a leading software provider for manufacturers of mobile communicating devices, including smart phones, as well as the cellular industry. The company has licensed its GEOS and GEOS-SC operating systems to leading manufacturers, including Mitsubishi, Nokia, Toshiba Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., Brother International Corp. and Canon Business Machines. In addition, the company is working with content and services providers and international cellular operators. For additional information on Geoworks, its operating system and wireless content services, contact Geoworks on the World Wide Web at http://www.geoworks.com.In keeping with U.S. law, Geoworks notes that this press release includes forward-looking statements, including the planned availability of wireless content and services based on the UPI content. Actual results may vary significantly due to various risks and uncertainties. Those include, but are not limited to, i) new technologies are inherently subject to development, timing and consumer acceptance risks, and ii) the Company must consummate definitive agreements with key partners. Additional information is available in the Risk Factors and Business discussions in the Company's Forms 10-K, 10-Q and other filings available from the Company or from the Securities and Exchange Commission.