Source: GeoworksGEOWORKS JOINS WIRELESS APPLICATION PROTOCOL (WAP) FORUM TO SUPPORT NEED FOR GLOBAL SOLUTIONS
Company's Open Operating System Supports WAP Protocols
Alameda, Calif. (June 17, 1998) - Geoworks Corporation (NASDAQ: GWRX), a leading provider of smart phone software solutions, today announced it has joined the WAP Forum, a consortium of wireless phone manufacturers and service and application providers. The affiliation will directly involve Geoworks in the ongoing definition of the Wireless Application Protocol specification, and will enable Geoworks to share its extensive industry knowledge of personal communication solutions with WAP Forum members.
Joining the WAP Forum illustrates Geoworks' ongoing strategy of embracing industry standards and protocols to help grow the smart phone market. Geoworks intends to support open standards as they emerge and currently supports a number of open industry standards, including HTML, HDML and Java.
"We chose to join the WAP Forum because it provides us with the ability to access WAP-developed content, applications and service, as well as providing an opportunity to further support our manufacturer partners," said David Thatcher, Geoworks' president and CEO. "Geoworks will continue to support emerging standards, such as WAP, because we believe that the smart phone market will be able to grow faster through standardization."
The WAP Forum was founded by Nokia, Ericsson, Motorola and Unwired Planet in 1997 to establish a global protocol that works across different wireless network technologies and devices. With strong industry support, WAP will allow cross-vendor interoperability, multiple network support and is intended to be scaleable across other standards.
"We are pleased that Geoworks is endorsing the WAP standard," said Mikko Terho, Vice President, Wireless Data, Nokia Mobile Phones. "The WAP Forum was created to proliferate a standardized wireless protocol specification that can be used across a variety of networks and devices. Geoworks is a well-respected company in the mobile communications device market, so their membership in the WAP Forum is an important endorsement of this protocol."
"Participation by Geoworks and other software and service providers will go a long way to help achieve industry-wide compatibility and acceptance of the WAP standards," said Joakim Nelson, Director, Strategic Product Management, Ericsson Mobile Communications. "We welcome Geoworks' input and look forward to working with them to better establish the reliable interoperability needed to drive the acceptance of wireless data applications."
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 ongoing involvement by Geoworks in the WAP specification process, the expansion of the smart phone market through standardization process such as WAP, and the WAP Forum's ability to achieve industry-wide compatibility and acceptance of the WAP protocol. Actual results may vary significantly due to various risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the following: i) the risks and uncertainties inherent in the development of complex new technologies and ii), the smart phone market may not emerge to the degree or in the timing anticipated. Additional information is available in the Risk Factors and Business discussions in the Company's Forms 10-K, 10-Q available from the Company or from the Securities and Exchange Commission.