Apple Outlines Plethora of Newton Wireless Communications Solutions at MessagePad 120 Launch
CUPERTINO, Calif. — January 30, 1995 — As part of its overall strategy to provide the most flexible wireless communications capabilities of any personal digital assistant (PDA) device on the market, Apple Computer, Inc. (Nasdaq: AAPL) today outlined the various Apple and third party solutions available for the Apple MessagePad with Newton Intelligence.
"The Newton Operating System was designed from the ground up with a powerful communications architecture. These communications capabilities were, in turn, enabled in the Apple MessagePad via the device's PCMCIA slot and standard serial port, providing unrivaled communication flexibility for customers," said Shane Robison, vice president and general manager of the Personal Interactive Electronics (PIE) Division of Apple Computer, at the launch of the new Apple MessagePad 120 today (see separate news release entitled: 'Apple Announces the MessagePad 120 With Enhanced Features').
"Unlike other PDA communicator devices, which lock customers into a single communications solution, MessagePad buyers have the freedom to choose the solution that best fits their needs now and evolve that solution over time without losing their initial investment in the MessagePad product."
According to Robison, Apple has been working with third party communications providers for more than 18 months to bring to market solutions based on Radio Frequency (RF) packet, analog and digital cellular, one-way as well as two-way paging and Infra Red (IR). Additionally, Apple has been working with third party PCMCIA data/fax modem vendors to provide modem setup packages for cellular communications.
Paging
Further paging solutions are expected from Motorola and a wide variety of service providers as a result of a licensing agreement announced today between Motorola and Apple for the Apple Messaging Card paging application and PCMCIA driver.
According to Doug Kraul, vice president and general manager of Motorola's Personal Communicator Systems and Software (PCSS) Division: "This will allow customers to use Motorola's Newscards with Newton-based PDAs as well as provide paging service providers with ready access to a growing market of Newton-based devices from Apple, Motorola, Sharp and other Newton licensees. In effect, this will significantly open up the market for Newton-platform paging solutions."
On January 4 at Macworld, Apple announced Apple Mobile Message System for MessagePads, PowerBooks and Windows-compatible notebook computers allowing customers to receive short and long one way wireless page messages, news updates, and a variety of other information via a nationwide paging network.
The Apple Mobile Message System includes the Apple Notification Service, a "one-stop" activation, billing, and support program; a PageCard wireless message receiver with LCD screen from Socket Communications; Update! receive software and Notify! send software from Ex Machina; message transmission via the PageNet nationwide wireless network; and wireless gateway services by The National Dispatch Center, Inc.
Also at Macworld, MobileComm, a subsidiary of BellSouth, announced it would now support Apple PowerBooks in addition to MessagePads with all of its wireless PCMCIA and pager solutions. MobileComm has supported MessagePad products since 1993 with the Apple Wireless Messaging service, which delivers news, messages and information to MessagePads via the Newton PCMCIA Messaging Card. The Macworld announcement extended the services already offered to MessagePad owners to Apple PowerBook customers as well.
Cellular, GSM and Radio-Based Wireless Solutions
Apple and Third Parties are working to deliver new cellular and radio-based wireless solutions for the Newton platform. These efforts are expected to bear fruit in the first half of 1995, according to PIE Communications Solutions manager Susan Schuman.
"Apple has been working with Third Parties to provide modem tools that will open up the Newton platform to third party landline and wireless cellular data/fax modems," Schuman said. These modem tools will be made available to the development community.
Additionally, Apple has been working closely with major cellular PCMCIA hardware providers such as AT&T Paradyne, Motorola and APEX DATA to ensure Newton modem enablers and set-up packages (similar to CCL files on desktop computers) are developed for each vendor's products. This will enable Newton-based products to work with specific AT&T, Motorola, Nokia, OKI and other handsets along with compatible vendors' cellular PCMCIA fax/modems. Apple, in conjunction with these vendors, will make these setup packages available to Apple MessagePad customers. The Newton Modem enabler and Motorola set up packages will be available in conjunction with the System 1.3 update. For more information on the distribution of these enhancements, please see release entitled: "Apple Announces the MessagePad 120 With Enhanced Features."
On January 6, ARDIS, a wireless data communications network provider, announced development plans for a native mode communication driver for Newton-based products. The driver will allow the development and use of wireless data communication applications for Newton-based products using the ARDIS network. ARDIS also announced that it would make this driver available to the development community at no charge in the first half of 1995.
Also in early January, Dayna Communications, Inc. announced it was developing the first PCMCIA Type II wireless local area network solution for Newton-based products. Based on Xircom's NetWave spread-spectrum, frequency-hopping radio technology, it will provide fast, reliable connections for AppleTalk applications and also for broad-based networking applications such as client/server database access and Internet connectivity. Dayna intends to deliver a PCMCIA Type II wireless LAN product for Newton-based devices in the first half of 1995.
In Germany, Apple Computer recently announced the availability of the GSM Connection Kit for Newton. The kit allows owners of the MessagePad 120 to wirelessly transmit e-mail and facsimile messages and to communicate from remote locations at any time. These capabilities are enabled by the European-wide GSM network via the Nokia Cellular Data Card and Nokia 2110 or 2140 wireless handsets.
All of these solutions augment the Apple MessagePad's existing array of communications solutions, ranging from the Apple PCMCIA 2400/9600 data/fax modem, Apple external (serial line) landline 2400/9600 data/fax modem, and Photonics diffuse Infra Red (IR) wireless product. The breadth and depth of these wide-ranging wireless solutions provide the Newton platform with unrivaled communications flexibility for both horizontal and vertical markets.
Third Party Press Contacts
— APEX
— Wendy Bulawa, McGrath/Power Public Relations, 408-727-0351
— ARDIS
— Claire Cosgrove, 708-913-4235
— AT&T
— Garrick Case, 813-530-8221
— Dayna Communications, Inc.
— Suzanne Kimball, 801-269-7349
— Ex Machina, Inc.
— David Rose, 212-843-0000, ext.11
— MobileComm
— Tom Poulos, 601-977-1694
— Motorola Information Systems Group
— Mary Ellen Egemonye, 508-261-4789
— Motorola Personal Communicator Systems and Software Division
— Pam Erickson, Cunningham Communications, Inc., 617-494-8202
— PageNet
— Scott Baradell, 214-985-6791
— Socket Communications
— D.J. Anderson, 415-363-0982
Apple Computer, Inc., a recognized pioneer and innovator in the information industry, creates powerful solutions based on easy to use personal computers, servers, peripherals, software, online services, and personal digital assistants. Headquartered in Cupertino, Apple develops, manufactures, licenses and markets products, technologies and services for the business, education, consumer, scientific & engineering and government markets in over 140 countries.
NOTE: Apple, the Apple logo, Newton and PowerBook are registered trademarks; MessagePad and Newton Intelligence are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. All other brand names mentioned are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders. releases by fax, call 1-800-APPL-FAX (1-800-227-5329) and enter I.D. number 6172
CONTACT:
Emilio Robles of Apple Computer, Inc., 408-862-5671;
or
Jeni Johnstone of Regis McKenna, Inc., 408-974-2589, for Apple