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MyPalm web service
Palm is working on a personal portal for Palm VII (and presumably Omnisky) users that would allow them to wirelessly update their calendar and other information on their handheld. I've included the full press release here that has all the details.
Palm Makes Internet Personal and Portable With MyPalm Portal
New Wireless Content and Services to Be Initiated in Public Beta; Palm Building Mobile PIM-centric Portal
LAS VEGAS, Nev., COMDEX, Nov. 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Palm, Inc. (Nasdaq: PALM - news) today announced the public beta version of a new, personal portal for Palm™ VII series handheld users. The MyPalm™ portal takes the expanse of the Internet and organizes just the information needed and wanted onto users' Palm handheld computers. Information is displayed in a format sized to the handheld's screen for easy, clear and virtually instantaneous access. This move represents a large step forward in Palm's vision of delivering personal information and the best of web-based content and access to a handheld device.
This portal -- which will go live by Dec. 25 -- gives handheld users unprecedented freedom from their desktops and unprecedented wireless access to personal accounts and websites of individual interest anytime in the United States and eventually in many other parts of the world. At the same time, Palm will remain true to its reputation for focusing on the user's experience by delivering intuitive ease of use and transparent technology.
``The work we have begun today takes a great handheld computer and combines it with the power of the wireless Internet. Users will be able to access the world's information in a way that is easy to use, fast, powerful and personally relevant,'' said Barry Cottle, chief operating officer, Content and Access, for Palm, Inc. ``The MyPalm portal will deliver access to rich, dynamic, personal content, and it will free people from being tethered to a PC or office.''
The MyPalm portal builds on Palm's reputation for great Personal Information Management (PIM) -- datebook, address, to-do lists and memo functionality -- and takes those strengths to the web, where information can be managed dynamically and wirelessly.
``As the Internet becomes more ubiquitous, the demand for mobile and wireless control of a person's information and real-time content becomes critical to users on the go,'' said Tim Bajarin, president, Creative Strategies, Inc. ``This new portal on a Palm handheld is a pioneering effort that shows that the company really understands the needs of Palm users and soon will give them a powerful connection that integrates personal information with web-tailored content that can be accessed anytime and anywhere.''
Part of the power behind the portal is Palm's recent acquisition of AnyDay.com, a leader in web-based calendaring and event services. By providing time- and location-based services, users of the MyPalm portal will receive personally relevant information and purchase options on local and national events, such as movie listings and sporting event schedules, at home and on the road. By enhancing individual and group-calendaring capabilities, family members, friends and colleagues who choose to share their calendars can always be current.
``Soon, for example, we'll reduce the everyday complexity of finding a mutually available hour for a meeting in a department of busy co-workers,'' Cottle said. ``By sharing calendars and using the MyPalm portal, a meeting can be proposed and scheduled within minutes. What's more, a confirmed meeting can be automatically populated into everyone's calendars wirelessly within seconds. The time savings and productivity improvements possible are simply amazing.''
To build more services into the personal portal, Palm worked with Google, a leading search engine that uses advanced technology to help users find the information they're looking for quickly and effectively, and Yodlee, the pioneer and leading provider of account-aggregation services.
``Teaming with Google and Yodlee helps create a powerful package of services we know our users will enjoy. Suddenly, time waiting in the lobby of a doctor's office or in a taxi stuck in traffic can become productive and useful,'' Cottle said. ``Using Yodlee, you can manage your frequent-flyer programs and choose the one that offers the most miles for a particular trip, do your personal banking and make stock trades all from one site with one password login. Using Google, you can access the World Wide Web and be assured a good experience.''
MyPalm Portal in 2000
The MyPalm website, accessible at www.palm.net, provides an integrated experience that lets handheld users access a wide variety of new content and services. Users can download the beta MyPalm wireless application on Dec. 25. In the future, Palm handhelds will have the MyPalm software preloaded.
The MyPalm portal lets Palm handheld users extend the functionality of their handhelds with new features, including the following:
-- wireless calendar refresh, which allows a user to check his or her
calendar and instantly learn about changes made on the calendar at home
or work;
-- web searching through Google -- both wireless and on the web;
-- a link to personal e-mail accounts;
-- wireless search, download, and organization of more than 450 web
clipping applications;
-- a single interface to review personal accounts through Yodlee;
-- viewing and changing datebook, phone lists and to-do lists on the web;
-- automatic incorporation of personally relevant events to the web-based
datebook, such as movie listings and sporting events;
-- scheduling group meetings with work and personal groups; and
-- receiving personal reminders.
The MyPalm Portal in the Near Future
In the near future, the MyPalm portal will provide users with rich new services. They will include the following: - wireless group scheduling;
- automatic notification of calendar changes;
- integrated services within a user's datebook, such as maps and
directions;
- full wireline and wireless synchronization;
- dynamic two-way content so users always have current calendars, fresh information and the latest news, synchronized with home or office;
- corporate e-mail with notification;
instant messaging;
- MyPalm info page with personalized information; and
single login to access e-mail, personal and group calendars, address books, event information and personal web-based accounts, such as those for banking and stock trading.
MyPalm Application Available by Dec. 25
The public beta handheld application of the MyPalm portal can be downloaded free of charge by Dec. 25 from www.palm.net.
Although the MyPalm portal is optimized for the Palm VIIx handheld, most features of the portal also can be delivered to a Palm m100, Palm III and Palm V series handhelds augmented with an infrared or standard mobile phone (with cable) and the Palm Mobile Internet Kit. The kit began shipping today and is available on the PalmStore at store.palm.com.
Diversified Revenue Opportunities
Palm believes that the MyPalm portal represents an important step forward in the company's efforts to diversify its revenue base, which comprises revenue from the sale of devices and accessories, licensing royalties, and content and access. Last quarter, Palm obtained 97 percent of its revenue from its device business. Over time, the company anticipates that the MyPalm portal will help accelerate the company's content and access revenues.
About Palm, Inc.
Palm, Inc. is a pioneer in the field of mobile and wireless Internet solutions and a leading provider of handheld computers (source: IDC, December 1999). Based on the Palm OS® platform, Palm's handheld solutions allow people to carry and access their most critical information with them wherever they go. Palm handhelds address the needs of individuals, enterprises and educational institutions through thousands of application solutions. The Palm OS platform is also the foundation for products from Palm's licensees and strategic partners, such as Cresenda Wireless; ePocrates, Inc.; Franklin Covey; Handspring; IBM; Sony; Symbol Technologies; and TRG. Platform licensees also include Kyocera and Nokia. Palm went public on March 2, 2000. Its stock is traded on the Nasdaq national market under the symbol PALM. More information is available at www.palm.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements about the future product features and functionality and the diversification of the company's revenue sources. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which may cause future events to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties are discussed in detail in Palm's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K for the year ended June 2, 2000, effective Aug. 16, 2000, and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended Sept 1, 2000, effective Oct. 12, 2000.
NOTE: Palm OS is a registered trademark and Palm and MyPalm are trademarks of Palm, Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
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