Oki Forms Alliance with General Magic
TOKYO — November 30, 1994 — Oki Electric Industry Co. Ltd. announced Wednesday its decision to join the leading communications alliance with General Magic Inc.
Oki will be an equity partner in General Magic and expects to sign a technology license agreement for the Magic Cap platform, used in multimedia communication products, which includes Telescript technology, an emerging global standard for agent-based communication.
The affiliation combines the strengths of both companies: General Magic's expertise in software development and Oki's prominence in product development for communication and information processing systems.
"In the coming era of multimedia communications, global interoperability and easy-to-use application programs will be essential elements of successful products," said Shosaku Kinoshita, managing director, Multimedia Business Planning & Marketing Division, Oki Electric.
Magic Cap software is an object-oriented platform for a new category of communications applications. It utilizes a powerful user interface that mimics the physical world and makes complex functions easy-to-use.
Telescript technology is an object-oriented, interpreted programming language which enables the creation of electronic agents that can perform tasks on behalf of their user, such as routing electronic mail and finding information. Oki expects to work these technologies to develop the next-generation of multimedia transaction systems.
Oki also plans to release portable multimedia products. A project team will include personnel from R&D, product planning, and marketing & sales divisions, as well as overseas subsidiaries in the United States and Europe.
"Our cross-functional project team is expected to ensure we create innovative multimedia communications terminals based on General Magic's technologies," said Shosaku Kinoshita.
Founded in May 1990, General Magic's mission is to create personal intelligent communication products and services by developing and licensing technology to manufacturers, network service providers, and software companies. It has teamed with leading companies in the entertainment, information, and communications industries.
Its alliance includes the following companies: Apple, AT&T, Cable & Wireless, Fujitsu, France Telecom, Matsushita, Mitsubishi, Motorola, Northern Telecom, NTT, Oki, Philips, Sanyo, Sony, Toshiba.
Oki Electric Industry Co. Ltd. was founded in 1981 and is a worldwide company which manufactures and markets telecommunications systems, information processing systems and electronic devices. Having over 22,000 employees worldwide, its consolidated net sales for fiscal year 1993 ended March 31, 1994 were 651.5 billion yen.
CONTACT:
Oki Electric Industry Co Ltd., Tokyo
Akiko Horiguchi, 81-3-3580-8950 (phone)
81-3-3581-5522 (fax)
or
General Magic
Jane Anderson, 408/774-4040 (phone)
408/774-4014 (fax)