Pocket PC -- the Wireless Wonder: More Choice, More Speed, More Access

Pocket PC Platform Provides High-Speed Internet Access, Enabling Streaming Windows Media Video and Audio

Las Vegas -- Nov. 13, 2000 -- Today at COMDEX/Fall 2000, Microsoft Corp. along with its industry partners demonstrated that the Pocket PC is the superior wireless personal digital assistant (PDA) among competitors, giving both corporations and consumers the most alternatives to get to the Web, their e-mail and corporate information:*

• More Choice. Pocket PC customers can utilize traditional wide-area wireless options around the world, including CDPD, GSM, CDMA and PHS, as well as wireless local area networking (802.11) and personal area network (Bluetooth) capabilities.
• More Speed. Pocket PC owners are now the first and only PDA customers to be able to get the highest-speed mobile access via the Ricochet 128Kbps network, essentially providing third-generation (3G) network speeds today. In addition, for customers with in-house wLAN, the Pocket PC supports 802.11, providing speeds of 11 Mbps, the fastest wireless network available.
• More Access. Once customers wirelessly enable their devices, they will have access to all the Internet with the built-in Microsoft® Pocket Internet Explorer browser software and are not limited to certain Web sites. With high-speed access on the Ricochet network, they can even stream Windows Media audio and video for the first time using a new technology preview version of Windows Media™ Player for Pocket PC announced today at COMDEX.

"Our focus at COMDEX this year is all about wireless solutions for the Pocket PC. Attendees can visit our booth to test these wireless options on more than 50 Pocket PCs in our hands-on pavilion," said Ben Waldman, vice president of the Mobile Devices Division at Microsoft. "It is truly exciting to see so many innovative companies creating wireless solutions for the Pocket PC platform, and we're committed to providing Pocket PC customers with more wireless options, faster connections and more complete information access than on any other handheld out there."

The following industry partners will be offering wireless-related Pocket PC news and demonstrations in Microsoft's booth at COMDEX:

GoAmerica Communications Corp. Wireless Data and Internet services provider GoAmerica announced availability of its service running on the Pocket PC. It also joined with CreSenda to announce availability of an end-to-end wireless solution on the Pocket PC platform for the real estate industry. GoAmerica's Go.Web technology intelligently compresses and encrypts data, optimizing it for viewing on all major devices and networks.

Hewlett-Packard Co. HP's wireless information appliance solution provides broad access to the Internet, delivers mobile e-services and offers a choice of service providers to people on the go. It is composed of the HP Jornada 540 Series Color Pocket PC, the Novatel Minstrel 540 wireless modem and wireless Internet service. More information is available at http://www.hp.com/jornada/.

Metricom Inc. Metricom's 128Kbps Ricochet network will bring the fastest wireless mobile access available today to the Microsoft booth at COMDEX. Ricochet will power the Sierra AirCard 400 for Pocket PCs and OmniSky services for Pocket PCs demonstrations, allowing customers to experience broadband wireless connectivity to do things like stream video and audio using the new Microsoft Windows Media Player for the Pocket PC, previewed today at the show.

OmniSky Corp. OmniSky's award-winning wireless Internet and e-mail service now is available for the HP Jornada Pocket PC and will be available for the Compaq iPAQ through a beta program starting in January. At COMDEX, OmniSky demonstrated its service on the Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC running on Metricom's Ricochet network -- the fastest mobile broadband network in the world. OmniSky is expected to be the first to offer full-featured wireless Internet service for the Pocket PC running on the Metricom Ricochet network.

Sierra Wireless Inc. Sierra Wireless' AirCard 400 for Ricochet delivers a high-speed wireless connection for iPAQ users and provides Pocket PC users with reliable high-speed access to mail, data, corporate applications and the Internet. With this breakthrough speed, for the first time it is possible for Pocket PC users to access rich media content including video and audio files and graphic-intensive Web site, wirelessly.

Socket Communications Inc. For the first time Socket will publicly demonstrate its Bluetooth Personal Network Card, which adds Bluetooth wireless technology to a Pocket PC for communicating with a variety of Bluetooth-enabled devices, including mobile phones, Ethernet gateways, Internet appliances, printers and other computers. Socket will also demonstrate its Mobile Email PocketPak, which includes its Digital Phone Card to connect a Pocket PC to a mobile phone, allowing the phone to function as a wireless modem.

About Pocket PC

Microsoft Windows® Powered Pocket PCs, the next-generation PDAs from Microsoft and industry partners, offer customers a great way to connect to their most essential information while away from their desks, yet are versatile enough to satisfy the requirements of today's busy mobile lifestyle. Pocket PCs come equipped with Pocket Internet Explorer, the most advanced browser for devices of this type, which gives device users access to the entire Web as well as customized content wired or wirelessly.

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.

* Purchase of additional software may be needed to access corporate infrastructure. Required hardware includes modem and service, which is a separate purchase. Some Web site content may be unavailable. Connect-time charges may apply; customers should check with their ISP.

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The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

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