Philips to Introduce Web- Enabled Mobile Phones Using Phone.com's UP.Browser
28.09.1999, 16:53
Redwood City, Calif. (PROTEXT) - Philips Mobile Phones With
WAP Microbrowser to Combine the Power of Internet Connectivity
and Wireless Telephony.
Phone.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: PHCM) and Philips today announced
that Philips Consumer Communications (PCC) has concluded an
agreement with Phone.com under which it has licensed the
Phone.com(TM) UP.Browser(TM) microbrowser software for use on its
GSM mobile phones. The microbrowser software turns a mobile phone
into an Internet companion, bringing valuable web functionality
such as Email, Internet and corporate Intranet information to the
screen of a mobile phone. This functionality is based on the
broadly accepted Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) which allows
subscribers to access a wide range of web-based information and
services offered by network operators and third-party service
providers. Philips expects the Phone.com UP.Browser-enabled
phones to be available in 2000.
(Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-
bin/prnh/19990706/PHCMLOGO )
The UP.Browser software is optimized for the mobile phone's
specific display and input characteristics, such as graphical
displays and programmable soft keys. In combination with the
phone's existing user interface software, it gives network
operators a way to reach subscribers and add innovative services,
with seamless integration of voice and data services.
The introduction of web capabilities to Philips mobile phones
with UP.Browser software represents a significant step forward in
Philips' strategy of giving users convenient mobile access to
advanced communication functions. Philips mobile phones already
give users easy access to GSM network facilities with functions
like Voice Dial and Voice Command, as well as the ability to send
SMS emotion icons. Now they will do the same for on-the-move
information access by making a wide range of Internet-based
services available to users through their mobile phones.
"This extension in the functionality of our mobile phones is
in line with Philips' strategy of integrating innovative web-
based functions in a wide range of products right across our
consumer and professional portfolio," said Harry Strasser, chief
officer business strategy of Philips Consumer Communications.
"The ability to access web-based information and communication
from the mobile phone is an exciting enhancement that will bring
even more convenience and on-the-move functionality to business
users and consumers alike. With these new capabilities, our web-
enabled mobile phones will prove to be even more powerful and
versatile communication tools for users who want to keep in touch
with all kinds of information services wherever they may be,
without the need to use any additional products."
"Phone.com is pleased to be working with Philips, with its
worldwide reputation for innovative communication and
connectivity products," said Ben Linder, vice-president of
marketing for Phone.com. "It's very exciting to see leading
handset manufacturers implement our WAP compliant software for
additional features that can enhance the end-user experience
while providing innovative capabilities that satisfy network
operator requirements."
About Philips Consumer Communications (PCC)
Philips Consumer Communications (PCC) is a Business Group of
Philips Consumer Electronics, a division of Royal Philips
Electronics. PCC is headquartered in Paris, and designs,
manufactures and markets a complete range of personal
communication products including digital and analog cellular and
cordless phones, corded phones, faxes and answering machines. For
more information, visit our web site: http://www.pcc.philips.com
.
About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands is one of the
world's biggest electronics companies and Europe's largest, with
sales of US$ 33.9 billion in 1998. It is a global leader in color
television sets, lighting, electric shavers, color picture tubes
for televisions and monitors, and one-chip TV products. Its
227.600 employees in more than 60 countries are active in the
areas of lighting, consumer electronics, domestic appliances,
components, semiconductors, medical systems, business
electronics, and IT services (Origin). Philips is quoted on the
NYSE, London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam and other stock exchanges.
News from Philips is located at www.news.philips.com
About Phone.com
Phone.com, Inc. is a leading provider of software and services
that enable the delivery of Internet-based information services
to mass-market wireless telephones. Using its software, wireless
subscribers have access to Internet- and corporate intranet-based
services, including Email, news, stocks, weather, travel and
sports. In addition, subscribers have access via their wireless
telephones to network operators' intranet-based telephony
services, which may include over-the-air activation, call
management, billing history information, pricing plan
subscription and voice message management. Phone.com is
headquartered in Silicon Valley, California and has regional
offices in London and Tokyo. Visit http://www.phone.com for more
information.
Except for the historical information contained herein, the
matters discussed in this news release are forward-looking
statements involving risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-
looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include,
but are not limited to, Phone.com's limited operating history,
potential fluctuations in Phone.com's operating results,
uncertainties related to the Phone.com's long sales cycle and
reliance on a small number of customers, Phone.com's dependence
on the acceptance of its products by network operators and
wireless subscribers, Phone.com's ability to adequately address
the rapidly-evolving market for delivery of Internet-based
services through wireless telephones, the need to achieve
widespread integration of Phone.com's browser in wireless
telephones, competition from companies with substantially greater
financial, technical, marketing and distribution resources and
the ability of Phone.com to manage a complex set of engineering,
marketing and distribution relationships. Further information
regarding these and other risks is included in Phone.com's
prospectus dated June 10, 1999 and in its other filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission
NOTE: The Phone.com name and logo and the family of terms
carrying the "UP." prefix are trademarks of Phone.com, Inc. All
Rights Reserved. All other company, brand and product names may
be marks that are the sole property of their respective owners.
ots Original Text Service: Phone.com Internet:
http://www.newsaktuell.de Contact: Rowan Benecke of PR21 (USA)
415-439-8811, or rowan_benecke@pr21.com, for Phone.com, Inc.; or
Vicky Ryce of Text 100 Ltd., 44-0-181-242-4248, or
vickyr@text100.co.uk, for Phone.com (Europe) Limited K.K., or
Hiroko Kimura of Phone.com Japan K.K., 81-3-5325-9204 or
hiroko@corp.phone.com; or Nanda Huizing of Philips Media
Relations, 31-40-2780085, or 31-40-2780091, or
Nanda.huizing@philips.com Photo: NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990706/PHCMLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org
PRN Photo Desk, (USA) 888-776-6555 or (USA) 201-369-3467
Web site: http:// www.pcc.philips.com Web site:
http://www.phone.com
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