And, here's the release that GMGC put out when MOT announced the acquisition of Starfish. I find the statement in bold below the most interesting.
New Generation of Wireless Devices Will Increase Choices for General Magic's Portico Service
BusinessWire, Tuesday, July 21, 1998 at 09:08
SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 21, 1998--
Motorola Acquisition of Starfish and the TrueSync Platform to
Broaden Potential Subscriber Base
General Magic, Inc. (NASDAQ:GMGC), a leading developer of
integrated voice and data applications, today said that Motorola's
(NYSE:MOT) recent acquisition of Starfish Software, Inc. broadens the
potential subscriber base for its forthcoming Portico(tm) virtual
assistant service. The new generation of digital devices built around
the Starfish TrueSync(tm) synchronization platform means more users
will be able to take advantage of the Portico service. Portico is on
schedule to be commercially delivered beginning on July 30 in a
progressive rollout.
In April 1997, General Magic entered into a joint technology
development agreement with Starfish, a leading developer of
technologies for wireless and wireline Connected Information Devices.
Starfish's fully scaleable multi-tier client/server TrueSync
synchronization platform will enable the Portico service to interact
simultaneously with information from multiple devices, including
REX(tm), PalmPilot(tm), Windows(tm) CE and Symbian-based machines, as
well as desktop PCs and future smart phone devices.
"The integration of Starfish's TrueSync synchronization platform
with Motorola's offerings is great news for Portico users and the
digital wireless category in general," said Steve Markman, chairman,
president and CEO of General Magic. "In particular, TrueSync's
one-step Multi Point is revolutionary synchronization technology that
provides great benefits to subscribers of the Portico service. Like
Motorola, we recognize the leadership of Starfish's technology and
have integrated the TrueSync technology platform into our own
architecture. And we look forward to providing the Portico service to
users of Motorola's next generation of digital wireless devices."
General Magic and Starfish first demonstrated the integration of
TrueSync technology with General Magic's proprietary magicTalk(tm)
voice user interface (VUI) at Internet Showcase in San Diego on April
28, 1997. The magicTalk VUI enables the Portico service to understand
and act on natural voice commands.
"We believe that General Magic's Portico service is unique," said
Philippe Kahn, president of Starfish Software. "The Portico service
fits right in with Starfish's founding vision of global
synchronization and integration of wireless and wireline devices and
is now synergistic with Motorola's efforts."
"The imminent introduction of the Portico service, as well as the
combination of Motorola and Starfish, all bode well for mobile
business professionals," said David Coursey, of Coursey.com. "With
their increasing interconnectivity, the new generation of hardware,
software and network services like Portico will widen choices for
consumers and spur further innovation throughout the category."
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