Nikean Ships X-1R Wireless Modem For PalmPilot Organizer
SAN DIEGO — February 18, 1998 — Nikean, Inc., a wireless solutions provider, today announced the shipments of the X-1R wireless modem to Skybersoft, a leading solutions developer for the PalmPilot(tm) organizer, and to cellular carriers in the U.S. and Canada.
Designed specifically for 3Com's PalmPilot handheld computer, the ruggedized X-1R modem gives PalmPilot users remote wireless access to the Internet, providing services such as email, Web browsing, real-time transaction processing and networked interactive gaming.
Nikean's X-1R provides users with a better range, a more ruggedized unit and longer battery life at a lower price than the competition. The modem is compatible with almost all existing communications software for the PalmPilot product. Initial demand for the X-1R is expected to come from vertical markets with a need for robust, anytime-anywhere access to data, such as the financial industry (stock quotes and trades) and field services (dispatch and two-way messaging). Nikean ultimately plans to target the consumer market.
"Our goal at Nikean is to offer clients complete solutions to their mobile computing needs," said Sanjay Singhal, president and CEO of Nikean. Nikean offers clients a total solution with the X-1R wireless modem, Web-browser and email applications, bundled either with or without a PalmPilot handheld computer. With their complete package, Nikean reduces or eliminates integration difficulties that have plagued wireless communications from the start. The X-1R allows corporations to easily extend data access to a mobile workforce, allowing instantaneous response to client needs.
Mark Bercow, vice president of strategic alliances and platform development for Palm Computing, Inc., a 3Com company, said, "Nikean's X-1R opens up a whole new world of application areas for customers using the PalmPilot organizer. We believe that wireless Internet access is becoming an increasingly important capability for a number of users, and we welcome innovative solutions like Nikean's X-1R modem."
The X-1R is a rugged 19.2 kbps, full duplex, 600-mW Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) modem. The device integrates a leading-edge modem engine from Uniden, one of the world's leading consumer electronics companies, and is bundled with preselected software and airtime from a variety of carriers.
Features of the X-1R include:
— Ruggedized housing designed specifically for the PalmPilot
product and resistant to shocks.
— Extended battery life using a single Lithium disposable
battery pack with five times the energy density of Alkaline
batteries.
— Enhanced wireless coverage through a high-gain antenna
(included).
— Large 512K on-board RAM for writing custom modem-resident
applications.
Nikean's X-1R also provides leading-edge security capabilities not found in regular cellular transmissions, such as full 32-bit RSA encryption and a robust messaging protocol with automatic recovery from weak or interrupted signals. CDPD provides near-instantaneous connection to the Internet with no per-minute cellular fees, long-distance charges or roaming surcharges. The service is available in 90 percent of the metropolitan U.S. for as little as $ 14.95 per month with unlimited usage for under $ 50 per month.
"We are thrilled with the possibilities of wireless handheld computing, and pleased to be an early customer of Nikean," said James Rawton, President of Skybersoft. "The speed with which they have developed a wireless modem for the PalmPilot product is remarkable. We're looking forward to deploying bundled solutions with our software later this year."
Nikean's rapid development of the X-1R will be followed in mid-1998 with the X-1, a wireless modem designed for general consumer usage. Later this year Nikean will deliver compatibility with other popular handheld computing platforms and integration with other advanced digital cellular technologies, such as PCS.
Limited quantities of the X-1R are currently available to qualified purchasers. In the second quarter, the X-1R will be available for $ 369, or bundled with the PalmPilot Professional for $ 699, making it the lowest-cost mobile computing solution available. Channel discounts are available for qualified resellers and integrators. For more information on Nikean and its product line, call 1-800-779-8333, or visit the company's Web site at www.nikean.com.
Based in San Diego, Calif., with a second office in Toronto, Nikean provides complete wireless computing solutions to businesses and consumers in need of real-time access to information. After opening its doors in October 1997, Nikean has achieved industry-leading product development cycle times through its structure as a "virtual company," focusing internally on product design, marketing and sales, while outsourcing other corporate functions. By creating and integrating leading mobile computing hardware, software and services that work together seamlessly, Nikean's products are designed to take the guesswork out of wireless computing. Nikean is committed to the ongoing development of solutions for the mobile computing marketplace.
3Com and Palm Computing are registered trademarks and PalmPilot is a trademark of 3Com Corporation or its subsidiaries.
CONTACT:
The Townsend Agency
Sarah Thailing, 619/457-4888 x112
saraht@townsendagency.com
or
Nikean, Inc.
Steve Makohin, 416/984-1949
smakohin@nikean.com