Socket Announces Bell Mobility to Offer Wireless Data Services Using Socket PageCard
FREMONT, Calif. — June 17, 1996 — Socket Communications (NASDAQ SmallCap: SCKT and SCKTW) today announced that Bell Mobility, Canada's leading provider of wireless communication solutions, will market Socket's PageCard(R) data pager in Canada directly to its customers in Ontario and Quebec and nationally through Mobility Canada paging carriers.
Socket will provide a version of the PageCard designed to receive messages on the Mobility Canada nationwide frequency. Intended for mobile professionals who carry portable computers, the PageCard offers a new way to receive up-to-the-minute information such as sales leads, calendar updates, stock market quotes, financial news and priority e-mail through the low cost and broadly available paging network.
The Socket PageCard is a wearable, dual-mode pager that weighs half as much as a conventional alphanumeric pager but has over 10 times the capacity for storing messages as well as a self-contained PCMCIA interface. When used as an alpha pager, the PageCard can receive wireless numeric and text messages and display them on its LCD screen.
As a data pager, the PageCard can be plugged into a mobile computer and used for receiving and downloading wireless data. This wireless information can be received virtually anywhere at any time and be used to provide instant access to time critical information.
For example, the device can deliver a new meeting schedule directly into a contact management database. The user is alerted immediately of the event, eliminating the hassle of finding a wired connection or the potential mistakes associated with transcribing a voice mail message. The PageCard works with a variety of portable computers including Windows notebooks, Apple PowerBooks, Apple MessagePads, and HP 100/200 LX palmtops.
"We are pleased to add Socket's PageCard to our wireless product line," said Gary Bowman, Product Manager for Bell Mobility Data Solutions. "The PageCard allows us to offer data paging services to virtually any mobile computer user. Our customers will be able to take advantage of a growing library of applications that use paging to deliver time critical information directly to a notebook or PDA. These applications allow new ways to synchronize business and personal activities for the individual or the entire mobile work force."
"Bell Mobility is a great partner for Socket," said CEO Martin Levetin, "because they can provide users with a one-stop wireless data solution: hardware, software and nationwide service. The Bell Mobility Data Solutions group is at the forefront of extending enterprise networks to accommodate mobile users. Their focus on integrating wireless data into the client/server model puts them in a perfect position to be a leader in the wireless data revolution."
The formal distribution arrangement further enhances the strategic relationship announced earlier this year between Bell Mobility and Apple Canada Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Apple Computer Inc.
"The Apple MessagePad has become a premiere mobile computing platform for vertical applications and represents an important part of our narrowband PCS initiative," said Apple Canada's Market Development Manager for Mobility Solutions David Morrow.
"Apple continues to work with Socket and with Newton software developers to create wireless messaging applications and development tools. By introducing the Bell Mobility version of the PageCard, Socket has expanded the market for Newton software vendors and solutions providers who focus on wireless connectivity."
Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized innovator in the information industry and leader in multimedia technologies, creates powerful solutions based on easy-to-use personal computers, servers, peripherals, software, personal digital assistants and Internet content. Headquartered in Cupertino, Calif., Apple develops, manufactures, licenses and markets solutions, products, technologies and services for business, education, consumer, entertainment, scientific and engineering and government customers in more than 140 countries.
The Bell Mobility family of companies provides a complete range of wireless communication solutions — cellular, 1- and 2-way paging, data, satellite and airline passenger communications services — to more than 1 million Canadian customers. Bell Mobility companies are subsidiaries of BCE Mobile Communications Inc. a publicly traded company (Montreal Stock Exchange – symbol BCX) which is 65 per cent owned by BCE Inc. Bell Mobility was licensed in December 1995 to provide personal communications services (PCS) in the 2 GHz frequency band.
Socket Communications, Inc. develops and sells data communications solutions for the mobile computer market. Other Socket products include PC Card hardware and software for wireless messaging. Socket's PageCard(R) is a PC Card alphanumeric pager that can download wireless data to a mobile computer. Socket's PageSoft(R) library includes development tools and middleware, send and receive applications, plus rules-based e-mail forwarding agents for wireless communications. Socket Wireless Messaging Services (SWiMS) include operator dispatch, Internet and World Wide Web gateways for wireless messages, plus voice mail and fax forwarding with automatic wireless notification. Socket also offers Serial and Ethernet PC Cards as well as a Global Positioning System PC Card designed for mobile use.
CONTACT:
Socket Communications
Spencer Johnson, 510/744-2735
info@socketcom.com
or
Bell Mobility Data Solutions
Gary Bowman, 416/798-5072
grbowman@mobility.com
or
Apple Canada Inc.
Susan Taylor, 905/513-5511
Taylor.Susan@applelink.apple.com
or
A&R Partners
Annie Grace, 415/363-0982
annie_grace@arpartners.com