Philips Ships Accessories and a Free Performance Accelerator for Its Velo 1
NEW YORK, PC EXPO — June 17, 1997 — The Philips Mobile Computing Group, a division of Philips Electronics North America Corporation, today announced the availability of accessories and a free performance upgrade for the Velo(TM) 1, the critically-acclaimed handheld personal computer based on the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) CE platform. The shipment of the performance accelerator marks the first time a handheld PC company has provided such a significant product improvement free of charge. In addition, Philips began shipping Velo accessories to all sales channels; an expanded list of retailers was announced separately today.
Performance Accelerator
The software upgrade will accelerate the already best-in-class performance of the Velo by at least 15 percent by allowing the CPU faster access to the memory. The accelerator is available free of charge via a floppy disk or the Internet for all Velo owners.
Current Velo owners can pick up the floppy disk at the Philips PC Expo booth # 2262. Users must show their Velo to receive the upgrade. Philips will supply the upgrade to users not attending PC Expo via its Velo Net Web site, an exclusive Velo customer support site. Upon product registration, new users will receive access to Velo Net. The software accelerator will be accessible on Velo Net and users can download it from there.
"In numerous independent comparison tests, including PC Magazine's, the Velo has been ranked as the fastest H/PC available," said Alan Soucy, general manager of the Philips Mobile Computing Group. "We are now able to increase Velo's performance advantage through a software accelerator upgrade. To show our appreciation to our customers, this performance accelerator is free."
Accessories
Optional accessories extend the usefulness and convenience of using the Velo 1. The available accessories include the DRAM and Flash Miniature Cards, Velo Dock, Traveling Velo-to-PC Serial Cable, Velo V-Module, NiMH Rechargeable Battery Pack, Traveling AC Adapter, and Velo Carrying Case.
DRAM and Flash Miniature Cards allow the user to expand system memory. Miniature Card technology is an industry standard; the cards are manufactured by such companies as Intel and AMD. The DRAM Miniature Cards are especially useful for those users that work with larger databases and need more memory than most people.
Every Velo sold is bundled with the Velo Dock and AC Adapter. However, many users want an additional dock for their laptop or home PC. The Traveling Velo-to-PC Serial Cable and the slimline multi-voltage Traveling AC Adapter are useful for people who travel and still would like to synchronize with a PC without using the larger Velo Dock. The Velo Type II PC Card V-Module allows users to add a PC Card for other applications beyond memory and a modem-features that are already built-in.
Accessory Pricing
2MB DRAM Miniature Card $99.99
4MB DRAM Miniature Card $179.99
2MB Flash Miniature Card $119.99
4MB Flash Miniature Card $199.99
Velo Dock $79.99
Velo Type II PC Card V-Module $99.99
Traveling Velo-to-PC Serial Cable $39.99
NiMH Rechargeable Battery Pack $39.99
Traveling AC Adapter $34.95
Velo Carrying Case $49.99
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 expandability of all the handheld PCs based on Windows CE. The Velo 1 has an estimated street price of $699 for the 4MB version and $739 for the 4MB with NiMH Rechargeable Battery Pack. Both Velo bundles come complete with a Velo Dock, AC Adapter, and built-in low power software modem.
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, with headquarters in Sunnyvale, California, 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.
NOTE: 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, or [email protected];
or
Becky Ross of Brodeur Porter Novelli, 408-324-4848, or [email protected], for Philips Mobile Computing Group