PlusFactor Announces Beta Trial of Collaborative Computing Solution for Palm Connected Organizers
MANHATTAN, N.Y. — June 22, 1999 — At PC Expo 1999 today, PlusFactor Software Inc. unveiled a combined solution of software and Internet technologies that allows individual handheld computing devices to be used collaboratively through the Internet. Called WeSync(tm), the new solution lets users stay easily connected with others by allowing them to share calendars and contact information, simply and automatically, right from their handhelds. "The ability to create and view multiple calendars right on the handheld is very attractive," said Gerry Purdy, Ph.D., president and CEO of Mobile Insights, a market research and conference company. "The fact that those calendars are shareable with others via the Internet, along with contact categories, increases the appeal even more. This is the first practical solution we've seen that truly enables handheld to handheld collaboration and synchronization."
Sharing Synchronized Information Simply, Automatically With WeSync, users can create, edit and simultaneously view multiple calendars on their Palm(tm) connected organizers. Those individual calendars can then be shared with others via the Internet to track family events, workgroup projects, business travel, and much more. The WeSync software also extends the Palm(tm) Address Book to make sharing of contact lists possible, and also extends the Palm Computing(r) HotSync(r) feature to automatically synchronize shared data over the Internet. Finally, from the WeSync(tm) Web site, users will also have access to a wide variety of downloadable public calendars and contact information, spanning the range from sports schedules to travel information, financial reporting and industry events.
Online Communities Key to Managing Shared Information
Instead of recreating whole new applications, WeSync extends the resident Palm Computing(r) Date Book and Address Book applications already so familiar to Palm(tm) organizer users. This is the key to PlusFactor's overall development strategy. "We wanted to make sure that our users wouldn't have to perform any unnatural acts," said Pete Grillo, president of PlusFactor. This especially applied to syncing. "Palm( handheld device users like that they just cradle the device, push the button and it works. We had to work within that context." As a result, while developing their model for sharing data over the Internet, PlusFactor looked at how people were already interacting.
Knowing that many of the people users would want to interact with would not be on their corporate LAN, they went to work assembling a model for sharing information with others over the Internet. The simplest way to accomplish that was through online communities. From the WeSync Communities Web site, users define private communities reflective of the real-world communities they live in, and invite others to join. Within those communities, individual members can publish specific calendars and contact lists, and subscribe to others' calendars and contacts. These shared resources, linked via the community site, are kept automatically synchronized and accurate every time a user presses the HotSync(r) button on their organizer cradle.
Wireless Services
WeSync will also support the wireless functionality that is built into the Palm VII(tm) connected organizer, and its counterpart Palm.net(tm) service. Wireless delivery will allow WeSync to gather information in real time from the Internet, resulting in functions such as mobile verification of calendar availability, allowing WeSync to search for shared available time slots for meetings across multiple shared calendars.
Flagship of Collaborative Computing Solutions for Handhelds
In beta today, and scheduled to begin shipping next month, the initial version of the solution, WeSync Personal, is also the first in a line of new collaborative computing solutions from PlusFactor for the Palm Computing(r) platform. Two additional versions of the solution, developed specifically for corporate and enterprise applications by adding more robust management, privacy and security components, are slated for release later this year and early next. WeSync Personal will be available for free for a limited time from the WeSync Web site, (www.wesync.com). Upgrades to the additional versions, when released, will be available by annual subscription. The initial versions of WeSync will operate exclusively on the Palm Computing platform, however, PlusFactor plans to release a Microsoft(r) Windows(r) CE version later in the year. For additional information, or to register for upcoming beta trials, please visit www.wesync.com.
About the Company
Founded in 1997, PlusFactor Software Inc. develops and distributes solutions that allow individual Palm Computing(r) connected organizers to be used collaboratively as a powerful group tool. Based in Portland, Ore., PlusFactor is a privately held company that combines expertise with both Internet and software technologies with a talent for UI design to deliver solutions that are easy to install, use and maintain. PlusFactor, WeSync and Office Pack are trademarks of PlusFactor Software Inc. Palm Computing, 3Com, and HotSync are registered trademarks and Palm VII and Palm.net are trademarks of Palm Computing, Inc., 3Com Corporation or its subsidiaries.
Editor's Note: PlusFactor press kits are available in the PC Expo 1999 pressroom. Members of the PlusFactor staff are available in the Palm Computing Developer Pavilion, booth no. 3404 (at Entrance on Main Level 3, Jacob Javits Center) to demonstrate the product.
For more information, press only, contact: Matt Melendez, Maestro Communications Group, LLC, 503/287-8558, [email protected].
CONTACT:
Maestro Communications Group, LLC
Matthew Melendez, 503/287-8558
[email protected]