Stratus RTM Offers Advanced Messaging Services for PageCard
FREMONT, Calif. — March 25, 1996 — Socket Communications Inc. (SCKT and SCKTW: NASDAQ SmallCap; Pacific Stock Exchange SOK) today announced that Stratus RTM, one of the largest service providers for France Telecom Mobiles Radiomessagerie's nationwide paging network, will offer advanced services for Socket's PageCard Wireless Messaging System.
The PageCard is the only PC Card pager with an LCD display, allowing it to be used both as a data pager for delivering wireless messages to a mobile computer and as a standalone alphanumeric pager. The PageCard's PC Card interface permits mobile computer users to receive and store wireless e-mail, stock market updates, sales leads, and other types of messages anywhere, any time, without the inconvenience of setting up wireline communications.
Stratus RTM will also offer a message forwarding service for PageCard users that will facilitate pan-European data paging for countries wherever Euromessage service is available.
Available in April, 1996, PageCard Stratus Services (PSS) will make it possible to send wireless text and data to PageCard users via operator dispatch or computer modem. Stratus RTM will add Alphapage gateways for Minitel and Internet e-mail later this year.
Stratus RTM will also offer a voice mail and fax store and forward service with automatic Alphapage notification. Versions of the PageCard Wireless Messaging System are available for Windows and Apple computers.
Both versions include Socket's PageSoft messaging software for sending pages via modem and for downloading data from the PageCard to mobile computers and PDAs. The Apple version includes software that works with Newton MessagePads and Apple PowerBooks.
"Data paging represents an exciting new opportunity to add value to our paging services" said Jean-Christophe Caillat, CEO of Stratus RTM.
"Socket's PageCard takes advantage of our ability to provide a gateway that consolidates all types of communications, including voice mail, fax, e-mail, modem and paging. With PageCard Stratus Services, users will be able to use the PageCard to monitor phone and fax activity as well as to receive wireless e-mail and data directly into their notebooks or PDAs."
"The availability of advanced messaging services from Stratus represents a major step forward towards our goal of providing standards-based wireless connectivity across the globe," said Socket's CEO Martin Levetin.
"The Euromessage version of the PageCard Wireless Messaging System will enable a variety of applications to take advantage of the broad coverage offered by an existing, proven wireless data network. The great news is that the wireless data revolution is right now."
"As the leader in PDA products we are excited to see the PageCard available in Europe," said Craig Sears-Black, Apple Computer's Regional Manager, Newton Systems Group for Europe.
"The combination of the Socket PageCard, Stratus RTM messaging services and the Apple MessagePad are great for vertical applications and solutions such as field dispatch and time critical medical applications. It is a simple, low cost solution for mobile professionals to plug into wireless connectivity."
PageCard Stratus Services will be available in April from Stratus RTM (Tel +33 78 69 77 88). Beginning in April, the Socket PageCard hardware and PageSoft software will be available in France from AB Soft (Tel +33 1 69 30 70 00) and Intervalle (Tel +33 1 48 57 30 30).
Socket Communications, Inc. develops and sells data communications solutions for the mobile computer market. Socket's products include PC Card hardware and software for wireless messaging.
Socket's PageCard is a PC Card alphanumeric pager that can download wireless data to a mobile computer. The PageSoft messaging library includes development tools and middleware, send and receive applications, plus rules-based e-mail forwarding agents.
Socket Wireless Messaging Services (SWiMS) include operator dispatch, paging gateways for Internet and the Worldwide Web, plus voice mail and fax forwarding with automatic wireless notification. Other Socket products include Serial PC Cards, wired Ethernet PC Cards and a Global Positioning System PC Card.
Note to Editors: Socket Communications, Inc., PageCard, PageCard Wireless Messaging System and PageSoft are registered trademarks, trademarks or service marks of Socket Communications, Inc.
CONTACT:
Socket Communications
Gerald Houston, 510/744-2740
info@socketcom.com
or
A&R Partners Annie Grace, 415/363-0982
annie_grace@arpartners.com