Shadowpack Launches First Free Personal Wireless Interface; Providing the Mobile Public With Access to Personalized Information and Secure Commerce From Interactive Handheld Devices

Business Wire, Jan 6, 2000

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

DUBLIN, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 6, 2000

Shadowpack Inc. (www.shadowpack.com) today launched its debut product, the Shadowpack service -- the first Personal Wireless Interface (PWI). Shadowpack is a unique and free service giving the mobile public access to personalized information and content on interactive handheld devices, as well as allowing users to conduct secure commercial transactions.

Shadowpack was developed in response to a significant new trend in the networked economy -- pervasive computing, the post-PC era where the masses have access to information and the ability to act on that information from anywhere. Fueled by the incredible growth in the use of Web-enabled cellular phones, communicating Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and two-way pagers, Shadowpack enables users to enhance their wireless experiences.

"Shadowpack offers anyone with an interactive handheld device the untethered way to accomplish what they want do when they're away from their PC," said Lance W. Schneier, Founder and Chairman of Shadowpack Inc. "Shadowpack enables users to have access to personalized information and to conduct secure transactions whenever and wherever."

Shadowpack has already assembled a menu of over 100 "Packs" and their "Contents," including personalized news, weather and sports and the ability to securely purchase books, electronics and many other types of merchandise and services. For the first time from a handheld device, users will able to access multiple brokerage and bank accounts, fully participate in auctions or even order a video and ice cream to be delivered to an address of choice. Not only can a user be notified of a delayed or canceled flight, but now the traveler can securely purchase a ticket on another flight right from the device.

Personalization and ease of use are the keys to Shadowpack. Members choose just the items they want to appear on their device's Shadowpack menu. By profiling MyShadowpack, members can securely store their account and credit card numbers, passwords and preferences on Shadowpack's servers. Then, when accessing information or conducting a transaction from the device a few clicks are all that's required.

Shadowpack can be accessed from popular interactive handheld devices, such as PDAs using the Palm OS, including the new Handspring, two-way pagers from Motorola and smart phones operating on the SprintPCS, AT&T, BellAtlantic, AirTouch and Nextel networks.

To access the service a member registers with Shadowpack, either via the Web site, www.shadowpack.com, or, in certain cases, from the device itself. If the device is not already Shadowpack enabled a member can download the appropriate version. Personalization can be accomplished either from the MyShadowpack section of the Web site or from the users PDA, in certain circumstances. Once loaded, the application appears on the device, bearing the Shadowpack logo or as a bookmarked site on a smart phone.

Residing "on top" of the operating system of the device, the patent pending technology behind Shadowpack consists of a thin client custom application designed for each device type. The application permits members to securely and easily communicate with Shadowpack's mega-servers that, in turn, access the Internet and other databases. The information is quickly and securely passed back to the device in a format that is easy to read and manage on the device.

Continually supporting new devices and adding new features, Shadowpack will soon be enabled on the Research In Motion (RIM) and Glenayre two-way pagers. RIM is a world leader in the mobile communications market, providing solutions for seamless access to time-sensitive information including email, messaging, Internet and intranet-based applications. Utilizing the RIM Inter@ctive(TM) Pager 950 or RIM's BlackBerry(TM) Wireless Handheld, members will have access the entire Shadowpack service. Glenayre Technologies Inc. has been developing and providing advanced, two-way wireless messaging devices that operate on ReFLEX protocols. Glenayre's AccessLink II two-way device becomes a modem for a Palm OS through its infrared port, which will enable Shadowpack members to access the service from any Palm device.

To ensure security Shadowpack employs Certicom's SSL PlusTM toolkit that is the industry's most widely deployed commercial SSL (Secure Socket Layer) product. To provide its free service Shadowpack has teamed up with a number of device manufacturers, wireless networks, Internet content and commerce sites and database sources. Among those are:

Amazon.com is the place to find and discover anything you want to buy online. As a member of the Amazon.com Associates program, Shadowpack enables its members to securely purchase books, videos, music, toys and electronics.

BarPoint.com's product information and shopping site empowers consumers to make more informed purchasing decisions using UPC-based product-specific search technology to guarantee a precise, efficient search. By entering or scanning a product's unique 12-digit barcode number, a consumer will find a wealth of product-specific information including detailed product specifications, manufacturer contact information, comparative pricing, product reviews, and links that provide online and ultimately wireless purchasing capabilities. This new, free Internet shopping service can be accessed by Shadowpack members with mobile or wireless devices to facilitate the wireless shopping experience.