Magic Cap-based Communicator Available
NEW YORK — September 28, 1994 — General Magic Inc. Wednesday announced that the first communicator based on the Magic Cap platform has been shipped and is now commercially available.
Sony's Magic Link communicator, unveiled today in New York, offers customers a total integrated solution for communication in one compact device and is the first commercially available product to utilize the Magic Cap software environment, a platform for communicating applications developed by General Magic.
The Magic Cap environment includes everything people need to interact through today's popular modes of communication: fax, public electronic mail services, paging, and telephones. In addition, Magic Cap software incorporates General Magic's Telescript, the emerging standard for agent-based communication, and the Telescript-based AT&T PersonaLink Services, whose availability was announced today by AT&T.
Telescript technology allows users to launch their electronic surrogates, called agents, into the world of electronic services. Currently agents can perform tasks such as screening, routing, and delivering electronic correspondence, and they will be able to shop for goods and services and seek out time-critical information.
AT&T PersonaLink Services supports smart messaging and rich content, including text, digital ink, sound, and animations and soon will host a variety of service providers, from personal newspapers to travel services to electronic shopping. Users of Sony's Magic Link communicator will be the first to take advantage of this new class of services.
Integrated with its core communication capabilities, Magic Cap software includes features to help manage personal information: address cards that automatically get updated as the sender's information changes, a calendar that issues invitations to meetings, and a notebook that supports free-form and structured notes. Magic Cap's interface represents real-world objects on a screen, guiding people through its expandable range of capabilities.
The Magic Cap platform affords independent developers an opportunity to create a new class of communicating applications and services. Its extensible user interface, object-oriented architecture, built-in Telescript technology, and powerful communication building blocks enable creative developers to enhance Magic Cap.
Developers' applications include functionality ranging from personal finance to personal newspapers to smart messaging and electronic shopping. Seventeen Magic Cap developers demonstrated products today, all of which are available or will be shipping within the next six months. The Magic Link communicator, AT&T PersonaLink Services, and the Magic Cap developers' products will initially be available in the United States.
"The Magic Link communicator and AT&T PersonaLink Services embody the vision of the General Magic Alliance to provide a new world of devices, networks, and services," said Marc Porat, General Magic's chairman and chief executive officer. "Today's announcements represent the beginning of the age of personal intelligent communications."
General Magic was founded in May 1990. Its mission is to create personal intelligent communication products and services by developing and licensing technology to equipment manufacturers, network and information service providers, and software and entertainment companies.
General Magic has teamed with standard-setters in the entertainment, information, and communications fields to ensure that its technologies reach the widest possible audience.
CONTACT:
General Magic Inc., New York
Jane Anderson, 415/988-2565
Tom Hershenson, 415/988-2567