Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : COMS & the Ghost of USRX w/ other STUFF -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: jhild who wrote (11396)	1/7/1998 11:15:00 PM
From: Moonray	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 22053

Microsoft unveils plans for car dashboard computer SEATTLE, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp., in its latest bid to expand its market far beyond the desktop, unveiled software Wednesday that will power a new class of dashboard-mounted, voice-activated automobile computers. The software giant, which dominates the market for personal computer software, also said it planned to ship a version of its Windows CE operating system for hand-held devices that will compete directly with 3Com Corp.'s (COMS.O) popular PalmPilot. Both products will be made by a variety of manufacturers and begin to show up in retail stores by midyear, Microsoft Senior Vice President Craig Mundie said in an interview before a speech at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. While Microsoft labeled the dashboard-mounted system an Auto PC, the first-generation devices will have more in common with car stereos than personal computers, and Mundie was quick to quash any notion that drivers would use them to surf the Internet while commuting. Mundie said the product would feature an AM-FM stereo and CD player, but also would be able to accept voice commands and translate text messages to a synthetic voice output. That would allow users to listen to electronic mail messages, traffic reports or navigational directions. Future applications will allow the devices to be integrated with cellular telephones, pagers and the diagnostic system of the car itself, Mundie said. He said taxi and bus fleet operators and traveling sales representatives were among the potential customers. "I actually think the device is quite useful to everyone," Mundie said. The devices, from manufacturers including Clarion Corp. of America, could start at less than $1,000. Microsoft is in discussion with auto manufacturers, though because of long design cycles the devices will not be available as factory options until the model year 2000 at the earliest, Mundie said. Microsoft labeled its second new platform the Palm PC -- to the great irritation of executives at 3Com's Palm Computing unit, who said their lawyers would be watching carefully to ensure its trademarks and copyrights are protected. "It's absolutely clear that they're trying to leverage the huge success we've had," said Donna Dubinsky, president of the 3Com division. "The selection of that particular name for products that are targeted at our products -- calling that a coincidence would be a bit naive." Mundie said Microsoft was using Palm PC as a generic name for the platform, and he said the Windows-powered devices would feature a more readable screen and a more flexible way to input data than the PalmPilot. With more than 1 million units sold since the introduction of the shirt pocket-sized Pilot in April 1996, the 3Com device has the most successful product launched to date in the category of personal digital assistants, tiny computers mainly used to manage contacts, calendars and messages. Microsoft has tried to edge into the field several times, but Mundie said the company has been gaining momentum especially since the launch of version 2.0 last fall. He said 500,000 hand-held personal computers had been shipped since the launch of Windows CE in October 1996, including 170,000 in the past two or three months. The hand-held PCs feature a "clamshell" opening, Windows-style screen and a tiny keyboard and include versions of Microsoft applications such as Word and Excel. The new pen-based Palm PCs will feature a much smaller screen and no keyboard but will record voice messages and have the ability to recognize handwriting or record handwritten notes and images. Philips Electronics NV (PHG.AS) said it would introduce its Nino 300 personal companion in the second quarter at a suggested retail price of $400 to $500, compared with less than $300 for the PalmPilot. ((-- Seattle bureau 206-386-4848, marty.wolk@reuters.com)) REUTERS Copyright 1997, Reuters News Service. All rights reserved. Replication or redistribution of Reuter's content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. nasdaq! o~~~ O