Slate Developing Set of Applications for GO Operating Environment; Signs Agreements with Software Developers

July 18, 1990 — Slate Corp., the first company founded expressly to develop software for pen-based computers, Wednesday announced that it will publish a set of applications for GO Corp.’s operating environment.

In a related announcement GO Corp. announced today that IBM Corp.  has licensed the GO operating environment.

Pen-based computers are a new class of portable computer where users input data by writing on the screen with a pen-like device, or stylus, instead of using a keyboard. Since the pen-based operating environments for traditional computers, Slate expects the best applications to come from developers who successfully adapt to the unique requirements of pen-based computing.

”Pen-based computers are opening a new era in computing and we believe the applications we’re developing will help speed their adoption,” said Vern Raburn, chairman and chief operating officer of Slate.

”We’re working closely with GO Corporation and potential customers to ensure that our products optimize the technology and reflect user needs. Since Slate is devoted to pen-based environments, we can focus on the technology and anticipate market requirements.”

Slate foresees three categories of software applications emerging for pen-based computers: 1) new versions of existing mainstream applications (e.g. word processing); 2) applications that have languished on desktop platforms but are especially appropriate for pen-based systems (e.g. forms processing); and 3) new types of products that will be enabled by the pen interface.

Slate Corp. also announced that it has signed publishing agreements with Symmetry Software (Scottsdale) and Simple Software (Mill Valley, Calif.). Slate will be the exclusive publisher for certain products under development for pen-based operating environments at these two companies.

”Teaming up with these two high-caliber software companies greatly expands our ability to serve the emerging pen-based market,” said Raburn. ”It also illustrates the breadth of support for the GO platform.”

Slate Corp. was founded in January 1990 by veterans of the personal computer software industry.

CONTACT:
Slate Corp., Scottsdale
Dottie Hall, 602/443-7322
Wilson McHenry Co., Redwood City, Calif.
Kim Tarter or Julie McHenry, 415/592-7600