CIDCO Demonstrates iPhone With Graphical Web Access
Mike Pollock
LAS VEGAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Consumer Electronics
Show--Jan. 8, 1997--The first telephone to provide graphical access to
the Internet together with advanced telephony services, the iPhone, is
being demonstrated to the general trade Jan. 9 for the first time at
the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) by Cidco Inc, the market leader in
Caller ID and smart screen phone devices.
The iPhone will sell for under $500 and offers direct,
simple access to Internet services, bringing e-mail and the wealth of
information on the Web to both nontechnical and more computer-savvy
consumers.
The telephone is the most common appliance in the home.
The Electronic Industries Association reports there is a phone in
approximately 95 percent of all U.S. residences, and an average of 2.4
phones per household.
The iPhone combines this familiarity in a high-end speaker
phone with e-mail, graphical access to the World Wide Web and advanced
telephony features, according to Robert L. Diamond, CIDCO chairman of
the board.
The Internet connection is made through a PC-quality 7.4-inch
grayscale touch screen embedded on the face of the iPhone that
allows users to access Internet services simply by touching the
softkeys. With a full VGA screen, a complete Web page can be viewed
at one time without scrolling, as is commonly required with some
text-based phones.
iPhone users touch the icons and buttons displayed on the
screen in place of using a mouse to navigate through the Web. A
QWERTY keyboard slides from under the console for ease in composing,
sending and receiving e-mail.
The iPhone is plug and play. There is no setup required,
no software to load or any programs to execute in initiating
operation. Since it is constantly powered up, the iPhone offers an
immediate connection to the Internet without waiting for the system to
boot or load software.
"The iPhone is the first appliance that unleashes the power
of the Internet for the general consumer who might not be computer
savvy and for small business entrepreneurs not currently using the
Web" Diamond said.
"Whether or not they are familiar with PCs, iPhone users
can send and receive e-mail, research data or bank on-line with ease.
At home, consumers will have inexpensive access to e-mail, can look up
information on local stores, find a good restaurant in the
neighborhood or search for a favorite recipe on the Internet, just by
touching the iPhone screen" he said.
Available Second Quarter of 1997
Approximately the size of a standard business phone
console, 11.5 inches wide by 8 inches long, the iPhone will be sold
through telephone companies and selected retail outlets. Field tests
are scheduled for early 1997, with general availability mid-1997.
The iPhone was co-developed by CIDCO and InfoGear
Technologies, a Redwood City, Calif., high-technology company. CIDCO
is contributing its advanced telephony technology to the product
development and is manufacturing and marketing the iPhone. InfoGear
is providing the client/server software, the browser and other
elements of the user interface. CIDCO holds an equity share in
InfoGear.
Similar to the way PC users access the Internet, telephone
companies and on-line providers will supply the Internet connection
service for the iPhone. Some phone companies may bundle access at a
reduced rate with other telephone services, according to Diamond.
"Telephones are the primary instrument of communication in
our society, the gateway that keeps the flow of information moving in
our world" Diamond said. "So it's only natural that a telephone, the
iPhone, would bring e-mail and the richness of the Internet to
consumers."
Supports Class and Advanced Telephone Network Services
Telephone network services such as Caller ID, Caller ID on
Call Waiting, and Caller ID Deluxe with name and phone number display
will be supported in the first consumer release. One-touch access
will be provided for Call Forwarding, Call Blocking and Last Call
Return, among other custom calling features. The iPhone also has a
programmable speed dial, a 500-name directory, speed dial from the
directory, and visual message notification for Caller ID, e-mail and
voice mail.
With its 16-level grayscale display and software
preprocessing of some data, the 14.4 BPS modem in the iPhone functions
at speeds comparable with a 28.8 BPS modem. The 640 X 480 backlit
touch screen supports full Web page graphics. The iPhone also
includes a serial port for a printer.
CIDCO, with headquarters in Morgan Hill, Calif., is the
world's leading producer of subscriber terminal equipment that
supports intelligent network services being offered by telephone
operating companies. Its products, of which over 12 million have been
sold, include network feature telephones and Caller ID display units,
in addition to advanced cordless telephone and smart screen phones
utilizing ADSI technology.
These products are provided to telephone subscribers
through a variety of channels, including distribution arrangements
with more than 100 telephone companies worldwide and through retail
sales at more than 20,000 store fronts located throughout North
America.
CONTACT: Linda Marcus
Creamer Dickson Basford
714/260-4768
lmarc...@mcimail.com
or
Peter Van Rossum
Creamer Dickson Basford
714/260-4765
URL: http://www.cidco.com