Zoomer Partner recap
JRatner@aol.com
XXX, 18 Sep 1993 15:23:53 -0400 (EDT)
The concept for Zoomer came from Jeff Hawkins(formerly of GRiD, a Tandy company at the time, and subsequently the founder of Palm Computing). Tandy enlisted Casio to develop the hardware. Casio also did the BIOS and Socket Services and Casio USA will be selling a Casio version. Tandy will be selling a Tandy branded version through Radio Shack. GeoWorks provided the GEOS operating system and the games. Palm Computing wrote the address book, date book, note book, calculator, form calculator, world clock, and reference data apps. They also wrote the dictionary/thesaurus/spell checker and 26 language translator apps using databases from Microlytics. America Online provided their software which provides access to Email and fax, wire services, stocks, travel services( including EAASY SABRE) and Zoomer support area. Intuit wrote Pocket Quicken specifically for the Zoomer though I am sure it will end up available on other platforms. Sundisk provided a driver to allow there 5volt flash ROM car
ds( available up to 20MB) to work with Zoomer. Motorola's EMBARC division will be using a NewsCard to provide wireless data messaging to Zoomer. Though most pocket and some PCMCIA modems will work with Zoomer, AMT has developed a very low current draw PCMCIA modem for Zoomer to maximize battery life. As you can see the Zoomer project required the resources of many companies working closely together to reach the common goal of a true consumer oriented personal productivity device.
-Joe(Radio Shack Project Manager)