Handmark Express Makes Palm Powered Smartphones Smarter

March 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The release today of Handmark Express wireless information service means that users of the popular palmOne Treo and other Palm Powered smartphones have a new trick to show off on their device. Handmark Express, released today at the CTIA 2004 tradeshow in Atlanta, works with Palm Powered smartphones and WiFi and Internet enabled handhelds. Handmark also joined the Palm Powered Mobile World program as an infrastructure partner, announced separately today.

Handmark, the leading developer and publisher of software for smart mobile devices, has created Express as a wireless information application to accelerate delivery of the information most in demand by a mobile generation. Express is much faster and easier than searching with the micro-browsers found on wireless handhelds and smartphones.

According to Handmark vice president Douglas Edwards, "Even if there were no constraints on bandwidth, viewing web pages through a tiny two-inch screen is a less than satisfactory experience. Express is an application that talks directly to Handmark servers for an optimum user experience, it's faster, easier and does much more than try to squeeze a service designed for desktops onto a handheld screen. Express was created specifically for the mobile device. It's much more than just browsing, Express makes smartphones smarter."

"The Handmark Express software application is a great addition to the Palm Powered Mobile World catalog and a showcase example of what innovative Palm OS developers can achieve on a platform that is rich with advanced wireless features," said David Limp, senior vice president of corporate and business development, PalmSource, Inc. "We believe combining the Handmark Express solution with the advanced functionality and ease-of-use of Palm Powered smart mobile devices will enable users to conveniently access the information they need, when they need it from any location."

Because Express is an Internet client application, and not a web browser based service, it delivers the most wanted information and services faster than web portals. Express Delivers Who What When Where and How to Get There by providing automatic and on demand updates to news, market data, weather, sports scores, maps and directions, directory lookups, movie times and ticket purchases.

Express is available directly from http://express.handmark.com for $6.99 per month and at retail with a prepaid one-year subscription for $69.90 (U.S., MSRP); it is easily worth the price of just one of the information channels. Handmark Express enables a wireless search of residential and business directories by name, address, or as a reverse directory. Express users can avoid paying for 411 directory assistance calls. With Express look-ups the complete listing information for all possible matches, including name, address, and phone number, are displayed. Users can choose the correct listing, dial directly from Express, add the complete listing data directly to the device's permanent built-in address book, and display a map of the location.

Source: Handmark