Racotek Extends Mobile Data Product Line to Embrace Industry Standards
MINNEAPOLIS — May 5, 1997 — New Products Announced in Conjunction with Third Annual User Symposium
Racotek Inc. (NASDAQ: RACO), a mobile data communication software and services company, today announced at its Third Annual User Symposium five new products and services for rapid and effective deployment of mobile data solutions. The products extend existing industry standards to the wireless environment. With these introductions Racotek leads the wireless industry in creating easier, more reliable, and effective wireless data solutions for customers and end users.
Additions to KeyWare(TM), Racotek's wireless distributed computing software, and services include:
– WebAnyWhere, a KeyWare-based agent enabling intranet applications to communicate wirelessly;
– KeyWare/MAPI/Exchange Agent, enabling MAPI-compliant or Exchange-enabled applications to communicate wirelessly;
– KeyWare for Windows CE, supporting the Windows CE operating system on the KeyWare portable server; and
– Wireless Computing Service, a service which enables complete outsourcing of a wireless computing solution.
Racotek also announced its WinSock 2 based product, a platform for wireless data communication based on new industry standards.
"Our customers have always urged us to embrace standards for wireless computing as they emerge. Microsoft products are clearly the standard for both mobile and backoffice platforms. Racotek is dedicated to providing the most Microsoft-compliant environment available. The products and services announced today reinforce Racotek's commitment to standards," stated Michael Fabiaschi, president and CEO of Racotek.
WebAnyWhere enables customers' corporate intranets to be extended to the wireless environment. The product is optimized for intranet-based applications requiring access to central corporate databases. The efficiencies built into WebAnyWhere are expected to reduce transmission air times by 70% – 95%. WebAnyWhere will be made available in July, 1997.
KeyWare/MAPI/Exchange Agent extends MAPI- or Exchange-based messaging to the wireless environment. Using the agent, MAPI- or Exchange-based messages are transmitted wirelessly via KeyWare. All reliability, supportability, multi-network attributes inherent in KeyWare create a robust wireless communication system for these applications. This KeyWare enhancement will be available in the third quarter, 1997.
"The power of these products is that customers who are already using KeyWare to support vertical applications of mobile data, can easily extend desktop features such as e-mail and scheduling to their wireless workforce. Those wireless workers are seamlessly integrated with the LAN-based workers at the office, and can access and update data on the corporate Intranet," continued Fabiaschi.
Racotek's KeyWare wireless computing and KeyScript(TM) application development products are being extended to the Windows CE platform, providing mobile data communication and application development for that environment. Racotek is helping pave the way for mobile data application developers to migrate products to this platform as customers needs demand. This product will be available in July, 1997.
IT outsourcing continues to grow rapidly, as it allows customers to streamline costs, insulate themselves from technology changes, and focus on end user needs rather than technology details. Racotek's Wireless Computing Service, the first of its kind in the industry, provides the advantages of outsourcing to wireless computing customers.
For initial set-up costs and a single monthly fee, customers can, via an Internet connection to Racotek, obtain a fully functional wireless computing solution for their mobile workforce. The solution can include purchase or lease of all the required components: portable computers, wireless modems, and software. Wireless Computing Service customers have full 7 x 24 support available from Racotek's Managed Network Services. The service will be available in June. Pricing is dependent upon volume and selected components.
Racotek's new WinSock 2 based product complies with the Narrowband Socket (NBS) specification developed by Nokia and Intel. "WinSock 2 is the first industry standard to provide applications an interface to multiple transport protocols, and the NBS specification addresses the differences of wireless networks," stated Vladimir Kelman, Racotek's vice president of product development.
The NBS specification is consistent with the WinSock 2 API and defines requirements for reliable and efficient wireless data communication. The first components of Racotek's WinSock 2 based solution, fully compliant NBS protocol stacks with Network Management and diagnostic support, will be available in the third quarter, 1997.
About Racotek
Racotek builds, enables and support data mobility. Racotek has developed the KeyWare(TM) family of software products to facilitate mobile workgroup computing. The Company provides consulting and professional services to help customers design, develop and implement mobile data solutions. To ensure maximum system availability, Racotek offers Managed Network Services, a single point of contact for customers using multi-vendor environments. The company is based in Minneapolis with regional offices in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
Editors note: Racotek and KeyWare are trademarks of Racotek Inc. Other trademarks used herein belong to other companies.
CONTACT:
Racotek Inc.
Susan Brunner
612/832-9800
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www.racotek.com
or
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Jenn Knudsen/John Fitzsimmons
408/496-0900
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