Cable & Wireless Joins General Magic Alliance
SUNNYVALE, Calif. — November 30, 1994 — Cable & Wireless announced Wednesday that it has joined the international alliance headed by General Magic and will take a minority equity stake in the company.
General Magic, based in California, has developed two software technologies which enable a new range of easy-to-use messaging and on-line information services for consumers and businesses. By joining the General Magic Alliance of telecommunication and consumer electronics companies, Cable & Wireless is furthering its goals to become a major player in the provision of sophisticated on-line services to its customers around the world.
Commenting on the move, Mike Harris, recently appointed chief executive of Cable & Wireless Federal Developments said: "The Cable & Wireless Federation is committed to developing multi-media services which are valuable and easy to use for our customers. We believe that the Telescript technology developed by General Magic will enable us to offer these services to consumers and business alike. We are excited to be working with General Magic and their other alliance members to deploy communication technologies with worldwide application."
Cable & Wireless will nominate two senior executives to the General Magic Founding Partners Council to facilitate close collaboration with the company and the other partners with the objective of developing General Magic technologies into a world standard for communications software.
General Magic develops software technologies used for messaging, information, and transaction services which integrate the communications functions available on user terminals and hand-held personal intelligent communicators. Developments in easy-to-use services and devices are expected to increase the demand for messaging and personal communication.
The General Magic Telescript technology enables users to send intelligent "agents" into the communication network to act on their behalf, for example by delivering messages in a sophisticated way or conducting transactions such as shopping. Use and implementation of General Magic technology by Cable & Wireless Federation companies will be subject to the negotiation and execution of definitive license agreements.
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. Partners in the Alliance include Apple, AT&T, France Telecom, Fujitsu, Matsushita, Mitsubishi, Motorola, NTT, Northern Telecom, Oki, Phillips, Sony, Sanyo and Toshiba.
The Cable & Wireless Federation is an international alliance of companies, working together to be the provider of choice in selected markets, delivering creative communication solutions whenever and wherever customers want. Cable & Wireless operations in over 50 countries are organized in clusters of businesses centered on regional hubs.
Hongkong Telecom is the focal point for Group companies in much of Asia; mercury communications in the United Kingdom is the hub for Europe; and the Caribbean comprises a third main cluster which now extends into Central and South America. In addition, Cable & Wireless has important interests in the United States, Japan, the Middle East and Africa.
Note to Editors: Telescript is a trademark of General Magic Inc.
CONTACT:
Cable & Wireless
Peter Eustace, +44 71 315 4495
or
General Magic
Jane Anderson, 408/774-4040