Geoworks Announces NetWare Access for Mobile Devices
BERKELEY, Calif. — October 26, 1993 — Geoworks announced an agreement today that gives GEOS-based mobile devices access to Novell NetWare servers.
The agreement gives Geoworks license to distribute the Novell NetWare Client (SPX, IPS and network shell) with the GEOS operating system.
The agreement provides users of GEOS-based consumer computing devices (CCDs), including the Casio and Tandy Zoomer Personal Digital Assistant and the Sharp Electronics PT-9000 Personal Information Processor, with seamless connectivity to NetWare servers. Connectivity will often be achieved via serial port or infrared. However, the NetWare protocols are independent of the connection medium so other technologies can be implemented easily.
GEOS is a compact object-oriented operating system that Geoworks designed to meet the cost and resource restraints of many mobile devices. Long battery life, embedded applications, and communications support from CompuServe, Motorola EMBARC, and America Online make GEOS-based CCDs extremely useful tools for traveling professionals requiring access to their corporate network.
"Novell is the leading supplier of networking software and technology with 70% of the networked PCs using NetWare," said Brian Dougherty, chairman and CEO, Geoworks. "People using GEOS-based devices will be able to access all the information on their NetWare server as easily as if they were at their desktop. This is a very compelling benefit for today's growing number of mobile professionals."
"GEOS, with its compact and efficient design, will be a leading system platform in the high-volume mobile device market. Geoworks has already licensed the GEOS technology to an impressive list of OEM companies that can make this market explode," said Darl McBride, vice president and general manager of the Novell Extended Networks Group.
"GEOS and the NetWare client software provide a comprehensive connectivity solution for mobile professionals in vertical and horizontal markets."
Many major CCD manufacturers and service vendors have already committed to the GEOS technology including Casio Inc., Sharp Electronics Corp., Canon Business Machines, Tandy Electronics, Motorola EMBARC, CompuServe, America Online and Palm Computing.
Located in Berkeley, Geoworks is the developer and publisher of the GEOS graphical operating system and application software. The company provides sophisticated and highly efficient system software with rich functionality that will enable hardware manufacturers to market low-cost devices with extended battery life. Geoworks also develops applications in the communications, entertainment and information management markets.
Geoworks products are available worldwide through OEMs, dealer channels and republishers.
Novell Inc. is an information system software company, developer of network services, specialized and general purpose operating system products, and application programming tools. Novell's NetWare, UnixWare and AppWare families of products provide matched systems components for rightsized information systems within multivendor network computing environments.
NOTE TO EDITORS: Geoworks and GEOS are registered trademarks of Geoworks in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective holders.
CONTACT:
Geoworks, Berkeley
Deborah Dawson, 510/204-8550
or
Novell Inc., Provo, Utah
Jennifer Johnson, 801/429-5804
or
The Bohle Co., Los Angeles
Holly Zmetrovich/Karl Fields, 310/785-0515, ext. 227/233