Poqet to License GRiD’s PenRight! Software for New PoqetPad Pen Computer
BALTIMORE — January 15, 1992 — GRiD Systems Corp. Wednesday announced that Poqet Computer Corp. will be the first pen computer manufacturer to license GRiD's PenRight! software platform for use on the new PoqetPad pen computer.
PenRight! is an MS-DOS-based graphical application development platform specifically designed to support data collection applications.
Poqet will offer PenRight! as an option on the PoqetPad, the 1.2-pound, super portable pen computer which Poqet introduced Wednesday at the Pen Computer User Conference in Baltimore.
Final details of the licensing agreement are being worked out. PenRight! contains the Application Program Interface (API) and handwriting recognition engine developed by GRiD.
Kirk Cruikshank, GRiD's vice president of marketing said: ''We are pleased that Poqet will be offering PenRight! with the PoqetPad. Once licensed, Poqet customers will have immediate access to software being developed by more than 300 software developers using PenRight! to create applications for a range of vertical markets.
''Licensing PenRight! to Poqet will do two important things: it will expand the overall pen computer market by giving these software developers more hardware options. It will also give end users the flexibility to choose from multiple platforms to meet their specific needs. GRiD is currently working with a number of other pen computer vendors who want access to the same market potential that enticed Poqet.''
Richard Lull, Poqet's vice president of North American sales and marketing said: ''GRiD's products have played a significant role in delivering the benefits of pen computing in field automation applications and we are pleased to be joining them in providing systems using the PenRight! operating environment.
''We believe the combination of PenRight! and PoqetPad will provide vertical market developers and end users with a highly usable, easily deployed system for automating data collection and forms completion.''
PoqetPad customers will be able to specify PenRight! as additional software that operates above the PoqetPad's DOS-shell software environment. This will allow organizations with existing applications and experience working with GRiD's PenRight! software to quickly port their products on to PoqetPad.
''Poqet recognizes that PenRight! is an excellent software environment for vertical market applications. For users in vertical markets, PenRight! applications provide simple forms, check boxes and buttons that make training a breeze,'' Cruikshank said. ''The PenRight! software platform and its improved handwriting recognition engine are combined in a package that eliminates unnecessary computing overhead and has enough horsepower for adding sophisticated features.''
PenRight! avoids the cryptic and memory-intensive commands that stifle the fast development of useful pen computer applications, Cruikshank said. ''Unlike many software platforms which require developers to start from scratch with source code, PenRight! supports a variety of development tools which enable developers to quickly and efficiently deliver a cost-effective application.''
GRiD designs, manufactures, markets and services laptop, pen, desktop and multimedia computers, pen-based software development tools, electronic mail and networking systems. GRiD, located at 47211 Lakeview Blvd., Fremont, CA 94537, also has offices in the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Spain, Sweden, France, Belgium and Denmark.
GRiD is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tandy Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, a leading manufacturer and distributor of consumer electronics and computers.
Poqet Computer Corp., founded in 1988, is a member of the Fujitsu group of companies. Headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., Poqet has operations and offices in Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia and New York.
The company also has international offices in France, England, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain and Italy.
Note to Editors: Poqet is a registered trademark and PoqetPad is a trademark of Poqet Computer Corp. GRiD Systems is a registered trademark and PenRight! is a trademark of GRid Systems Corp. MS-DOS is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp.
CONTACT:
GRiD Systems Corp., Fremont
Mick McGuire, or Bob Goligoski, 510/656-4700
or
Poqet Computer Corp., Santa Clara
Robert Owens, 408/764-9465