IBM, GO Announce Software Licensing Agreement, Intent to Develop Pen-Based Computer Systems

July 18, 1990 — IBM and GO Corp. Wednesday announced a software licensing agreement under which GO will provide IBM with software technology for the development of future computers that are operated by a pen.

The two companies will cooperate on pilot projects with selected corporate customers who are seeking pen-based solutions for their mobile professionals.

IBM and Go believe these customer pilot projects will enable the two companies to better determine customer requirements for these new computers and to move the technology to the marketplace more quickly. Following successful completion of the pilot projects, IBM intends to develop and market new computer products based on GO and IBM technology that will be capable of easily exchanging information with existing personal computers.

Commenting on today’s announcement, James A. Cannavino, IBM vice president and general manager, Personal Systems, said: ”We are dedicated to finding new ways to shorten the time between the development of new technology and the time that technology is available to our customers. Our relationship with GO is an example of this, enabling us to combine the strength of IBM’s research, development and marketing with the innovations GO brings to the marketplace — innovations that will make using a computer as easy as writing on a piece of a paper.”

”Today’s announcements are based upon a shared vision of a market for pen-based computers,” said S. Jerrold Kaplan, president and chief executive officer of GO Corp. ”We see tremendous opportunity for convenient, easy-to-use computers that are operated by writing with pens onto flat screens. This technology makes possible small, mobile computers with the physical characteristics of a notebook.”

Several independent software vendors — both established and startup companies — are doing software development for the GO system. These companies include Borland International, Lotus Development Corp., WordPerfect Corp., Slate Corp., and PenSoft Corp. Commenting on their participation, Cannavino added: ”We are pleased about the number of significant software vendors announcing their support today. We hope that today’s announcement will encourage other hardware and software companies to join us in developing products for this exciting new growth market for the 1990s.”

GO technology is available for licensing to other parties. Terms of the agreement with IBM were not disclosed.

A privately held company headquartered in Foster City, Calif., GO Corp. was founded in 1987 to develop pen-based computing technology.

NOTE: The GO logo and name are trademarks of GO Corp. All other marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of the manufacturers or marketers with which the marks are associated.

CONTACT:
GO Corp., Foster City
Carol Broadbent, 415/345-7400
or
IBM
Dean Kline, 914/642-5408