Casio Introduces a Full Line Up of Pocket PCs To Meet Both Consumer and Corporate Needs - Product Announcement

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, April 24, 2000

Casio, Inc., Dover, NJ, announced four new additions to their lineup of CASSIOPEIA Pocket PCs. The new E-115, EM-500, EG-80, and EG-800, all feature the new Windows Powered Pocket PC operating system.

In addition to Microsoft Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Pocket Internet Explorer, Reader, and Pocket Money, these new Pocket PC models come with a new operating system that provides a host of features and functions. A totally re-designed GUI (Graphical User Interface) makes these new Pocket PCs easier to use. The new EM-500, EG-800 and EG-80 are USB capable which provide faster data exchanges with another computer. The E-115, EM-500 and EG-800 feature a high-resolution TFT color display that is capable of displaying 65,536 colors, making them just the thing for viewing business data or surfing the web. The new CASSIOPEIA Pocket PCs also support multi-media software, which can be used for viewing still images or movies, and for playing back high-quality MP3 audio files.

The new E-115 is designed for the mobile professional who needs a wide range of capabilities, from business data management to acquiring leisure time information. 32MB of RAM provides performance to spare, while a CompactFlash card slot can be used to add a memory card, digital camera card, modem card, or one of a wide variety of the other special-purpose cards. The E-115 Pocket PC also comes with original Personal Information Management (PIM) software, helping you to find the information you need when you need it. The CASSIOPEIA E-115 is currently available at a street price of $599.

The new slim designed EM-500 is a mobile multimedia tool that targets a younger market. Designed to highlight Casio's new faster processor and available in 5 different colors, the EM-500 is stylishly designed and engineered to take advantage of the new and emerging digital content that is available on the Internet. The EM-500 is the first Pocket PC to feature the new MMC (multimedia card memory system) featuring postage stamp size memory cards with up to 64MB of storage. The EM-500 will be available this summer.

CASIO is also aggressively making inroads into vertical markets by introducing new models designed and built for business use. The new EG-series Pocket PCs with their industrial, rugged look are designed for the heavy-duty corporate environment and feature splash proof and shock resistant cases. The EG Series of Pocket PC also feature Casio's new breakthrough technology in power management -- flat Lithium Polymer Rechargeable Battery designs capable of extended battery life up to 76 hours. These units also offer Casio's original encryption software that allows the corporate user to easily customize data base security as well as a unique Compact Flash security feature to maintain your data integrity should you misplace your compact flash card. With unique options such as a bar code laser card, and LAN connection, the EG Series are certain to satisfy the needs of any heavy-duty corporate user. EG Series Pocket PCs are available in a choice of two models, the EG-80 with a monochrome display, and the EG-800 with a color display.

"We are currently concentrating on providing mobile network solutions for business. These four new CASSIOPEIA Pocket PC models further strengthen our lineup" said Gary Schultz, director of the Mobile Information Products Division of Casio, Inc. "These new Pocket PC's keep the user connected to essential information with security, have great multimedia capability, plus the flexibility provided by the new Pocket PC Windows powered operating system," said Schultz. He continued to comment that with the added industrial strength housing, along with a breakthrough battery management system, Casio can offer several exciting products for users within the corporation and for consumers. You can count on Casio to bundle the unexpected extra into our products."

Casio, Inc., Dover, NJ is the U.S. subsidiary of Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan. Casio, Inc., with almost a half billion in sales, markets calculators, business organizers, hand-held personal computers, musical keyboards, digital cameras, digital scanners and printers, timepieces, hand-held color TVs, cash registers and other consumer products.