Prudential First to Offer Full Financial Services Portal On Palm VII Organizer

Business Wire, Nov 22, 1999

NEWARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 22, 1999--

Insurance, Investments, Real Estate and Retirement Planning

Now Accessible Through Wireless Hand-held Device

The Prudential Insurance Company of America today became the nation's first fully-integrated financial services company to provide wireless access to insurance, investments, real estate and retirement planning information to users of the Palm VII(TM) organizer, the wireless hand-held organizer from Palm Computing, Inc., a 3Com company. This will be possible through the Prudential web clipping application for the Palm VII organizer, which will access web content via the wireless Palm.Net(SM) service.

The new portal, accessible through the Prudential web clipping application for the Palm VII organizer, connects the strength and experience of Prudential, one of the nation's largest diversified financial institutions, with the portability, simplicity and connectivity of the Palm VII organizer. Prudential can now offer individuals and institutions access to a comprehensive suite of financial services through a unique single source.

"What we have delivered here is a very powerful solution: a single secure place for our customers to access our comprehensive range of financial services no matter where they are," said Jean Hamilton, executive vice president of Prudential.

"We believe we have the right solution. The Palm VII puts at our customer's fingertips the expertise and experience of one of the most well-known and respected brands in the industry," Ms. Hamilton added.

Prudential has taken a market leadership with the new portal, initially offering term life insurance quotes, stock quotes and research from Prudential Securities, 401(k) account balances and real estate services. Other services such as additional account information, auto insurance and stock trading will be added next year.

The announcement of the new financial services portal is part of Prudential's commitment to deliver solutions that make the Internet an easy to use, highly reliable method of accessing a full range of financial services. Earlier this year, Prudential Real Estate Affiliates announced that it was the first real estate network to provide wireless access to real estate information and services for users of the Palm VII device.

"Prudential's use of the Palm VII organizer provides customers with mobile Internet access to a variety of financial services around the clock," said Scott Lincke, director of wireless products of Palm Computing, Inc. "Prudential's financial services expertise and the state-of-the-art technology of the Palm VII organizer further extends solutions for online financial management."

The Palm VII organizer is the first hand-held solution for out-of-the-box wireless communications and Internet access. In addition to providing fast and simple access to personal and business information, the Palm VII organizer enables users to quickly, easily and securely obtain information from Web sites, conduct e-commerce transactions, and send instant two-way personal messages.

Prudential, with $375 billion in total assets managed and administered at year-end 1998, is one of the largest diversified financial institutions in the world. Prudential has a global presence in 30 countries, providing a variety of products and services in the areas of investments, insurance, securities, and real estate to more than 30 million customers.

Palm Computing is a registered trademark, Palm.Net is a service trademark, and Palm VII is a trademark of Palm Computing, Inc. and 3Com Corporation.