SAN JOSE, Calif. (4/23/01) - Pumatech, Inc. (NASDAQ: PUMA), the leading provider of software infrastructure for the mobile Internet, today announced it has received its fifth patent relating to its Mind-it Web-based change detection, end-user notification and personalization technology. The new patent (U.S. Patent No. 6,219,818) applies to the use of checksum comparisons to determine whether Internet documents have changed. The Company filed for the patent on February 18, 1999.
The latest patent validates Pumatech's position as the leader in Web-based change detection and notification, and further strengthens the Company's expanding portfolio of intellectual property - the largest of any change detection/notification or synchronization provider. Pumatech holds a total of 14 patents, which protect a wide range of technologies relating to mobile and wireless Internet infrastructure.
The new patent protects Mind-it's unique ability to store and compare checksums, instead of text, dramatically reducing storage and the amount of computation required to perform change detection. For example, users designate a particular part of a Web page that they would like to monitor for changes. Checksums are generated for each HTML-bound section of that Web page and for the user-defined selection of text, and are then archived. When there is change in the text, the new and archived checksums are compared, and the user is notified via email or mobile device if there is a change. The technology behind the checksum-comparison patent allows Mind-it to be scaled effortlessly to support millions of users and documents, while also improving performance by suppressing detection of trivial changes, greatly reducing the frequency of spurious notifications.
"Our Mind-it software has already redefined the mobile Internet communications model for many Fortune 500 companies," explained Pumatech President and CEO Brad Rowe. "There has been a growing demand for mobile users to be able to track essential information and be notified when that information changes. The technology behind this latest patent is an essential component of Mind-it's ability to uniquely deliver the most effective Web-based change detection and notification solution to mobile customers who want to be in the know, on the go."
In addition to its five Web-based change detection, end-user notification and personalization technology patents, Pumatech holds one patent relating to its file-transfer technology and owns the rights to eight patents relating to its synchronization technology. Pumatech also has 12 pending U.S. patents, as well as rights to enforce five patents owned by Intel Corporation, under a cross-license agreement between Pumatech and Intel.
NEW PATENT BOLSTERS MAP
The technology that supports Pumatech's industry-leading Mind-it software also powers the change detection, notification and personalization component of the Company's Mobile Application Platform (MAP), which is currently being licensed to carriers, ebusinesses, portals and enterprises such as CNET, Lycos and Boeing. MAP includes a variety of data access engines designed to enhance the utility of mobile devices, including a sync engine, a personalization and notification engine and a query engine. Pumatech's Intellisync.comSM service bureau, powered by the MAP architectural platform, enables consumers and business professionals to synchronize important information via the Internet, browse Web content both on and offline and be notified of changes to personalized Web information via email and mobile devices.
ABOUT PUMATECH
Pumatech, Inc. (Nasdaq: PUMA), formerly known as Puma Technology, Inc., is the leading provider of software infrastructure for the mobile world. The Company, which has long been the leader in synchronization with its Intellisync technology, is in the process of rolling out recently acquired, leading-edge personalization, notification and Web-browsing services integrated with synchronization. Pumatech now offers a comprehensive application suite, the Mobile Application Platform (MAP), for the delivery of highly personalized content to any mobile device. It is the only integrated solution that fully supports all mobile devices and standards, including WAP phones, SMS-enabled phones, Palm OS® handhelds, Pocket PCs, Web sites, and desktop applications, such as Outlook. Companies using PumatechTM products can create powerful mobile solutions that give customers and employees anytime, anywhere access to relevant information. Pumatech's mobile solutions are used by a wide range of leading companies, mobile device manufacturers, telecommunications carriers, software companies, and individuals. Headquartered in San Jose, CA, Pumatech offers more information on its products and services at www.pumatech.com.
Forward-looking statements in this news release are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks relating to possible product defects and product liability, risks related to international sales, risks related to the year 2000 issue, continued acceptance of Pumatech's products, increased levels of competition, technological changes, dependence on intellectual property rights and other risks detailed from time to time in Pumatech's periodic reports filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities.
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Pumatech, the Pumatech logo, and Intellisync are trademarks of Pumatech, Inc., that may be registered in some jurisdictions. Mind-it is a trademark of NetMind Technologies, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pumatech, Inc. Intellisync.com is a servicemark of Pumatech, Inc. Palm OS is a registered trademark of Palm, Inc. All other product or company names are trademarks of their respective owners.