Motorola Launches Wireless E-mail Network for Portable Computer Users
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — July 20, 1992 — Motorola Inc. (NYSE:MOT) Monday Monday officially announced its introduction of the first nationwide wireless E-mail and data service that can deliver wireless electronic information to one or to thousands of computer users simultaneously.
The service, called EMBARC (Electronic Mail Broadcast to A Roaming Computer), is expected to dramatically lower communication costs for businesses with a mobile work force through its one-to-many messaging ability while making mobile computing easier and more practical.
EMBARC uses advanced paging technology, computer software and satellite transmissions to deliver wireless E-mail. With this combination, information can be sent from modem-equipped computers to Motorola's palm-sized NewsStream receivers. The NewsStream downloads messages directly to portable and desktop computers or stores them for later use.
Messages can be full-page memos (1,500 characters) or binary data to automatically update existing files in the recipient's computer.
"We believe EMBARC offers businesses a tremendous opportunity to reduce communications costs while increasing the productivity of mobile workers," said Steve Brendle, vice president and general manager of EMBARC.
"With transmitters in 200 of the largest U.S. cities by the end of the year, we expect our coverage to reach about 90 percent of the American work force."
Motorola introduced the EMBARC concept to the electronic mail, paging and computer industries in November and has since been testing it according to Brendle. "The response has been very enthusiastic," he said.
Most industry analysts forecast strong growth for wireless E-mail during the next five years. A recent report from The Information Network, a San Francisco based market research company, predicts wireless E-mail will grow at a compound growth rate of 350 percent. It predicts market size to be more than $1 billion in 1996.
The report credits increasing business decentralization and continuing portable computing advances for fueling demand.
Corporate electronic mail users can connect directly to EMBARC or access EMBARC via an interconnected public E-mail carrier. General Electric Information Services and EMBARC have already signed an interconnect agreement which enables subscribers to GE Information Services' BusinessTalk System 2000 to send wireless messages via EMBARC.
Additional agreements are pending with other public E-mail companies.
Businesses that don't have E-mail can obtain GE Information Services new BusinessTalk System 2000 software and E-mail through EMBARC.
In addition to wireless messaging, EMBARC also delivers information services directly to laptop, notebook and palmtop personal computers. A range of services from USA TODAY is currently available. Daily news and weather reports are delivered to EMBARC subscribers through wireless transmissions and are included in the users' $15 monthly subscription fee.
EMBARC is headquartered in Boynton Beach, Fla., and is a part of the Paging and Telepoint Systems Group of Motorola Inc., headed by Robert Growney, senior vice president and general manager.
"EMBARC is an exciting evolution of our core paging technologies," Growney said. "Motorola has committed itself to the development of wireless technologies and has introduced leadership products and services, such as ALTAIR and ARDIS. However, EMBARC has a unique strength in disseminating common information to many dispersed individuals at once, at the same low price."
"We believe EMBARC can change the fundamental way some industries operate once they understand its full capabilities," Growney said.
Motorola (NYSE:MOT) is one of the world's leading providers of electronic equipment, systems, components and services for world-wide markets.
Products include two-way radios, paging and telepoint systems, cellular telephone systems, semiconductors, defense and aerospace electronics, automotive and industrial electronic equipment, computers, data communications and information processing and handline equipment.
Motorola was a winner of the first annual Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 1988, in recognition of its superior company wide quality management process.
Note: Motorola, EMBARC and NewsStream are registered trademarks (registered U.S. patent and trademark office) of Motorola Inc. BusinessTalk is a registered trademark of General Electric Co. USA.
CONTACT:
Motorola Inc., Boynton Beach
Ken Countess, 305/475-5603
or
Ogilvy Adams & Rinehart, Chicago
Michael Keating, 312/988-2918