Tuesday July 21, 8:50 am Eastern Time
Company Press Release
New Generation of Wireless Devices Will Increase Choices for General Magic's Portico Service
Motorola Acquisition of Starfish and the TrueSync Platform to Broaden Potential Subscriber Base
SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 21, 1998-- General Magic, Inc. (NASDAQ:GMGC - news), a leading developer of integrated voice and data
applications, today said that Motorola's (NYSE:MOT - news) 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.''
About the Portico Service
Designed for today's mobile professional work force, the Portico service enables users to access, retrieve and redistribute information across computer and
telephone networks using any telephone and a normal speaking voice. A second generation virtual assistant, Portico integrates voice mail, email, address books and
calendars as well as content available on the Internet, such as company news and stock quotes. Information may be accessed over any telephone using magicTalk,
General Magic's intelligent, natural language voice user interface, or through a standard Web browser.
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 ability to respond to competitive
pressures and 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 offers integrated voice and data applications making communication 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 communication-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, please visit the Company's Web site at generalmagic.com.
Note to Editors:
General Magic, Portico and magicTalk are trademarks of General Magic, Inc. which may be registered in certain countries. TrueSync is a registered trademark of
Starfish Software, Inc. REX is a registered trademark of Franklin Electronic Publishers, Inc. PalmPilot is a registered trademark of 3Com Corporation. Windows is
a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Good luck
Tim |
