Reprint from stockhouse:
By: ProfitQuest
Reply To: None Tuesday, 1 Jun 1999 at 11:46 AM EDT
Post # of 280
Infowave / Glenayre Backgrounder
Who is Glenayre?
For over 30 years, Glenayre Technologies Inc has been developing leading edge personal
communication systems.
Supplying products for both one-way and two-way paging networks, Glenayre also offers the
industry's premiere
migration solution from one-way systems to two-way functionality. With over 2,200 employees and
with products installed in
over 100 countries, Glenayre's net sales exceeded $399 million in 1998. Additional information
about the company
is available at glenayre.com.
Who is Infowave?
Infowave is a world-class software developer. The company was founded in 1984 and is
headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Infowave's
Imaging Division builds award-winning printing solutions. Infowave's PowerPrint® and StyleScript®
software kits provide Apple® Macintosh®
users with improved print quality and access to more than 1,600 printers. Infowave's Wireless
Division builds mobile business solutions that
use the power of wireless communications to extend the reach of enterprise computing. Infowave for
Exchange and Infowave for the Net are
the most advanced and secure wireless solutions for connecting mobile workers to key corporate
information and applications.
What is the essence of this Strategic Development Agreement?
Glenayre currently provides hardware and software infrastructure for wireless messaging networks as
well as advanced messaging devices to
its customers who own and operate the largest paging networks in the world. Infowave Software
leads the industry in connecting mobile
workers to Microsoft Exchange which includes their email, contacts, tasks, schedules, meeting
requests, etc. Under the terms of this
agreement, Infowave is developing desktop software, code named Kodiak, that will connect people
using these wireless devices and networks
to their key information on the desktop. In a nutshell, Glenayre is providing its major wireless
messaging vendors and their customers
significant new capabilities using their existing networks and mobile devices. Kodiak will take the
most popular, unobtrusive devices and
connect them to the most important information that active workers need.
What will this desktop software (code named Kodiak) do?
Imagine that I have an existing paging device from PageMart, SkyTel, PageNet or another Glenayre
customer. In addition to all of the services
that I currently receive, I can purchase desktop software that will communicate between the MS
Exchange server in my office and my pager
when I'm out of the office. That means I am now connected to all of my key desktop information all
the time. I can send and receive
email using the existing paging servies, receive schedule updates and summaries, request contact
information, receive task summaries, etc.
My mobile device now extends my desktop to me wherever I go. I am linked, in real-time, to the
critical information on my desktop computer
whether I'm just away from my desk or entirely away from my office.
How is this different from other products and services in this space?
First and foremost, this solution works with a wide range of devices including, but not limited to: 1
way pagers, 1.5 way pagers, 2 way pagers
and smart-phones. That means people can get these valuable new capabilities using the service
contract and device they already have. They
can also use it with interesting new mobile devices that are just being introduced to the market.
Second, this is software the end-user will buy at the point of sale, at a one-time cost of less than $20
(unlike alternatives which usually involve
additional recurring monthly costs). That means I can take the service contract and device I already
have, pay under $20 for the software and
get dramatic new functionality instantly – literally with the click of a mouse.
Third, the software provides capabilities that are not available in any other pager-based product or
service. You'll not only be able to
send and receive messages, but you'll also get schedule summaries (i.e. what you have on for today),
reminders of pending
appointments, task summaries, tasks that are active, due or overdue, schedule updates (e.g. your
schedule is changed by a delegate back at
the office), and the ability to query the central database for a contact. All of this is happening in
real-time over-the-air. Other solutions require
you to be at your desk to synchronize your Personal Information Manager (PIM) which includes
calendar, contact and task information. With
these products your PIM information is not updated wirelessly. With Kodiak, changes to your
Personal Information are sent to you
immediately, requiring no desktop synchronization in order to have your valuable personal
information in hand.
Why did Glenayre enter into this partnership?
Glenayre is the backbone of paging enterprises in more than 120 countries. Over 78 Million
subscribers rely on Glenayre – more than
all competitors combined. Infowave brings in-depth knowledge of client/server software and MS
Exchange to the table. By partnering with
Infowave, Glenayre is giving their customers a potent and innovative software solution to sell. This
kind of value-add is key to customer
retention and acquisition in their markets. These are the dominant players in the paging and mobile
messaging marketplace; they're
selling contracts, pagers and now desktop software. Glenayre is providing a way for its customers to
get more from their investment in
Glenayre infrastructure by offering the end-users valuable new capabilities. Advanced messaging
capabilities like this are a key component as
the industry evolves toward higher value services.
Why did Infowave enter into this partnership?
Glenayre brings a massive potential market to Infowave, complete with a well established distribution
channel that currently services these
customers. We're talking about 50 Million paging subscribers in North America alone. Infowave has
always distinguished itself as a
breadth player, a company that supports a wide range of important computing platforms. This was
the next logical step in a product family
that already covers the high end of the computing continuum extremely well.
How will the business relationship work?
Infowave and Glenayre have developed a joint specification for Kodiak. Infowave handling all the
software development and will retain all
intellectual property rights. Glenayre will package and deliver the product to its customer/partners.
Infowave will receive payment for the
software development and a flat license fee for each copy of desktop software sold. Infowave and
Glenarye will cooperate on co-marketing
activities to drive end-user demand and consumption of the product.
How will a customer get the software?
All of Glenayre's carrier customers will have the opportunity to sell this software to their customers.
This includes companies like
PageMart, SkyTel, PageNet and others. You'll likely see branded versions delivered by these
companies, sold anywhere that you can
sign up for their services or buy one of their paging devices.
What about other possibilities?
First, the software solution is device independent, so you could see it used with smartphones
immediately. Second, there are obvious
opportunities for a lot more in this partnership; consider additional desktop features or the potential in
marrying this solution to
Infowave's existing Enterprise Server solutions. This agreement, however, only covers the desktop
product code named Kodiak.
Grant Prenevost
Investor Relations
gprenevost@invrel.com
TEL:800-444-9214
FAX:604-689-5155 |
