Handspring Expands To Europe, Inks Deal With Wavecom

Handspring and Wavecom have announced a strategic relationship to explore the development of future wireless data products and modules for U.S. and worldwide markets. In addition, Handspring has announced the introduction of VisorPhone to the European market at 3GSM World Congress this week. According to Handspring and Wavecom:

"The integration of wireless voice and data communications is one of the driving factors in the development of handheld computing today," stated Donna Dubinsky, CEO of Handspring Inc. "We believe Wavecomis technology and expertise can enhance Handspringis capabilities in this direction."

WISMO, which stands for Wireless Standard Module, is a compact, fully integrated device containing all of the software, hardware and other technology needed to implement a wireless telecommunications standard.

"This partnership represents an important endorsement of our technology and its potential in North America. Our agreement with Handspring is one of several significant steps forward we expect to make in the U.S. in the months ahead," explained Aram Hékimian, CEO of Wavecom.

VisorPhone

Handspring will introduce VisorPhone to the European market at 3GSM World Congress this week, with targeted customer availability in the first half of 2001. VisorPhone is a GSM world phone (900/1900 MHz) that leverages the robust PIM functionality and larger screen of Visor handhelds to bring Address Book dialing, enhanced caller ID, conference calling and other features to a new level of usability. Handspring is now making VisorPhone available to GSM carriers for testing and expects to begin selling the product in Europe this summer.

In addition, VisorPhoneis SMS application coupled with the flexible and efficient text input functions of Palm OS make writing and managing messages compelling to a whole new class of subscribers. Handspring also intends to provide its own high-performance Web browser, Blazer, developed by recently acquired Bluelark Systems, to browse virtually any website. This and other applications will enable people to access the Internet, send and receive e-mail messages and even text chat using their Visor handheld and VisorPhone module.

The VisorPhone is available for US$299 (activation included) and you can find more information about it at Handspringis site.