Panasonic Showcases Wireless Solutions at CTIA Show

March 18, 2002 - Panasonic is solidifying its position in the expanding and evolving wireless world with innovative solutions for consumers, businesses and institutions. At this year's Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) Wireless Show, the consumer electronics giant is displaying some of its user-centric wireless voice and data products, as well as some of the industry's most technologically advanced batteries for wireless products and telephony and broadband applications. From unique consumer products to innovative industrial solutions, Panasonic is committed to developing technologies and advancing initiatives that will meet the demands of a wirelessly networked lifestyle.

Allure and Versio Digital Phones
Panasonic's recently launched Allure and Versio dual-band digital wireless phones have captured the imaginations of the design-conscious as well as technophiles with their sleek, innovative cosmetics, ultra light weight, text messaging capability and long battery life (up to 140 min. talk/200 hrs. standby). These unique phones feature six different, customizable backlight colors for their LCD displays. The Versio phone comes with interchangeable silver and red faceplates. A phone book memory feature stores names (Allure: up to 250 names; Versio: up to 100 names), each with four telephone numbers and an e-mail address. Users can also personalize the ring tone and LCD background color for each number stored in memory, and have the phone display an associated picture and signal a birthday alert. Additionally, the Allure phone features voice command operation with up to 40 user-customized voice-activated functions. Both phones are TTY compatible.

The cell phone market has seen a dramatic shift: cell phone users are no longer content to merely talk; they want to send text messages and access the Internet. Panasonic plans to expand its product line in response to new market trends with phones that are PDA and PC compatible.

Toughbook Computers
Panasonic is the leading provider of mobile computing solutions, and the principal supplier of ruggedized notebook computers to the U.S. Federal Government. The powerful, wireless Toughbook PCs are engineered to perform under the most demanding conditions, whether they are helping to restore telephone service in a blizzard, policing inner city streets or performing analysis of a luge athlete's run in the mountains of Utah. Integrating wireless and GPS options, the unique Toughbook 01 Handheld terminal is a ruggedized PDA that offers a reliable mobile solution that can be seamlessly integrated into existing IT infrastructures. It's GPS- ready for maximum mobility, ease-of-operation and user productivity in geographic data collection and mapping applications.

MSE Valve-Regulated Lead Acid (VRLA) Batteries for Cell Sites and Central Office Locations
Panasonic brand consumer, industrial and OEM batteries are marketed worldwide. The company offers a complete line of Lithium-Ion, Nickel Metal Hydride, Nickel Cadmium, Rechargeable and Primary Lithium batteries for portable applications such as wireless handsets, PDAs and other portable wireless devices.

As a leader in battery technology, one of the challenges Panasonic has taken on addresses the demand for uninterrupted standby power required by the telecommunications industry and utility providers. Panasonic developed a series of MSE valve regulated lead-acid (VRLA) batteries for PCS/Wireless applications, telephony, central offices, fiber-optic networks, CATV/broadband and Internet applications. With expected life spans of 13 to 15 years, the batteries are hailed by the industry for their reliable performance, and the instrumental role they have played in reducing equipment costs and field service maintenance operations ¾ key to maintaining profitability.

Panasonic and Matsushita Battery Industrial Co., Ltd. were recently honored with the 2002 Frost & Sullivan Market Engineering Product Line Strategy Award for being the first to introduce and deliver a reliable VRLA battery that is guaranteed to provide high-quality back-up power for telecommunications systems worldwide. Environmental considerations have also led to the increased use of VRLA batteries because they do not emit corrosive gas under normal conditions. This eliminates the need for specially ventilated battery compartments and highly skilled maintenance personnel. Per U.S. Federal and state and Canadian environmental regulations, the lead-acid batteries are recyclable.

Additional information about Matsushita Electric and its Panasonic brand products is available at www.panasonic.com.

SOURCE Panasonic