Navitel Announces Web Screen Phone Internet Access Device; Company’s TouchPhone Integrates Microsoft’s Windows CE and Pocket Internet Explorer Technologies
MENLO PARK, Calif. — January 6, 1997 — Privately held Navitel, a pioneer in the Internet access device market, today announced the Navitel TouchPhone, an Internet screen telephone that enables virtually anyone to send and receive e-mail and surf the Internet.
This revolutionary new device combines the industry standard Microsoft Windows CE operating system and Microsoft Pocket Internet Explorer web browser technology with e-mail, voice mail, personal information management (PIM) software and smart telephone into a single, small footprint suitable for home or office. With the introduction of the TouchPhone, Navitel is addressing the needs of consumers who wish to combine all of their information access and communication needs into a single, intuitive, low cost appliance.
Navitel's TouchPhone is the industry's first Internet screen phone device to include the Windows CE operating system, used under license from Microsoft. With its open and scalable architecture, comprehensive subset of Win32 APIs, rich communications architecture, and compatibility with other Windows-based systems, Windows CE is the ideal operating system platform for Internet access devices and will enable the TouchPhone to communicate with other Windows CE-based devices, share information with Windows-based PCs, and connect to the Internet. The TouchPhone also includes a version of Microsoft's Pocket Internet Explorer for accessing unlimited sources of news and information on the World Wide Web.
Navitel's TouchPhone will provide consumers and business people with a cost-effective and convenient tool for communicating and accessing information through the Internet. Designed as a communications appliance, the TouchPhone is always turned on and automatically checks e-mail and downloads user-selected Internet content throughout the day. Personalized information, such as weather reports, stock tickers, restaurant reviews, and movie listings are simply stored on the device, along with e-mail and voice mail messages. Internet access is rapid and immediate and doesn't require "booting up." With TouchPhone, users can access the Internet without having to wait while their PC or television powers up, logs on to the Internet, and downloads their e-mail or Web site. The TouchPhone requires no complex configuration or programming. The user simply plugs it in, turns it on, and it works.
"There is a vast amount of pent-up demand for a simple, cost- effective Internet and Web access device," said Robert Simon, executive vice president of Navitel. "While companies are exploring a variety of access options, such as pre-configured PCs, network computers (NCs) and television-based devices, no one has truly addressed the complexity and inconvenience of traditional Internet access. Broad acceptance of the NC approach is still far off in the future and while television-based Internet access is interesting as an entertainment medium, it is impractical as a communications tool. By integrating Web access and Internet e-mail with a smart telephone, Navitel has the opportunity to do something that no other computing device has done — make the Internet readily accessible to everyone. Integrating the Internet and the telephone is a fundamentally better approach to Internet access."
"We are excited to be working with an innovator such as Navitel to bring Windows CE to the TouchPhone," said Harel Kodesh, general manager, consumer appliance group at Microsoft. "The TouchPhone is the first example of Microsoft's strategy to make Windows CE technology widely available by license for a broad range of business and consumer devices. By using Windows CE technology as a foundation for the TouchPhone, Navitel can leverage a standard platform for creating new applications and features and can significantly accelerate the growth of this emerging Internet access device market."
The Web screen phone market is based on the notion that the Internet and the Web have quickly become a major communications medium — second only to the ubiquitous telephone. Unlike PCs, which are designed to integrate the Internet with computing applications, and television-based devices that are designed primarily for entertainment, TouchPhone is focused on practical communications tasks. With its small footprint and integrated smart telephone, this communications appliance fits anywhere a household or business wants a telephone, such as a kitchen, bedroom, den or desktop. It can even be wall-mounted.
Because the device is always turned on and always connected to a telephone line, it is able to continually check the Internet for messages and updated content. Users simply point to the appropriate icon on the TouchPhone's touch screen to instantly read their e-mail. To ensure users are informed of incoming e-mail or voice mail messages, TouchPhone features a flashing light, just like an answering machine.
"The Web screen telephone will make regular use of the Web a reality," continued Simon. "Today, the difficulty of getting on the Internet is so high that most people are still using the telephone for a majority of their day-to-day communication activities. When the Web and the telephone are integrated, users will continue to use the telephone for tasks that are right for the telephone, and they will start using the Web for the tasks that are done more efficiently on the Internet. The Web screen telephone will bring a whole new class of users and applications to the Internet."
The TouchPhone provides complete standards-based Internet access and Web browsing capabilities with Microsoft Pocket Internet Explorer technology adapted for TouchPhone display. Users can send and receive email, files and content from the World Wide Web. In addition, popular time and information management functions, including an address book, calendar, alarm clock and calculator are integrated. Users are provided with a large six inch display screen that uses standard 640 x 480 PC VGA. The touch screen is designed for quick and simple use and comes equipped with a stylus. A full QWERTY keyboard with a hideaway drawer is also provided.
TouchPhone also delivers advanced telephony features including a two-line standard telephone; hands-free speakerphone; handset for privacy; hold, mute and flash buttons; volume controls for ringer, handset and speaker; and support for telephone industry caller ID and call waiting ID. The phone displays name, number, date and time and signifies voice and email messages. A call log holds up to 500 entries which are automatically transferred into the address book. The address book can hold up to 2,000 names with phone numbers, email and mailing addresses — all of which can be synchronized with a desktop PC.
Navitel also equips the TouchPhone with an information service that allows users to configure the system to automatically retrieve news, weather, sports and other information.
Pricing and availability
The Navitel TouchPhone will be unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada the week of January 6, 1997. Commercial availability of the TouchPhone is scheduled for Q2 1997. Retail pricing starts at $ 299 for a quarter VGA, 14.4 modem version and up to $ 499 for full a VGA phone equipped with a 28.8 modem. Navitel is in negotiations with manufacturing and distribution partners and will soon announce agreements with major retail and telephone companies.
About Navitel Communications
Navitel Communications Inc. is a leading developer of hardware products and services integrating Internet access with telephone devices for the consumer and business markets. Navitel is a privately held California Corporation founded in 1996 by the company's CEO, Randy Adams, previously the founder and president of the Internet Shopping Network, and Executive VP of Marketing, Robert Simon, previously the Director of Lotus West for Lotus Development Corporation. Additional information can be found at the company's web site: www.navitel.com .
CONTACT:
Dave & Bairey Communications
Peter Dave, 415/882-9905
[email protected]
or
Navitel Communications, Inc.
Robert Simon, 415/462-9179
[email protected]