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Companies to Demonstrate Technology at Telecom 95
October 04, 1995
HP and Nokia to Co-develop Handheld Devices
Palo Alto, Calif. -- Seeking to leverage their mutual expertise in handheld computers and telecommunications devices, Hewlett-Packard Company and Nokia Mobile Phones today announced that they plan to co-develop handheld devices that will enable convenient voice, data and facsimile communications.
The companies' goal is to develop nest-generation handheld devices that combine leading technologies in both the handheld computer and mobile-telephone markets. These devices will enable users to leverage the comprehensive communications services that are becoming standard across the world.
The companies plan to demonstrate examples of their combined technology at the Telecom 95 conference, which is being held in Geneva Oct. 2-11, 1995. Initial co-developed products are expected to be introduced in 1996.
"People are becoming more mobile and thus require devices that support the way they work," said Kheng Joo Khaw, general manager of HP's Asia-Pacific PC Division. "These devices must be convenient, standard and highly portable. Using our standard palmtop platform, the devices we will develop with Nokia will enable users to take full advantage of the emerging services provided by operators worldwide and allow customers to fully utilize the global communications network."
"Customers require a convenient communications solution that enables them to communicate regardless of their location," said Reijo Paajanen, vice president, Nokia Mobile Phones. "Together we will deliver information products that comfortably and conveniently provide customers with all the tools they require for remote voice, data and fax communications."
The companies bring together years of complementary experience in developing handheld devices. HP created the palmtop-computer category with the HP 95LX in 1991, and has continued to innovate, expanding the utility of handheld devices to enable the use of off-the-shelf software and extensive data communications and messaging. A recent Dataquest report listed HP as the leading standard handheld-device manufacturer with more than 27 percent of the market. Nokia holds a similar leadership position as Europe's largest and the world's second-largest mobile phone manufacturer.
"The collaboration between HP and Nokia really opens up the possibilities in the handheld market," said Mike McGuire, analyst at Dataquest’s Mobile Computing program. "The potential for a device which combines basic data and voice looks very good. Previous handheld products have not met the needs of end-users, as their functionality fell short of customers' expectations. But, by the end of 1995 and early next year, we will see the emergence of cheap, ubiquitous wireless networks that will drive handheld devices far beyond their current functionality."
In addition to this agreement for handheld devices, HP and Nokia have agreed to pursue similar collaboration on digital set-tops for interactive TV and PC cable modems for high-speed on-line data access. HP and Nokia expect to exchange ideas and technologies to further the standardization and deployment of these products.
Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global manufacturer of computing communications and measurement products and services recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 98,200 employees and had revenue of USD 25 billion in its 1994 fiscal year.
Nokia Group is Europe's largest manufacturer of cellular phones and a world leader in digital technology. Nokia Group's revenue during 1994 was over 6 billion U.S. dollars with sales in 100 countries worldwide. The company is part of the Nokia Group, a global telecommunications and electronics company head quartered in Helsinki, Finland.
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