This is a long one-Rampant
Shadowpack Launches First Free Personal Wireless Interface; Providing the
Mobile Public With Access to Personalized Information and Secure Commerce
From Interactive Handheld Devices
DUBLIN, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 2000--Shadowpack Inc.
(www.shadowpack.com) today launched its debut product, the Shadowpack service
-- the first Personal Wireless Interface (PWI). Shadowpack is a unique and
free service giving the mobile public access to personalized information and
content on interactive handheld devices, as well as allowing users to conduct
secure commercial transactions.
Shadowpack was developed in response to a significant new trend in the
networked economy -- pervasive computing, the post-PC era where the masses
have access to information and the ability to act on that information from
anywhere. Fueled by the incredible growth in the use of Web-enabled cellular
phones, communicating Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and two-way pagers,
Shadowpack enables users to enhance their wireless experiences.
"Shadowpack offers anyone with an interactive handheld device the
untethered way to accomplish what they want do when they're away from their
PC," said Lance W. Schneier, Founder and Chairman of Shadowpack Inc.
"Shadowpack enables users to have access to personalized information and to
conduct secure transactions whenever and wherever."
Shadowpack has already assembled a menu of over 100 "Packs" and their
"Contents," including personalized news, weather and sports and the ability
to securely purchase books, electronics and many other types of merchandise
and services. For the first time from a handheld device, users will able to
access multiple brokerage and bank accounts, fully participate in auctions or
even order a video and ice cream to be delivered to an address of choice. Not
only can a user be notified of a delayed or canceled flight, but now the
traveler can securely purchase a ticket on another flight right from the
device.
Personalization and ease of use are the keys to Shadowpack. Members
choose just the items they want to appear on their device's Shadowpack menu.
By profiling MyShadowpack, members can securely store their account and
credit card numbers, passwords and preferences on Shadowpack's servers. Then,
when accessing information or conducting a transaction from the device a few
clicks are all that's required.
Shadowpack can be accessed from popular interactive handheld devices,
such as PDAs using the Palm OS, including the new Handspring, two-way pagers
from Motorola and smart phones operating on the SprintPCS, AT&T,
BellAtlantic, AirTouch and Nextel networks.
To access the service a member registers with Shadowpack, either via
the Web site, www.shadowpack.com, or, in certain cases, from the device
itself. If the device is not already Shadowpack enabled a member can download
the appropriate version. Personalization can be accomplished either from the
MyShadowpack section of the Web site or from the users PDA, in certain
circumstances. Once loaded, the application appears on the device, bearing
the Shadowpack logo or as a bookmarked site on a smart phone.
Residing "on top" of the operating system of the device, the patent
pending technology behind Shadowpack consists of a thin client custom
application designed for each device type. The application permits members to
securely and easily communicate with Shadowpack's mega-servers that, in turn,
access the Internet and other databases. The information is quickly and
securely passed back to the device in a format that is easy to read and
manage on the device.
Continually supporting new devices and adding new features, Shadowpack
will soon be enabled on the Research In Motion (RIM) and Glenayre two-way
pagers. RIM is a world leader in the mobile communications market, providing
solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information including email,
messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications. Utilizing the RIM
Inter@ctive(TM) Pager 950 or RIM's BlackBerry(TM) Wireless Handheld, members
will have access the entire Shadowpack service. Glenayre Technologies Inc.
has been developing and providing advanced, two-way wireless messaging
devices that operate on ReFLEX protocols. Glenayre's AccessLink II two-way
device becomes a modem for a Palm OS through its infrared port, which will
enable Shadowpack members to access the service from any Palm device.
To ensure security Shadowpack employs Certicom's SSL PlusTM toolkit
that is the industry's most widely deployed commercial SSL (Secure Socket
Layer) product. To provide its free service Shadowpack has teamed up with a
number of device manufacturers, wireless networks, Internet content and
commerce sites and database sources. Among those are: Amazon.com is the
place to find and discover anything you want to buy online. As a member of
the Amazon.com Associates program, Shadowpack enables its members to securely
purchase books, videos, music, toys and electronics.
BarPoint.com's product information and shopping site empowers consumers
to make more informed purchasing decisions using UPC-based product-specific
search technology to guarantee a precise, efficient search. By entering or
scanning a product's unique 12-digit barcode number, a consumer will find a
wealth of product-specific information including detailed product
specifications, manufacturer contact information, comparative pricing,
product reviews, and links that provide online and ultimately wireless
purchasing capabilities. This new, free Internet shopping service can be
accessed by Shadowpack members with mobile or wireless devices to facilitate
the wireless shopping experience.
CitiQuest.com is a network of local portals in over 850 cities
nationwide, delivering interactive local content on restaurants, clubs and
business locations to Shadowpack members.
Innovata is a database publisher specializing in worldwide travel
information, delivering Shadowpack members information on flight and train
schedules, hotel listings and rental car information.
Kozmo.com is the first company that seamlessly integrates online
shopping with direct consumer delivery in under-an-hour, so Shadowpack
members in cities with Kozmo locations can rent or purchase movies, DVDs,
books, magazines, music, food and other convenience items, all delivered in
under-an-hour.
TheStreet.com provides uncompromising, objective financial news,
providing Shadowpack members with the day's news from the investment world.
Travelocity.com, with its secure online reservation capabilities for
air, car, hotel and vacation reservations, plus access to a vast database of
destination and other travel information, offers Shadowpack members the
ability to make travel reservations on the move.
TRIP.com is the leading online travel services and technology provider
for the mobile professional market through the development of revolutionary
interactive technology products, including flightTRACKER. Shadowpack members
cannot only query TRIP.com's flightTRACKER, but can also schedule to be
notified or alerted with flight information.
About Shadowpack
Based in Dublin, OH, Shadowpack Inc. was formed in late 1998. The
concept for its first product, the Shadowpack service, was created by Lance
W. Schneier, with the technical support of Chuck Maynard, Shadowpack's Chief
Technology Officer. Initial financial support is from the venture capital
firm Lance heads, Capital Technology Group LLC, and a group of angel
investors.
About Barpoint.com
BarPoint.com is the single, authoritative source for mobile Internet
commerce; bridging the gap between the broad selection of products offered
online with the confidence and satisfaction of retail shopping. Using
BarPoint's comprehensive Internet database and a handheld device, consumers
can instantly obtain comparative pricing, product and manufacturer
information, etc. for millions of items, using a product's unique barcode.
Whether using a handheld device to scan or manually enter the product's UPC
or even accessing BarPoint's website from a desktop computer, BarPoint.com is
the most direct route to better, more informed purchasing decisions anytime,
anywhere.
About Certicom
Shadowpack uses Certicom's SSL PlusTM toolkit that is the industry's
most widely deployed commercial SSL (Secure Socket Layer) product. Certicom
is a leading provider of next-generation encryption technology used to build
strong, fast, and efficient security solutions. Major computing and
communications companies incorporate Certicom's technology into electronic
commerce software, wireless messaging applications, and smart cards.
About CitiQuest.com
CitiQuest.com launched a network of city-centric portals on September
8, 1999. As a city-centric portal, CitiQuest.com is a powerful interactive
information center that reaches over 850 communities nationwide.
CitiQuest.com provides consumers with up-to-date local information through a
unique, menu-driven database of more than 11 million businesses, and more
than 2,500 categories in the directory's menu system. The site is designed to
be an interesting, informative and highly personalized experience for all
local information. With CitiQuest.com, consumers are offered comprehensive
local information that encourages them to visit CitiQuest.com on a daily
basis. Headquartered in Indianapolis, the privately owned company aims to be
the first stop destination for millions of users nationwide. For additional
information, visit the company on the Web at citiquest.com.
About Glenayre Technologies Inc.
For over 30 years, Glenayre Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: GEMS) has been
developing and providing leading edge personal telecommunications systems.
Glenayre is a premiere designer and producer of advanced, two-way pagers that
operate on the ReFLEX protocol. Glenayre has products installed in over 100
countries. Additional information about Glenayre is available at:
www.glenayre.com. Glenayre's Consumer Products Group is located at 2101
Tasman Drive in Santa Clara, California.
About Innovata
Innovata is a database publisher specializing in worldwide travel
information. Data suppliers include 650 passenger airlines, 50,000 hotels, 30
car rental companies and worldwide passenger rail services.
About Kozmo.com
Kozmo.com (www.kozmo.com) is the first company that seamlessly
integrates online shopping with direct consumer delivery in under-an-hour.
Founded in 1997, Kozmo.com launched its New York based service in March 1998.
By combining Kozmo.com's proprietary suite of "E-Direct"
transaction-fulfillment software applications with its consumer direct
delivery network, it is able to offer its members a wide selection of
entertainment and convenience products, including videos, DVDs, games,
specialty foods, magazines, books and CDs, for rental or purchase, all
delivered in under-an-hour.
About RIM
Research In Motion Limited is a leading designer, manufacturer and
marketer of innovative wireless solutions for the mobile communications
market. Through development and integration of hardware, software and
services, RIM provides solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive
information including email, messaging, Internet and intranet-based
applications. RIM technology also enables a broad array of third party
developers and manufacturers in North America and around the world to enhance
their products and services with wireless connectivity. RIM's portfolio of
award-winning products includes the RIM Inter@ctive(TM) Pager product line,
the BlackBerry(TM) wireless email solution, wireless personal computer card
adapters, embedded radio-modems and software development tools. Founded in
1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, RIM is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market
(Nasdaq: RIMM) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE: RIM). Investors may
contact investor-relations@rim.net. Customers may contact info@rim.net. Web
site: www.rim.net.
About TheStreet.com
TheStreet.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: TSCM) is publisher of TheStreet.com, a
leading Web-based provider of original, timely, comprehensive and trustworthy
financial news and commentary. TheStreet.com (www.thestreet.com) was founded
in 1996 and is based in New York City, with bureaus in San Francisco, Silicon
Valley and London. TheStreet.com's editorial team, with over 80 experienced
financial journalists and two dozen outside contributors, publishes
approximately 50 original news stories and commentaries every business day,
including columns by James J. Cramer, Herb Greenberg, and Adam Lashinsky.
TheStreet.com, Inc. has established strategic alliances with The New York
Times, Fox News Network, America Online, Yahoo!, E*TRADE, DLJdirect, Intuit,
3Com and other leading companies. TheStreet.co.uk, a financial news site
majority owned by TheStreet.com and intended for UK investors, will launch in
early 2000.
About Travelocity.com
Travelocity.com is owned and operated by Sabre Inc. Travelocity.com
provides reservations capabilities for 95 percent of all airline seats sold,
more than 46,000 hotels, more than 50 car rental companies and more than
70,000 vacation packages. This reservations capability is paired with access
to a vast database of destination and interest information. To date, Sabre
has sold more than 3 million airline tickets online and since its launch in
March of 1996, Travelocity.com has registered more than 9 million members and
logs more than 100 million page views per month.
About TRIP.com
TRIP.com is the leading online travel services and technology provider
for the mobile professional market. TRIP.com has solidified this reputation
through the development of revolutionary interactive technology products,
including flightTRACKER.
CONTACT:
RLM Public Relations, Inc.
Nicki Gladney
(212) 741-5106, ext. 20
nicki@yeahwhatever.com |
