Lonely Planet Launches Handspring Springboard module Version of CitySync; Make your way across the USA with the help of a Handspring Visor and new CitySync USA module

Business Wire, Oct 23, 2000

Business/Technology Editors

OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 23, 2000

International travel publisher Lonely Planet has just launched Lonely Planet CitySync(TM) USA, its first Springboard(TM) module for Visor(TM) handheld organizers, including the new Visor Prism(TM) and Visor Platinum(TM) announced last week by Handspring, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAND).

CitySync (www.citysync.com) is Lonely Planet's first series of digital city guides for handheld devices. The Lonely Planet CitySync USA Springboard module comes preloaded with guides to New York City, Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Purchasers will receive a bonus fifth CitySync city of their choice to load on their Visor handheld when registering this product online.

CitySync gives the complete traveler's lowdown on these four heavily visited US cities, with hundreds of opinionated Lonely Planet reviews for all the must-see attractions, hotels and restaurants. It also provides scrollable street maps, transportation options, safety tips, background information and quick tours. CitySync gives handheld users the tools they need to be their own travel guide, whether they are first-time visitors or local residents.

"Handheld computers are ideally suited for carrying large amounts of important, trusted and readily available travel information," said Ed Colligan, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Handspring. "The combination of a Handspring Visor handheld and the new Lonely Planet CitySync USA Springboard module will ensure that our customers can enjoy the benefits of a highly portable personal computer and multiple travel guides all in one simple-to-use product."

With CitySync, users can fully search and sort popular attractions and hotels, shops and restaurants. Additionally, most CitySync listings link directly with the Handspring Visor's Date Book feature, so users can add vital information to their calendar with the single tap of the stylus. CitySync also lets users keep their own travel notes, so they won't forget the highlights. And with Handspring's built-in infrared beaming feature, users can beam their exported travel notes to friends, family or business associates.

Unique to CitySync are scrollable maps integrated with the text. Each site highlighted within the text is identified on street-level maps, so users always know where they are and where they're going. Users can scroll around Neighborhood Maps by dragging their stylus across the screen. There are also City Maps that give an overview of the city and identify the individually mapped neighborhoods.

First launched in January 2000, CitySync has been available for individual city download at US$19.99 each from popular handheld retail sites such as PalmGear.com, Handango.com and Smaller.com. Currently available cities include Bangkok, Chicago, Edinburgh, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Las Vegas, London, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Miami, Paris, San Francisco and Sydney. Announced cities that will be available by the end of the year include Boston, Tokyo, Amsterdam, Singapore, Rome and Bombay. A four-city bundle on CD-ROM was released early this summer at US$49.99.

Unlike content aggregators who compile travel products for handheld devices, Lonely Planet's Lonely Planet CitySyncUSA provides information compiled by professional travel writers and offers independent, critical and subjective information on places to stay, eat and visit. No advertising is accepted in any Lonely Planet product, so users can trust that they're always getting the unbiased information they want.

The Lonely Planet CitySync USA Springboard module is immediately available for purchase at PalmGear H.Q. (www.palmgear.com/hs/) or direct from Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com/) at an MSRP of US$49.99. The modules are also expected to be available in retail outlets nationwide later this year. All purchasers will receive a bonus fifth license for a city of their choice when registering this product online.

For further information about CitySync, please visit www.citysync.com.

Note to Editors: CitySync, Lonely Planet and the Lonely Planet Logo are trademarks of Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd. Handspring, Visor and Springboard are trademarks or registered trademarks of Handspring, Inc. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.