General Magic and AT&T: Providing the Foundation for the Electronic Marketplace
NEW YORK — September 28, 1994 — General Magic Inc. Wednesday announced that its Telescript technology is integrated in a commercially available network service.
AT&T PersonaLink Services, whose commercial availability was announced today by AT&T, is the first public network to deploy Telescript technology, an emerging global standard for agent-based communication developed by General Magic.
Telescript technology enables the creation of electronic agents capable of navigating through a variety of services and across diverse computer systems to perform tasks for their owners.
The Telescript platform can support a variety of communicating applications: agents are capable of carrying out numerous functions, from sorting and organizing electronic correspondence to shopping for goods and services. The AT&T PersonaLink Services supports smart messaging and rich content, including text, digital ink, sound, and animations, and is designed to host a variety of service providers, from personal newspapers to travel services to electronic shopping.
People using Telescript-based services such as PersonaLink Services make use of agents' power through communications and computer software equipped with Telescript technology.
General Magic's Magic Cap software environment is the first to integrate Telescript technology and AT&T PersonaLink Services. Users of Sony's Magic Link personal intelligent communicator, based on the Magic Cap platform, will be the first to take advantage of this new class of services.
Availability of the Magic Link communicator was announced today by Sony. Users of other Magic Cap-based communicators will be also be able to make use of PersonaLink, as will users of Magic Cap on personal computers.
Telescript software is General Magic's implementation of an object-oriented, remote programming language. Telescript technology simplifies the task of distributed application development by abstracting the underlying complexity of communication — naming, addressing, routing, and security — into a high-level, platform-independent language.
In Telescript technology, mobile agents go to places, where they perform tasks on behalf of a user. Agents and places are completely programmable, but they are managed by security features such as permits, authorities, and access controls.
Telescript technology is portable, allowing it to be deployed on multiple platforms, over any transport mechanism, and through assorted media — wireline and wireless. Telescript technology can also handle different content types, including text, graphics, animations, live video, and sounds. Telescript technology turns a network into an open platform. Simplified development, portability, and support for rich message content make the technology applicable to a range of communicating applications, from workflow automation to information services and from network management to electronic markets.
"The launching of AT&T PersonaLink Services makes smart messaging a reality and represents a significant down payment on the establishment of the Electronic Marketplace," said Marc Porat, General Magic's cofounder, chairman and chief executive officer.
"AT&T's use of Telescript technology in AT&T PersonaLink Services furthers the status of Telescript as an emerging global standard."
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.
Jane Anderson, 415/988-2565
Tom Hershenson, 415/988-2567