Netscape Enables Users to Synchronize Corporate Address Books with Palm Computing Platform
June 18, 1998 — MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – Netscape Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: NSCP) today announced that Netscape software now enables users of the industry-leading Palm Computing platform to carry an up-to-date copy of corporate address books as they travel or roam from their desktop computer. By using Netscape Communicator client software to synchronize Palm Computing address books with corporate directories stored in Netscape Directory Server software, business users for the first time will be able to store and update corporate directories easily and quickly on their Palm Computing organizers, including the PalmPilot and the new Palm III, the IBM Workpad PC Companion and other Palm devices offered by Symbol Technologies.
Available with the recently announced Netscape Communicator 4.5 client software due out in a beta version next month, the new feature enables entire or partial corporate directories to be stored in a wide variety of applications on the Palm Computing platform. By synchronizing names, addresses and phone numbers stored in the PalmPilot organizer with Netscape Directory Server, users can rapidly bring their roaming devices up-to-date. Because Netscape Communicator 4.5 intelligently updates only new or changed entries, keeping corporate directories current is simple and inexpensive.
"This announcement is exciting news for users of the Palm Computing platform. Now the most popular handheld solution together with Netscape's new directory synchronization capabilities will enable users to take their company's contacts with them, so that they can easily access this critical network information while they roam," said Dave Rothschild, vice president of client products at Netscape. "Any changes to the corporate phonebook such as a new phone number are automatically updated. As a leading provider of enterprise computing solutions, Netscape is focused on delivering innovative, standards-based products that make enterprise users more productive as they roam within their company or on the road."
"Our collaboration with Netscape allows corporate customers to access up-to-the-minute directory information via the world-leading Palm Computing platform," said Mark Bercow, vice president of strategic alliances and platform development for Palm Computing, a 3Com company. "The power of Netscape's leading Internet software solution combined with the ease-of-use, portability and fast data access of the Palm Computing platform creates another critical handheld solution for enterprise customers."
Corporate directories available on the popular Palm Computing platform can markedly reduce communication costs within the enterprise. The new capability is expected to reduce the number of "411" calls to corporate operators, reduce or eliminate costs associated with printing hardcopy phonebooks, and provide for future growth due to Netscape Directory Server's scaleable architecture.
Today's announcement enhances other productivity features already available for the Palm Computing platform using Netscape software. A feature of Netscape Communicator, Netscape Calendar Link enables Palm Computing platform users to stay up-to-date by synchronizing schedule data from the Netscape Calendar component of Communicator. Netscape Calendar Link takes advantage of the real-time architecture of Netscape Calendar Server software and the Netscape Calendar component of Netscape Communicator client software to ensure that users are making scheduling decisions based on up-to-date information.
Netscape Directory Server software is central to Netscape's Mission Control product family, which provides realtime directory and security services that enable centralized, low cost management of a myriad of Internet applications deployed by Enterprise Service Providers (ESPs) and independent software companies. Netscape Mission Control's services-ready infrastructure is ideal for companies competing in the Net Economy where high performance, scalability, 24×7 reliability and strong security that extends outside the enterprise are critical for success. Other companies leveraging Netscape Mission Control include Hewlett-Packard, Cabletron Systems, Inc., Hitachi, Ltd., Netegrity, Inc., Novera Software, Inc., Oblix, Inc., Security Dynamics and Silicon Graphics, Inc.
Netscape Communications Corporation is a leading provider of open software and services for linking people and information over enterprise networks and the Internet. The company offers a full line of clients, servers, development tools, commercial applications and professional services to create a complete platform for next-generation, online applications. Traded on NASDAQ under the symbol NSCP, Netscape Communications Corporation is based in Mountain View, California.
Palm Computing is a registered trademark, and Palm III and PalmPilot are trademarks of 3Com Corporation or its subsidiaries. Netscape, Netscape Navigator, Netscape Certificate Server, Netscape ONE, SuiteSpot and the Netscape N and Ship's Wheel logos are registered trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation in the United States and other countries. Other Netscape logos, product names, and service names are also trademarks of Netscape Communications Corporation, which may be registered in other countries.
CONTACT:
Netscape Communications Corporation
Tel: +1 650 937 2555
e-mail: info@netscape.com
WWW: http://home.netscape.com