GoAmerica to Offer Turnkey Wireless SFA Solution That Creates a Handheld Mobile Office
BOSTON — December 2, 1998 — GoAmerica Communications Corp., the nation's leading Wireless Internet Service Provider, has put together a complete wireless SFA outsource solution that includes real-time access to a Web-based customer management and tracking system based on Practical Sales Tools' UnwiredContact product, automation of the data entry process and unlimited wireless access using Sharp Electronics' new Mobilon Pro PV-5000 Handheld PC Pro and the AirCard 300 for Windows CE (formerly named AirCard CE) from Sierra Wireless. The total end-to-end solution also features MobileWord's on-line "talk-processing" service, TalkText, that provides mobile workers with a wireless dictation service for composing sales reports, writing letters, entering of data and drafting of memos on-the-go, all by spoken word.
This new SFA hardware and service bundle will be available in January 1999 and will be offered as part of GoAmerica's Web@Hand portfolio of wireless data solutions through direct and indirect channels of distribution. A beta version of the GoAmerica Wireless SFA solution can be seen at the DCI show, December 2-3, 1998 in Boston in the MobileWord booth, No. 2916. The 2.6 pound Mobilon Pro Handheld PC features Microsoft's latest Windows CE operating system, the HPC pro platform, and provides mobile workers full computing functionality in a handheld device with a unique set of computing functionality in a mobile device including "Instant Power On" and up to ten hours of battery life.
Sierra Wireless' new AirCard 300 is a Type II PC Card cellular modem that turns the Mobilon Pro into a wireless CE solution. GoAmerica offers this hardware bundle for $ 1199(estimate) and enhances its value by packaging it with a service bundle that features unlimited monthly wireless access to E-mail, corporate databases, Web-based information, and contact management and SFA systems, and spoken word data entry from MobileWord's line of on-line office and SFA support services. "GoAmerica is about making wireless data solutions work for mobile workers," says Joe Korb, executive vice president of GoAmerica. "This new FSA solution adds tremendous value to an already valuable mobile tool, the MobilonPro Handheld PC, and puts mission-critical information in the hands of mobile workers for one low monthly fee."
"By partnering up with Go America, Sharp and Sierra Wireless MobileWord can now provide a unified wireless SFA solution which enables spoken text entry of information into their computers from virtually anywhere, and delivers that information back to to the sales person a digital file that can be used on any Windows platform from CE through NT," said Robert Cox, CEO of MobileWord. "Sierra Wireless is excited to be part of an offer that delivers a complete wireless solution to mobile sales professionals", said Greg Speakman, Product Manager, Sierra Wireless. "With the AirCard's wireless IP connectivity and compact form factor, GoAmerica has created a powerful, highly portable system." "GoAmerica, Sierra Wireless, MobileWord, and Sharp are offering corporate and vertical markets a total wireless computing solution with a generous set of features for the mobile professional," says Stephen Wain, associate vice president, Sharp's Corporate Sales Division. "This unique combination will help facilitate a demand for powerful mobile computing solutions with lower total cost of ownership and maintenance for corporations." Sierra Wireless is a leading wireless data communications equipment company. The leader in cellular packet data subscriber products, Sierra Wireless delivers a broad range of products including PC Cards for portable computers, ruggedized vehicle-mounted modems, OEM modules for embedded applications, telemetry modems and software tools and utilities.
For more information about Sierra Wireless' product lines, visit the company's Web site at www.sierrawireless.com or call (604) 231-1100 and ask for Sales Support. Sharp Electronics Corporation is the U.S. sales and marketing subsidiary of Japan's Sharp Corporation, a worldwide developer of the core digital technologies that are playing an integral role in shaping the next generation of mobile computing products for consumer and business needs. Since creating the Wizard(R) electronic organizer in 1989, Sharp has led the market in introducing innovative handheld computing products. From the small office/home office (SOHO) to large corporate environments, Sharp provides a variety of innovative, computer-related solutions designed to help increase productivity while providing functionality to meet customer demand. Dedicated to improving people's lives through the use of advanced technology and a commitment to innovation, quality, value and design, Sharp Electronics employs approximately 3,100 people nationwide to support its more than 50 product lines. Practical Sales Tools Inc., established in 1996, provides salespeople and other mobile professionals with highly accessible, practical tools that increase productivity and enhance capabilities.
The company is pioneering mobile field-force solutions and implementation with UnwiredContact , the industry's first wireless, thin-client interface between popular contact-management programs and handheld devices. Practical Sales Tools also develops add-on functionality enhancements for popular contact management solutions. MobileWord Communications, LLC, is a venture capital backed company that develops and markets easy-to-use solutions for the digital age workforce to save time and money. Solutions include TalkText, the first Internet-based transcription service that brings speech-to-text technologies to the business environment. Its cross section of clients includes Reuters, DuPont, Societe Generale, TBWA/Chiat-Day, Young &Rubicam, Viacom's Showtime Championship Boxing, Carey International, Prospect Associates, Market Navigation, as well as individual customers in the SOHO (small-office/home-office) and "road warriors" who require "Talk Processing," simplified file transfer and other office support services. GoAmerica Communications Corp., headquartered in Hackensack, NJ, is the nation's leading wireless Internet and intranet service provider.
GoAmerica's Web@Hand wireless solutions enable corporations and mobile professionals to cost-effectively and easily access mission critical data and email via corporate intranets and the Internet. GoAmerica runs a fully integrated suite of applications for BellSouth Wireless Data, CDPD, Ardis, GSM, and CDMA wireless data networks, and allows its customers to wirelessly-enable standard Web browsers such as Netscape or Microsoft Explorer version 4.0 using a wireless modem and Windows 95 laptops, Windows CE Handheld PC's, ruggedized laptops, the Palm-size PC and PalmPilot, mininotebooks, and other handheld devices and smartphones. The company's partners include AT&T (NYSE:ATT), 3Com (NASDAQ:COMS), BellSouth Wireless Data (NYSE:BLS), Microsoft Inc. (NASDAQ:MSFT) and QUALCOMM Inc. (NASDAQ:QCOM) joint venture wirelessknowledge LLC, as well as several other Fortune 1000 companies. For more information call 1-888-462-4600 or visit www.goamerica.net.
CONTACT:
GoAmerica Contact
Maxine Carter-Lome
413-528-0813
[email protected]
or
Sierra Wireless
CONTACT:
Phoebe Yong
604-231-1104
[email protected]
or
MobileWord Contact
Will Suarez
914-235-7500
[email protected]
or
Practical Sales
CONTACT:
Wendy Rudofker
215-643-9383
[email protected]
or
Sharp Electronics Contact
Michael Loughran
201-529-9620
[email protected]