PlanetRx.com and IBM First to Put a Pharmacy in the Hands of Consumers — Free
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — November 17, 1999 — PlanetRx.com (NASD:PLRX) (www.planetrx.com), a leading Internet healthcare destination, and IBM today announced that owners of network-enabled Palm Computing(R) platform devices will be able to shop at PlanetRx.com virtually anytime, anywhere. The new remote shopping service, a first among online pharmacies, will be available by the end of November.
PlanetRx.com's new remote shopping service will allow consumers with a Palm Computing platform device and modem to quickly order products they have previously purchased from their personal PlanetRx.com shopping list, including over-the-counter medication and medical supplies, vitamins and herbs, and healthcare and beauty products. Future offerings will enable consumers to choose from PlanetRx.com's full line of products, including prescription medications, and take advantage of features that aid in the management of one's personal healthcare needs, such as PlanetRx.com's prescription reminder feature.
Consumers simply download and install free-of-charge a remote shopping application from the PlanetRx.com website to the Palm(TM) device and can immediately place orders by connecting their device to the Internet using a wireless or standard modem. Users with a wireless modem will be able to shop at PlanetRx.com without plugging in. Integrated wireless Internet support for the Palm VII(TM) organizer will be available in upcoming releases.
"In the next several years, consumers will be able to regularly access the Internet through more than just their Web browser," said James Chong, chief technology officer at PlanetRx.com. "The development of our remote shopping application puts us on the cutting edge of the technology that is making remote access to Internet shopping possible. We're excited to be among the first to provide this feature to our customers."
"This mobile shopping application is another example of how IBM's pervasive computing strategy is expanding Web-based applications to smart devices," said Mark Bregman, general manager of IBM's pervasive computing division. "As the market for such devices grows, IBM's technologies and solutions will enable companies like PlanetRx.com to provide value-added services to their customers."
"PlanetRx.com's remote shopping application clearly illustrates the growing ability of the Palm Computing platform to provide e-commerce capabilities for people on the move," said Gabriel Acosta-Lopez, director of platform development services for Palm Computing, Inc. "By loading the PlanetRx.com application onto our handheld device, our users have the ability to shop at PlanetRx.com anytime, anyplace."
By combining PlanetRx.com's secure and personalized online health and beauty shopping service with IBM's pervasive computing technologies and solutions, the two companies are extending Web-based applications to smart devices, thereby transforming traditional retailing into convenient and mobile e-tailing. PlanetRx.com is providing the product vision, content, commerce and customer support for the shopping application. IBM is providing the infrastructure hardware and software, including its RS/6000 SP and Netfinity servers, Universal Database (UDB) software, Websphere software for advanced e-business Web applications, and transcoding technology, which translates information from web format to a format adaptable on a smaller form factor, such as handheld devices.
About IBM
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. IBM's Pervasive Computing unit has responsibility for creating e-business solutions that leverage the new class of connected client devices such as handheld Internet appliances and screenphones. A key part of the team's mission is furthering the adoption of open industry standards for pervasive computing to help customers easily access and act on information whenever and wherever they may be. IBM can be found on the Web at http://www.ibm.com
About PlanetRx.com
PlanetRx.com, Inc. (www.planetrx.com), a leading Internet healthcare destination for commerce, content and community, delivers a convenient, personalized and informed health and beauty shopping experience. With products ranging from prescriptions to personal care items to the latest medical information, PlanetRx.com gives consumers the ability to manage their own healthcare in a convenient and secure environment. PlanetRx.com is one of three online pharmacies to have received the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites (VIPPS) seal of approval from The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP). Headquartered in South San Francisco, the company operates its own pharmacy and distribution center in Memphis, Tennessee to ensure the highest quality customer care.
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements regarding PlanetRx.com's expectations, beliefs, intentions, or strategies regarding the future. All forward-looking statements included in this document are based upon information available to PlanetRx as of the date hereof, and PlanetRx.com assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. These and other risks relating to PlanetRx.com's business are set forth in PlanetRx.com's Form S-1, as amended and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 8, 1999, and the other reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Palm Computing is a registered trademark and Palm and Palm VII are trademarks of Palm Computing and 3Com Corporation.
CONTACT:
PlanetRx.com press contact:
Bryan Cohen
Niehaus Ryan Wong
650-616-7066 [email protected]
or
IBM press contact:
My Luu
IBM Pervasive Computing
914-766-3055 [email protected]