Microsoft and Industry Partners Announce Next-Generation Windows-Powered Handheld PCs

Handheld PC 2000 Includes an Integrated Windows 2000 Terminal Services Client And Updated Web Browser, Giving Enterprise Customers Access to Full-Function Desktop Applications in a Wireless-Ready Mobile Device

Pasadena, Calif. -- Sept. 7, 2000 - Today at DEMOMobile 2000 in Pasadena, Microsoft Corp. announced Handheld PC 2000, the fourth generation of software for Windows®-powered Handheld PCs. Hardware partners Hewlett-Packard Co., NEC Computers Inc. and MainStreet Networks' Client Devices Group (formerly the platform division of Vadem) joined Microsoft in support of this latest version, announcing their plans to bring new Handheld PCs to market. Based on the Microsoft® Windows CE 3.0 operating system and additional functionality, the Handheld PC 2000 includes such features as an integrated client for Windows 2000 Terminal Services, a Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0-compatible browser, Windows Media™ Player for digital music, an e-mail client, personal information manager (PIM) functionality, and pocket versions of desktop Office applications. This release further illustrates Microsoft's commitment to supporting a range of devices to meet the needs of customers.

"Our customers want to stay connected to their critical data through a range of devices -- there is no one-size-fits-all form factor," said Ben Waldman, vice president of the Mobile Devices Division at Microsoft. "Customers have requested wireless-capable, mobile devices that simplify access to their desktop applications, to the Web and to forms-based applications for rapid data collection. Handheld PC 2000 provides this functionality and offers fast, easy input via an on-device keyboard."

About the Handheld PC

Handheld PCs are ideal devices for several types of mobile workers, including those who want to connect to their desktop applications while on the go, those who primarily capture form-based data and those interested in easy Web access via a mobile Internet appliance. Handheld PC 2000 offers several hardware characteristics that make it very attractive to mobile enterprise customers. The instant-on, lightweight devices, with battery life to support a full day of work, are convenient for business travelers and mobile workers. And with core elements protected in read-only memory, Handheld PCs are also easier -- and less costly -- to support in the field, making them an attractive choice for vertical and line-of-business solutions.

Handheld PC 2000 features include the following:

• Productivity tools, including Pocket Outlook® applications such as e-mail, calendar, contacts and tasks as well as Pocket versions of Office applications like Word, Excel, the PowerPoint® presentation graphics program and Access
• An integrated client for Windows 2000 Terminal Services to give users access to their full-function desktop applications over wired and wireless connections
• An Internet Explorer 4.0-compatible browser with support for HTML 4.0, XML and XSL, DHTML, Jscript® development software and GIF animation, frames, cookies, SSL, and certificates
• Windows Media Player for Handheld PC, which supports both the Windows Media and MP3 digital audio file formats, and enables users to easily transfer their personal music collection from their Windows-based PC with the new Windows Media Player 7

Handheld PC 2000 Hardware Partners

Organizations can choose from a range of Handheld PC 2000 devices that easily integrate into their existing infrastructure to meet their wireless, mobile computing needs and enhance the productivity of their mobile employees. Handheld PC 2000 will be available in two screen sizes: full-screen and half-screen. The full-screen devices, operating as a mobile terminal and a mobile Web appliance, are optimized for accessing the Web and using applications designed for desktop PCs running on Windows 2000 Terminal Services. Smaller half-screen, or "clamshell" devices, are typically used with forms-based enterprise applications doing rapid data collection. Hardware partners that plan to ship new Handheld PC 2000 devices include the following:

• Hewlett-Packard. The HP Jornada 720 Handheld PC, a portable handheld with 32-bit StrongARM SA1110 processor and a 6.5-inch color LCD screen, featuring a Smart Card slot, will be available in the United States in September 2000.
• MainStreet Networks. The Clio C-10xx H/PC Pro family of products features an MIPS 4121 64-bit processor running at 168 MHz and a 9.4-inch LCD DSTN touch screen with a 256K or 65K color display and hardware screen rotation. The newest Handheld PC in the Clio family will be available in the fourth quarter of 2000.
• NEC Computers. The MobilePro line will continue with half-screen and full-screen models. More specifications will be provided in the near future.

"HP has been successful in the Handheld PC market with the HP Jornada family line," said Kok-Khoon Lim, general manager of HP's Asia Pacific PC division. "The Windows-powered HP Jornada 720 Handheld PC offers an expandable, powerful and secure platform, and we are enhancing it with built-in Smart Card support, Java support, and significant performance and battery life enhancements."

"We strongly believe that the new features offered in Handheld PC 2000 will further enhance the platform to meet the needs of our customers," said Bret Kennedy, director of product marketing CDG at MainStreet Networks. "Customers will be able to take full advantage of this functionality later this year when the next version of Clio becomes available."

"NEC Computers is very pleased to see that Handheld PC 2000 addresses our top customers' requests for full desktop application support and enhanced Web browsing features," said Steve Boogar, chief operating officer for NEC Computers. "NEC Computers is strongly committed to supporting this new release of Windows CE in upcoming products. Details on NEC Computers' half- and fuller-screen MobilePros using Handheld PC 2000 will be available in the near future."

Those interested in additional information about Handheld PC 2000 and where it is available can visit http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/hpc/features/default.asp. A new Handheld PC Software Development Kit that works with the current eMbedded Visual Tools is available for download from Microsoft's Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/developer/. Developers can also rely on encryption (CryptoAPI), queued data transaction (MSMQ), and SmartCard application programming interfaces to be included in each Handheld PC 2000.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq "MSFT") is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software -- any time, any place and on any device.

Microsoft, Windows, Windows Media, Outlook, PowerPoint and Jscript are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

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