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WirelessDevNet.com Press Release
palmOne Introduces LifeDrive, Its First Mobile Manager Product
MILPITAS, Calif., May 18 Venturing beyond its
well-known focus on the handheld and smartphone markets, palmOne, Inc.
(Nasdaq: PLMO) today introduced the LifeDrive(TM) mobile manager, an
innovative product that fuses business productivity tools and entertainment
applications. Designed for people with a significant volume of digital
information, the LifeDrive mobile manager offers 4GB of hard-drive storage
(3.85GB user available), a large 320x480 high-resolution color screen, and
wireless access through built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth(R) wireless
technologies.(1)
Consumers today demand more from their mobile devices as their digital
information continues to increase in size and scope. Many people want easy
access to all of their essential documents, email and wireless web access.
They want the ability to entertain themselves in a free moment, and to share
personalized content, such as photos, home movies or their entire MP3
collection. The ability to do these things in an all-in-one device has become
a reality with mobile managers.
"LifeDrive mobile manager comes at an inflection point in the market, when
people are ready for more advanced devices that meet their growing
mobile-computing needs," said Ken Wirt, senior vice president of worldwide
marketing for palmOne. "LifeDrive is versatile. For the business executive,
it's a personal mobile briefcase; for the photo enthusiast, it's a camera
companion."
With LifeDrive, people can easily carry virtually all of their essential
desktop computer files and folders. Crucial documents can be set to update
automatically at each HotSync(R) operation, and users can receive secure
wireless email with attachments whenever they are within range of a Wi-Fi
connection or by connecting via a compatible Bluetooth phone. People can even
remotely retrieve Microsoft Office files left behind on the desktop computer.
Inside the 4GB Hard Drive
The 4GB Hitachi Microdrive(TM) weighs less than a AA battery, is smaller
than a matchbook and transfers data 30 percent faster than the
previous-generation Microdrive, so users can get to their music, pictures,
data more quickly. With 3.85GB of usable storage, LifeDrive mobile manager
users can store and access all of the following on a single device(2):
1,200 office documents;
6,000 emails;
1,000 photos;
300 songs;
2.5 hours of video;
50 voicemails;
10,000 contacts; and
10,000 appointments.
Stored information, media, files and documents are available at any time
on the 320x480, high-resolution color screen, which can flip from landscape to
portrait at the touch of a button.
Access to Office Files and Folders, Quickly and Securely
With support for native Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Adobe Acrobat Reader,
LifeDrive smart file management makes it easy for users to carry and access
thousands of files. This innovative, new software system saves time, making it
easier for a mobile professional to work efficiently while away from the
office. The LifeDrive smart file management system comprises four key
applications:
Folder Sync -- automatically updates selected files when syncing;
File Transfer -- drag and drop thousands of files from a PC onto
LifeDrive mobile manager;
Drive Mode -- behaves like a USB drive to easily transfer files
to any PC or Macintosh; and
Files View -- transferred folder structure remains intact, making
it easy to locate important information.
Flash memory keeps information safely intact, even if the device loses its
charge, and 128-bit encryption keeps valuable data safely secure when invoked.
Password protection safeguards access to the device, while the Private Records
function protects specific files, even when the rest of the mobile manager is
unlocked. An optional Intrusion Protection function erases all data and
returns the device to factory settings after a user-specified number of failed
break-ins.
Wirelessly Surfing with High-speed Connections
By connecting to any of the more than 80,000 public Wi-Fi hotspots in
popular hotels, cafes and airports around the world, LifeDrive mobile manager
users can do the following:
access POP, IMAP and Exchange email accounts;
download the latest calendar appointments from the office;
retrieve documents from the desktop computer with the WiFile
software; and
surf the web with the included web browser, which has been
optimized for mobile surfing.
palmOne is working with T-Mobile to ensure a good hotspot experience for
LifeDrive customers to access the world's largest public Wi-Fi network.
T-Mobile is providing a free 30-day trial offer for LifeDrive owners.
The device's built-in Bluetooth can be used to connect to compatible
Bluetooth devices nearby, allowing for wireless syncing with a Bluetooth
laptop, wireless sending a document to a Bluetooth printer or hands-free
dialing to a Bluetooth phone.
Mobile Multimedia and Expansion
While on the go, LifeDrive mobile manager users can enjoy listening to
songs from their personal music collection, viewing photos or watching video
clips. To highlight the music capabilities of LifeDrive, RealNetworks is
giving LifeDrive customers free access to its Rhapsody client, which they can
use to manage their personal music collections. RealNetworks is offering a
30-day free trial of its award-winning Rhapsody music service, providing
unlimited access to more than 1 million songs on their PCs. In the coming
months, subscribers also will be able to use the Rhapsody To Go service to
download and transfer an unlimited amount of their favorite music to their
LifeDrive and enjoy it wherever they go as long as they are subscribed to the
service.
The built-in voice recorder allows for hands-free notes or personal
narrations to accompany photo slideshows. Users of the LifeDrive mobile
manager will enjoy fast performance for business and multimedia applications,
thanks to the 416MHz Intel XScale processor.
The expansion card slot, which supports SD, SDIO and MultiMediaCard
formats, makes it easy to transform the LifeDrive mobile manager into a camera
companion. Instead of bringing a laptop on vacation, users can simply download
images from the camera's SD memory card onto the LifeDrive mobile manager(3)
to free up the card for more photos and enjoy photos on a larger screen.
LifeDrive includes a special version of Addit software, which provides
users with on-the-go access to tips and tricks, new articles and software
updates. Addit also will showcase advanced software applications that add
value and functionality for the user, such as photo editing on the go and
players to support streaming media.
Pricing and Availability
The LifeDrive mobile manager from palmOne has an estimated U.S. street
price of $499. Limited quantities are available now from the palmOne online
store (http://store.palmOne.com) and select retail stores worldwide. Volume
availability is expected by early June.
About palmOne, Inc.
palmOne, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLMO) -- a leader in handheld computing and
communications solutions -- strives to put the power of computing in people's
hands so they can access and share their most important information. The
company's products include Treo(TM) smartphones, the LifeDrive(TM) mobile
manager, Tungsten(TM) and Zire(TM) handhelds, and software and accessories.
palmOne products are sold through select Internet, retail, reseller and
wireless operator channels throughout the world, and at palmOne Retail Stores
and palmOne online stores (http://www.palmOne.com/stores).
More information about palmOne, Inc. is available at
http://www.palmOne.com .
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