Philips Announces New 8 Megabyte Velo 1; The World’s First 8 Megabyte Handheld PC Featured in the New Velo Web Store
SUNNYVALE, Calif. — July 15, 1997 — The Philips Mobile Computing Group, a division of Philips Electronics North American Corporation, (NYSE: PHG) announced today the immediate availability of the world's first 8MB handheld PC (H/PC), the newest member of the Velo(TM) 1 handheld PC family, based on the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) CE platform. This new handheld PC, complete with Velo Dock, AC adapter, and NiMH Rechargeable Battery Pack, will be sold exclusively on the Web for $839.99. The 8MB Velo 1 is the first product available at the new Velo Store, located on Philips Velo, 1 Web site at http://www.velo1.com.
The Velo Store, which will sell Velo 1 handheld PCs and accessories in the United States, offers a quick, easy and secure way to purchase the products without leaving your home or office. All credit card transactions on the Web site are encrypted, guaranteeing the security of the sale.
"We are pleased to announce the world's first 8MB handheld PC at the grand opening of our new online Velo Store," said Alan Soucy, general manager of the Philips Mobile Computing Group. "The option of shopping via the Web provides our customers with the access and convenience on-the-go professionals need."
The 8MB Velo 1 offers more on-board memory than any HPC on the market, along with the same exceptional features as before, including the built-in, low-power 19.2 Kbps modem, superior performance, Velo Voice Memo and two Miniature Card slots for memory expansion and system software upgrades. The recent enhancement offered for both the 4MB and 8MB versions of the Velo is a performance upgrade, announced last month. The software upgrade will accelerate the already best-in-class performance by at least 15 percent by allowing the CPU faster access to the system ROMs. The enhancement is available free of charge upon product registration via the Internet.
"Expanding the Velo's distribution to the World Wide Web will benefit customers from coast to coast by giving them control over their purchase, as well as providing the possibility of safely buying the premier handheld PC directly from their computer," said Mike Yam, director of sales for the Philips Mobile Computing Group.
The Velo 1
The Velo 1 handheld PC provides users with a lightweight, portable and familiar solution for mobile computing, communications and information management. It offers the best performance, most highly integrated communications, and superior expendability of all the handheld PCs based on Windows CE. The Velo 1 has an estimated street price of $699.99 for the 4MB version and $739.99 for the 4MB with NiMH Rechargeable Battery Pack. All Velo bundles come complete with a Velo Dock, AC adapter, and built- in, low power software modem.
The Philips Velo 1 has been accepted as the premier handheld PC. In head- to-head reviews with competitors, the Velo 1 stands out with the most integrated communications, superior expandability, and fastest performance. PC Magazine has declared the Velo the "Editor's Choice" for handheld PCs; c/net considers it the "recommended," "must buy" product; the Velo has won the Innovations award at the 1997 Winter Consumer Electronics Show, BYTE Magazine's Best of Show award at Fall Comdex 1996, and is a 1997 Industrial Design Society Award winner.
The Company
The Philips Mobile Computing Group is the developer and distributor of the award-winning Philips Velo 1 handheld PC. With headquarters in Sunnyvale, California, the Mobile Computing Group is one of the first new initiatives in digital convergence from Philips Electronics. Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG) is one of the world's largest consumer electronics companies with annual sales of $40 billion. Its products include: consumer electronics; lighting; components; semiconductors; communication systems; multimedia systems and software; domestic appliances; professional solutions; medical systems and personal care products. Philips Mobile Computing Group can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.velo1.com.
Velo is either a registered trademark or trademark of Philips Electronics in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. All other trade names are either registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders.
SOURCE: Philips Mobile Computing Group
CONTACT:
Lisa Schiltz of Philips Electronics, 408-523-2874, [email protected];
or
Becky Ross of Brodeur Porter Novelli, 408-324-4848, [email protected], for Philips Electronics