Apple And Toshiba Announce Agreement For New Multimedia PDA
LOS ANGELES — June 23, 1992 — Apple Computer Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Toshiba Corp. today announced an agreement to develop new Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) products in the multimedia player category. As part of this agreement, Apple and Toshiba will cooperate on the development of an initial PDA product and Toshiba will manufacture separate branded versions for both companies. It is anticipated that Apple and Toshiba will be the first companies to license core software technology from Kaleida, the Apple/IBM joint venture, for incorporation into these new products.
PDA defines a new category of easy-to-use information devices using digital technology to bridge the gap between personal computers and consumer electronics products. Last month, Apple announced its new Newton software technology and previewed the company's first PDA product based on Newton, in the electronic notepad category. The first Newton product is expected to ship in early 1993. Today's announcement with Toshiba will result in a new Apple PDA product line in the multimedia player category. The first product implementation in this line is expected to be CD-ROM-based and to ship in mid-1993.
"Apple and Toshiba share a common vision to develop devices that will harness the power and excitement of multimedia," said John Sculley, Apple's chairman and chief executive officer. "The options for users are potentially limitless — spanning the areas of entertainment, information on demand, and lifelong learning. Toshiba's strong reputation in the consumer electronics business and expertise in semiconductor manufacturing match well with Apple's strengths in personal computing design and making technology easy to use."
"We are pleased to be working with Apple Computer in this emerging area of multimedia PDAs. We look forward to a long and productive working relationship," said Takeshi Okatomi, Toshiba's senior vice president, Video & Electronics Media Group.
Both Apple and Toshiba will have respective project teams in place and initiate product development efforts with a target product delivery date of mid-1993. The two companies will market their own versions of this first multimedia PDA based on the same core technology. Further product details will be released at a later date.
Warner New Media, a division of Time Warner Inc. announced that they are evaluating programs to provide a wide spectrum of multimedia content titles for consumers. The company made an announcement in conjunction with Apple and Toshiba today.Name: Apple Computer Inc. Location: Cupertino, California Chairman and CEO: John Sculley Annual Sales: $6.308 billion (fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 1991) Number of employees: 14,500 worldwide Founded in: 1977
CONTACT:
Brooke Cohan, 408-974-3019, Tricia Chan, 408-974-3886, both of Apple Computer;
or
Ted Kadoya or Rebecca Cradick of Toshiba America, 212-308-2040