WirelessKnowledge Unveils Premier Wireless Data Access
Service, Revolv
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 19, 1999--
New Joint Venture Company of Microsoft and QUALCOMM Will Provide Mobile Professionals
Wireless Access to Critical Information With Any Mobile Device From Any Location
WirelessKnowledge LLC, a joint venture company between Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq:MSFT) and
QUALCOMM Inc. (Nasdaq:QCOM), today announced at Showcase '99 their first service offering,
named Revolv(SM).
Revolv services are the first in a series of services to be offered by the company, whose formation
was first announced on Nov. 10, 1998. Revolv is a valuable service that will provide mobile
professionals with secure access to important information and Microsoft Exchange groupware using a
variety of wireless or mobile devices from anywhere they travel.
The company expects wireless carriers to deliver Revolv services to their customers in early 1999,
providing them with 100 percent mobile connectivity, regardless of technology or device preference.
"WirelessKnowledge's charter is to bring true convergence to the computing and wireless
communications industries," said John Major, president and chief executive officer of
WirelessKnowledge. "Revolv services are the first step in demonstrating our commitment to making
true convergence a reality for the mobile professional."
Revolv services will be provided across a wide spectrum of wireless or mobile device types, such as
Windows CE(R) devices, palm-size PCs, browser-equipped phones, pagers, Web access terminals,
other HTML-enabled PDAs and laptop computers running the Windows CE, Windows 95, Windows
98 or Windows NT(R) operating systems.
This will allow mobile professionals access to their e-mail, contacts, calendar and other data residing
on either a hosted server or on their corporate Microsoft Exchange servers. Revolv will save users
time by allowing them to take action or make changes to data from anywhere and eliminate the hassle
of synchronizing the data upon returning to the office.
Revolv features include access to the following:
-- Electronic mail. This allows customers to use their existing
e-mail clients and provides value-added e-mail applications for
certain key devices. E-mail formatting is optimized for each
device and includes integration with alerts.
-- Calendaring. This feature allows one to access the calendar in
Microsoft Exchange as it is on a corporate server.
-- Contacts. This feature allows one to access contacts in Microsoft
Exchange as it is on a corporate server.
-- Content. Information content is provided in two ways: first,
using generic Internet access to all supported device
configurations and second, providing device-tailored start pages
for each device class.
-- Hosted access. This feature allows individual and small business
customers to sign up for accounts where the Exchange server is
hosted on their behalf without the extra complexity of setting up
their own network and servers.
-- Corporate access. Larger companies can utilize a combination of
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and new firewall access methods
to enable corporate access to mobile users.
Revolv services are built on an end-to-end architecture based on industry-standard technologies
including the Microsoft BackOffice(R) family and Microsoft Commercial Internet System (MCIS).
Revolv will be accessible over all digital wireless wide area networks, including those based on
CDMA technology, GSM, TDMA, CDPD and Mobitex.
WirelessKnowledge has working relationships with a portfolio of leading wireless carriers and is
currently forming other strategic partnerships with computing, software and telecommunications
companies. The wireless carrier charter partners include: AirTouch Communications, AT & T Wireless
Services, Bell Atlantic Mobile, Bell Mobility (Canada), BellSouth, GTE Wireless, Leap Wireless
International, Sprint PCS and US West Wireless.
Availability
Revolv is available now on an OEM basis to carriers. Commercial end-user availability from the first
carrier partners is expected in early 1999. The service will include data services to maintain
messaging, e-mail, calendaring, contact list and basic information services through the Internet, plus
access to Exchange-based corporate networks. Additional features and services will be added over
time.
About WirelessKnowledge
WirelessKnowledge LLC, a Microsoft Corp. and QUALCOMM Inc. company based in San Diego,
enables wireless carriers to deliver on the convergence of wireless communications and information
technology with the delivery of productivity and information services in an airlink- and
device-independent environment. Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software for personal
computers.
QUALCOMM is a leader in developing and delivering innovative digital wireless communications
products and services based on the company's CDMA digital technology. For more information on
WirelessKnowledge, visit the website at www.wirelessknowledge.com.
Note to Editors: Microsoft, Windows, BackOffice and Windows NT are either registered trademarks
or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
CONTACT: Benjamin Group
Allyson Willoughby, 408/559-6090
allyson_willoughby@benjamingroup.com |
