REDMOND, Wash., and HOUSTON, Aug. 15, 2000 — MSN and Compaq Computer Corp. today announced availability of the CompaqiPAQ™ Home Internet Appliance™ , the first MSN® Companion device available. The device is designed for new Internet users who want an easy and affordable way to get connected, surf the Web, send and receive e-mail, and accomplish everyday tasks online. The simplicity of the iPAQ Home Internet Appliance provides consumers with a convenient and rich Internet experience that makes it easy to stay connected to the people and information they care most about.
“MSN and Compaq have joined forces to deliver the power of the Internet in a simple, easy-to-use device,”
said Rick Belluzzo, group vice president in the Personal Services and Devices Group at Microsoft.
“The MSN Companion provides consumers with an exciting and rich Internet experience, so they feel comfortable turning to it as part of their daily lives.”
”
We are very excited to be working with MSN to deliver the iPAQ Home Internet Appliance, a product that features one-touch connectivity and a compact, stylish design that will appeal to a variety of consumers,”
said Mike Larson, senior vice president and general manager of Consumer Products Group at Compaq.
“Novice Internet users and particularly those wanting easy-to-use devices will appreciate its simplified features that allow them to maximize their Internet experiences.”
Simple Access to the Internet
With only two connections — a power cord and a phone cord — the iPAQ Home Internet Appliance with MSN Companion instantly connects users to the Web with the touch of a single button. MSN Internet Access is preinstalled and configured so users don’t need to spend time manually setting it up at home. MSN instantly connects users to the Internet and a simplified interface that presents them with the integrated network of MSN content and best-of-breed services. MSN Hotmail® , MSN eShop, MSN Search and MSN Messenger Service are all just one click away, and it’s easy for users to access their favorite places on the Web. The device is automatically updated periodically over the Internet for worry-free maintenance, providing users with virtual obsolescence protection for their system.
The small, elegant design of the iPAQ Home Internet Appliance, winner of the Silver IDEA 2000 Design Award, makes it an unobtrusive — but valuable — appliance in the kitchen, bedroom, family room or any room with a power outlet and a phone jack.
MSN and Compaq provided a small group of retired citizens in the Pacific Northwest an iPAQ Home Internet Appliance with MSN Companion to test for a period of one month. Although experience with technology ranged from the beginner to intermediate, each participant felt the device was a simple, yet resourceful tool for accessing the Internet and communicating through the Web.
“The Internet has always been something we were interested in but we were hesitant to purchase a computer because we were concerned about having the time or patience to become comfortable using it,”
said Loran Gritten, a retired phone company employee.
“However, the MSN Companion was the perfect tool to help us overcome this concern and get connected. The device was easy to set up and use — with one click of a button, we were online.”
Consumers are eligible for a $400 rebate with a three-year MSN Internet Access subscription at a monthly rate of $21.95. With this rebate, the iPAQ Home Internet Appliance costs as little as $199. The device is powered by the Microsoft® Windows® CE operating system, Microsoft Internet Explorer browser software and MSN. Features include an all-in-one design with a 10.1-inch LCD flat panel color monitor with 800×600 resolution; a built-in speaker; a wireless IR keyboard with Internet task buttons; a 56K modem; four USB ports; and LEDs for power, e-mail and an Internet connection. Additional options — including a Compaq USB mouse, a specially configured Epson 740 Micro Piezo ink-jet color printer and JBL Platinum Series stereo speakers — will be sold separately.
The iPAQ Home Internet Appliance is the first MSN Companion device that offers Jeode™ EVN™ , an accelerated Java™ -compatible virtual machine technology from Insignia Solutions™
that provides faster execution and a more robust application behavior that Web users will appreciate.
Availability
The iPAQ Home Internet Appliance with MSN Companion will be available within the next two weeks at retail establishments throughout the United States, through Compaq’s Web site at http://www.compaq.com/athome/ , through the toll-free hotline at (800) 888-0263 and through Compaq’s kiosks located in more than 10,000 popular retail stores.
About Compaq
Compaq Computer Corp., a Fortune Global 100 company, is the largest supplier of computing systems in the world. Compaq designs, develops, manufactures and markets hardware, software, solutions and services, including industry-leading enterprise computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, communications products, commercial desktop and portable products, and consumer PCs and electronics.
Compaq products and services are sold in more than 200 countries directly to businesses, through a network of authorized Compaq marketing partners, and directly to businesses and consumers through Compaq’s e-commerce Web site at http://www.compaq.com/ . Compaq markets its products and services primarily to customers from the business, home, government and education sectors. Customer support and information about Compaq and its products and services are available at http://www.compaq.com/ .
About MSN
MSN is an integrated network of content and services that help consumers get more from the Web – any time, any place and from any device. MSN is the most popular destination on the Internet, attracting 201 million unique monthly visitors worldwide, and is available in 33 markets in 17 languages – a broader global presence than any other portal. MSN Internet Access is the highly rated, fast and reliable way for consumers to get on the Web, now with 3 million subscribers. MSN delivers The Everyday Web experience by providing more than just the basics for new Internet users, with benefits for more advanced users looking for richer functionality. Best-of-breed services include MSN Hotmail, the world’s largest e-mail system, with more than 67 million active accounts; MSN Messenger Service, the fastest-growing instant messaging service, with more than 18 million users; MSN Search, the second most popular search service on the Web; MSN Mobile, the customizable wireless information service; the award-winning MSN MoneyCentral™
online personal finance service; MSN eShop, the one-stop online shopping resource; MSN Custom Web Sites, the easy way to share information on the Web; and many other widely used services that make MSN a leading innovator of Internet technologies. MSN is located on the Web at http://www.msn.com/ .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
Compaq and the Compaq logo Registered U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. This financial discussion contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The potential risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially include: delays in the implementation of changes in delivery models, component shortages, increased competitive environment and pricing pressures, delays in product rollout schedules, slow acceptance for new form factors, changes in product, customer and geographic sales mix, employee retention, the financial condition of resellers, delays in new systems implementation, operational inefficiencies related to sales cycles, equity investment volatility, emerging market political or economic instability and disruptions related to restructuring actions. Further information on the factors that could affect Compaq’s financial results is included in Compaq’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including the latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and the latest quarterly report on Form 10-Q.
Microsoft, MSN, the MSN logo, Hotmail, Windows and MoneyCentral are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Compaq, iPAQ Home Internet Device and the names of Compaq products referenced herein are either trademarks and/or service marks or registered trademarks and/or service marks of Compaq Computer Corp.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
For more information on the consumer products announced today, please visit http://devices.msn.com/msncompanion/ .
Note to editors: If you are interested in viewing additional information on Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft Web page at http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/ on Microsoft’s corporate information pages.
