Tuesday July 28, 8:51 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
General Magic Announces Reseller Network and Pricing for Portico Virtual Assistant Service
Tiered Pricing To Start at $19.95 a Month
SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 28, 1998--General Magic, Inc., (NASDAQ:GMGC - news) a leading developer of integrated voice and data
applications, today announced the network of nationwide resellers that will make the forthcoming Portico(TM) virtual assistant service available commercially. The
Company also released information on the pricing structure for the Portico service. General Magic is on schedule to deliver Portico to consumers in a progressive
rollout of the service beginning July 30.
The Portico service will be distributed initially by a nationwide reseller network of 52 telecommunications and Internet resellers that specialize in wireless
communications products and services with a focus on the needs of today's mobile professionals. The network of leading-edge resellers will make the Portico
service available in over 200 locations nationwide.
''With a strong network of resellers geared up for the progressive rollout of the Portico service, we're anticipating a highly successful release,'' said Steve
Markman, chairman, president and CEO at General Magic. ''We know that making the Portico service available through resellers is the best and fastest way to
reach potential subscribers through a convenient and familiar channel. The feedback from our resellers is that Portico's compelling features and competitive pricing
will make it a service that customers are excited about adopting and using.''
Monthly usage fees for the Portico service are similar to what many consumers currently pay for a cellular phone service. The pricing structure is based on time
spent using the service, includes long distance charges and offers a tiered volume discount. There are five standard plans from which to choose, with monthly
service charges ranging from $19.95 for 60 minutes to $149.95 for 1,300 minutes. The one-time set up fee is $50 for all plans. Customer support is available to
Portico subscribers by calling a toll-free number.
As part of General Magic's overall channel strategy, initial distribution of the Portico service through resellers will help accomplish three objectives. The first is to
realize nationwide availability upon release. The second objective is to achieve direct contact with the end user. Having direct contact with end users will allow
unfiltered communication to drive the Company's goals for quality customer service and product performance. The third objective is to manage the ramp-up of the
service and avoid the inherent problems with over-subscribing new customers. The progressive rollout is designed to deliver a consistent, high quality customer
experience, from sign-up through the first call to their virtual assistant.
''Portico is a must-have product for the mobile executive,'' said Dan Starr, president and owner of Corporate Wireless Group, suburban Chicago-based national
wireless products and services reseller/agent. ''Our corporate clients nationwide are excited about how Portico will assist their on-the-move executives.''
''We expect the Portico service to be one of our best sellers,'' said Michael Dotterer, president of FreedomCall in Oakland, California, one of the resellers that will
make Portico available commercially. ''General Magic's Portico service allows the mobile professional to access their key information from one place, and goes
beyond that to empower the user to immediately act on the information. Based on the volume of inquiries we've received so far, we believe Portico will be in high
demand.''
The only second generation virtual assistant, the Portico service integrates a subscriber's voice mail, email, address book and calendar, as well as up-to-date
company news and stock quotes. Information can be accessed via any telephone or by using a leading web browser. General Magic's proprietary magicTalk(TM)
technology enables the Portico service to understand and act on natural voice commands. The magicTalk platform is extensible, which means that General Magic
also will have the ability to incorporate additional features into the Portico service as they are developed and tested.
The Portico reseller network will initially include the following authorized resellers: Access Electronics; Aero Communications Company; Aircom Solutions;
AreaWide Cellular; Arjay Telecom; Automated Telecom; Best Tech, Inc.; BK Communications; CEI; Cell-Comm Mobile; Coldwell Communications; Conexus
Communications; Control Data Systems; Corporate Technologies; Corporate Wireless Group; CP Enterprises; Digital Cellular; Ecrme Communications;
Everything Wireless; FreedomCall; G.Com.Net; Golden State Communications; Great Lakes Wireless; GTA9; Innotech Communications; K.C. Communications,
Inc.; Manhattan Cellular; MaxAir Wireless; New Global Communications; Odyssey Solutions; PCS; Phone Link Plus; PNG Computers; Preferred
Communications; Ross Communications; Socius; Sound Advice Cellular; Southeast Two-Way Inc.; Star Cellular; Superior Wireless; Systems Integration;
Technical Services Resources; Telectricom; Tiger Digital Communications; Totally Wireless; TriWireless Communications; Turn Key Solutions, Inc.; Virtual
Technology Group; Vista Communications; Vycom Communications; Webcom Systems, Inc.; and Williams Communications. To inquire about becoming a part of
the reseller network, please call General Magic at 1-800-468-4342. To find a local reseller that will carry the Portico service, please visit the Company's web site
on July 30 at generalmagic.com.
In accordance with U.S. securities law, General Magic notes that this press release contains forward-looking statements. There are risks that may cause actual
results to vary materially. These risks include, but are not limited to, the challenges inherent in the development and delivery of complex technologies; market
acceptance of the Company's Portico service; the Company's dependence on establishing distribution relationships; the Company's reliance on attracting, retaining
and motivating key technical, marketing and management personnel. These and other risk factors are detailed in General Magic's 1997 Form 10-K and first quarter
1998 Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
About General Magic
General Magic, Inc. offers products and services that integrate voice and data technologies making communications and access to information easy and convenient
for people, no matter where they are. The Company's development efforts are founded on its patented agent technology, innovative user-interface and
communications-centric designs to provide simple, yet effective ways for people to keep in touch with the information they need to be successful. The Company is
headquartered in Sunnyvale, California. For more information on General Magic and Portico, please visit the Company's web site at generalmagic.com.
Good luck
Tim |
