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Your advert here!!! Technical Editors:
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Casio
and Siemens cooperate over wireless Internet devices market
[December
15, 1999] Casio
Computer Co. Ltd. and Siemens’ Communication Devices division today (Wednesday
December 15) outlined plans to enter a strategic partnership by combining their
respective strengths in the area of mobile digital communications and multimedia
Palm-size PCs powered by the Microsoft Windows CE operating system. As a result,
the companies plan to jointly develop, manufacture and market a next-generation
series of Windows CE-based devices (Palm-size PC’s) with multimedia, wireless
Internet and mobile phone capabilities. With
analysts predicting an estimated industry size of 15
million
units by year 2003*,
Casio and Siemens are aiming to capture a significant amount of worldwide sales
for wireless Internet devices with a PDA form factor.
The two companies are leaders in their respective fields. Siemens is the
No. 3 and one of the fastest growing manufacturers of GSM products in Europe,
while Casio is a leading supplier of Windows CE-based multimedia Palm-size PCs. Siemens and Casio have committed to unveiling a working prototype in February at CeBIT 2000.The first, as yet unnamed, product will be a Windows CE-based Palm-size PC with full multimedia capabilities including digital music and video, a bright hi-colour touch-screen, wireless e-mail and Internet access, mobile phone features, instant messaging, personal and professional information management as well as a vast array of vertical applications. This product is the first of an anticipated complete range of wireless Internet devices that will be capable of connecting wirelessly to Microsoft Exchange Server-hosted information and any wireless Internet and e-mail service as part of an overall end-to-end wireless solution. This
new range of products will work on today’s GSM networks with the potential to
work on CDMA networks as well. They will also be able to utilise upcoming high
bandwidth mobile radio standards starting with GPRS, evolving up to the third
generation, including IMT-2000 / UMTS. Capabilities
such as fast Internet access, video stream and large file messaging will be
available with this new range of highly integrated devices. Peter
Zapf, President, Siemens Communication Devices said, “Siemens was at the
forefront of the first telecommunications revolution building telegraph
equipment in the 1800s. We intend
to spearhead the next revolution that will be driven by the convergence of
information and communications. This partnership builds on our respective
strengths, Siemens expertise in mobile digital telephony and Casio’s
leadership in Palm-size PCs. Our
well-established sales structures in both consumer and vertical markets will
increase the success of this product line.” Kazuo
Kashio, President, Casio Computer Co., LTD. said, “Ever since Casio introduced
the Cassiopeia, the world's first terminal with built-in Windows CE, in November
1996, we have continued with our strong focus on pushing the technological
envelope and expanding new markets. The birth of a new strategic alliance
between Casio and Siemens creates a strong foundation with a powerful partner,
which opens up totally new market expansion potential for the Cassiopeia in the
wireless Internet market. The marriage of Siemens communication technology with
Cassiopeia multimedia features and functions promises to create powerful new
products that may very well revolutionise the way we live. Casio is fully
committed to pioneering and cultivating new markets in Europe, and the rest of
the world as well.” Harel
Kodesh, vice president of the Productivity Appliance Division at Microsoft Corp.
said, “We are pleased to see Siemens and Casio cooperate and we believe this
partnership between two very strong industry leaders is a positive boost to the
emerging wireless Internet device industry. By choosing the Windows CE platform for developing their
range of devices, they are taking advantage of the power of the Windows
development environment and broad range of third-party applications to quickly
bring innovative, easy-to-use, multimedia-capable products to their customers.
The Windows environment also enables them to build products that are
compatible with today’s corporate and Internet networks and will be able to
support third-generation broadband-capable networks of tomorrow.”
Siemens
and Casio will work together from research and development to marketing and
sales. However, both organisations
plan to continue their development of other products for different areas of the
information and communication market. *Reference:
The ARC Group Cranleigh, United Kingdom
www.the-arc-group.com
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