To All : Tuesday June 25 12:13 PM EDT
SONY CORPORATION OF AMERICA ANNOUNCES
THE AVAILABILITY OF FARCAST(TM) THE
AGENT-BASED NEWS AND INFORMATION SERVICE
FOR MAGIC CAP(TM)-BASED PERSONAL
COMMUNICATORS
Unlimited access from personal communicators to customized news and
information for only $9.95 a month!
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 25, 1996--Sony Corporation of America announced
the availability of Farcast(TM), the first agent-based news and information service software for
Magic Cap(TM)-based communicators. Paul Linhardt, Manager, General Magic, Sony New
Business Development, a division of Sony Corporation of America, summarizes the Magic Cap
version of Farcast as "... an exciting leap forward that weds the portability of the communicator to
the power of agent-based services. For the first time, you can get the news and information that
you specifically need delivered to a device that you can carry around comfortably in your hand."
Farcast has been recognized for its innovative and comprehensive news services available through
internet email. This new implementation of the service adds the portability and usability of the
full line of Magic Cap(TM) communicators.
Accessing the Farcast service using the new software, users can create their own daily newspaper
from sources such as Associated Press, United Press International, Business Wire and PR
Newswire, the same sources newspapers use. For investors and business users, the system provides
quotes and information from NYSE, NASDAQ and AMEX markets as well as a complete
collection of corporate profiles compiled by "The Reference Press." The user can track stocks,
indicators or entire industry groups using a simple Magic Cap-style interface.
Information can be accessed using simple text or more complex searches. The user can search
today's news or all of the news reports within the last 30 days. In addition, the user can create
intelligent agents or "Droids" which live within the Farcast host system and constantly monitor
incoming stories for significant information to be forwarded to the user.
Created by General Magic, the Magic Cap software platform is designed to help people keep in
touch by integrating electronic mail, fax, telephone, paging, infrared beaming, and other methods
of communicating. As members of the General Magic world-wide alliance, Sony Electronics and
Motorola have each produced 2 Magic Cap personal communicators, most recently the Sony
Magic Link(TM) PIC-2000 and the Motorola Envoy(R) 150 Wireless Communicator. Sony New
Business Development recently teamed up with Farcast to create the first Magic Cap agent-based
news and information service.
Farcast offers unlimited access 24 hours a day for a flat fee of $9.95 per month. For more
information and to download free software (including a 1-month trial period), visit Sony's web
site at sonysoft.com. To order the software on floppy disk call Sony Electronics at
1-800-571-SONY. |
