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Toshiba to Market 'GENIO,' a Pocket Size Mobile Communicator with WWW and High-Speed PHS Communication Capabilities

27 February, 1997

TOKYO--Toshiba Corporation today announced the GENIO PCV100, a pocket-size mobile communicator with built-in Personal Handyphone System (PHS), which provides users with easy access to the World Wide Web (WWW), a mobile telephone, and high-speed data-access functions. GENIO is the world's first pocket communicator with built-in PHS to provide a WWW browsing function. Sales in Japan will commence on April 25 this year. (*)

(*)Note:
Introduction has been rescheduled from April 25th to early June.

The new GENIO provides innovative integration of a PHS telephone, pager and fax capabilities, and a built-in high-speed modem for fast Internet web-page browsing and e-mail, in a 215cc unit weighing only 220 grams. With simple pen-based input, a 3.5" liquid-crystal display and a full range of personal information manager (PIM) functions, GENIO forms a self-contained computer communications center for those whose work--or lifestyle--depends on up-to-date information and rapid communications.

The GENIO (Italian for genius) also provides 2 megabytes of memory in the form of a SmartMedia(R) memory card (option) only the size of a postage stamp. Smart Media cards with a capacity of 4 and 8 megabytes will also be available in the future.

The pen-based convenience, ease of use, and very wide range of PIM and communication functions provided by GENIO in such a small package promise to significantly expand the market for personal digital assistants, particularly to a generation of Japanese young people already convinced of the advantages of electronic paging and messaging. The rechargeable lithium ion battery, when fully charged, provides up to 150 minutes of continuous on-line communications, up to 200 hours call waiting, and up to 60 hours of continuous off-line editing. These are ample for the innovative uses that young people are expected to find for GENIO.

The new unit will be demonstrated at Tomorrow 21, the exhibition of Toshiba technologies to be held in Tokyo from March 4 through 9.



Mobile E-Mail and Internet Access with Built-In Web Browser

The GENIO's high-speed internal modem (32kbps) provides fast PHS access to dial-up Internet service providers and its mail software supports MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) encoding, enabling non-text items including notes hand-written with the pen to be mailed. Support is also provided for popular Japanese communication services such as NiftyServe(R) , People(R) and others. A world wide web browser is provided, and downloaded data is cached so that browsing can continue off-line. An English-Japanese electronic dictionary is provided to help Japanese users understand English websites.



Pen-Based PIM with Data Exchange Functions

Data Exchange: Data from Lotus Organaizer(R) , Microsoft Schedule+(R) , and Sharp Zaurus(R), can be transferred to and from GENIO, synchronizing schedules and maintaining identical address books, etc.
Data is easily transferred between the GENIO PCV100 and a desktop computer, either by direct connection using an RS-232C interface or via an infrared communications port, using DataLink(R) software. An evaluation version of compatible PIM software for Windows(R) 95 will be available for downloading from the new GENIO home page at Toshiba's corporate website (URL http://www2.toshiba.co.jp/genio/), once sales begin.

Directory: Up to 24 categories of data can be stored for each entry, including name and address, telephone numbers for voice, fax, pager and PHS numbers, and electronic mail addresses, with automatic linkage to the appropriate dialer functions.

Scheduler: This provides convenient integrated management of hourly and daily schedules and "to do" lists with a generous 256 characters available per entry.

Hand-Written Notes: Penned notes can be attached to both scheduler and address entries. Four or 12 such notes can be displayed at a time and checked for further action or deletion.

Text Notes: Text can be readily entered and edited for fax or electronic mail transmission, and cut-and-paste is possible between messages for resending or storage.



Note :

  1. Certain data transmission functions require the user to join the DDI pocket telephone PHS data service.
  2. All registered trademarks are properties of their owners.


Information in the press releases, including product prices and specifications, content of services and contact information, is current on the date of the press announcement,but is subject to change without prior notice.