Hitachi selects Pumatech as co-development partner

SAN JOSE, Calif. (12/18/02) - Pumatech, Inc. (NASDAQ: PUMA), the leading provider of synchronization software and services, today announced a co-development agreement with Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE:6501 / NYSE:HIT), one of the world's leading global electronics companies. The co-development effort will enable Hitachi's corporate salesforce and systems integrators to offer a complete mobile solution to enterprise customers in Japan. The solution features Hitachi's NPD-20JWL Mobile Multimedia Communicator PDA device, based on the Japanese Windows CE .NET operating system, along with Pumatech's Satellite Forms® MobileApp Designer and Enterprise Intellisync® Server software.

The combined Hitachi-Pumatech solution will allow Hitachi's systems integrators to add value by using Satellite Forms MobileApp Designer software to develop custom applications that run on the NPD-20JWL device. The Satellite Forms-generated applications will integrate with any corporate database via local or remote connectivity provided by Pumatech's Enterprise Intellisync Server software. Enterprise Intellisync Server will also facilitate synchronization of email and PIM data between the Hitachi PDA and Microsoft Exchange or Lotus Notes.

"By combining Hitachi's Mobile Multimedia Communicator PDA with Pumatech's Satellite Forms and Enterprise Intellisync Server software, we are delivering a total solution that provides enterprise users with access to virtually any kind of corporate information, whenever and wherever they need it," said Shigeru Matsuoka, general manager of the Mobile Information & Communication Appliance Division at Hitachi. "This joint solution delivers extensive capabilities that enable mobile users to maximize the power of their Hitachi Mobile Multimedia Communicator PDAs."

Hitachi's NPD-20JWL Mobile Multimedia Communicator PDA features built-in wireless LAN IEEE 802.11b connectivity and a high-performance Intel PXA250 application processor. It's lightweight (about 5.5 ounces), includes both Windows Media Player and Microsoft Internet Explorer, and offers Windows CE .NET-based security and secure Multi Media Card support.

Pumatech's Enterprise Intellisync Server software provides a single resource for synchronizing PIM, e-mail and custom database information, both locally and remotely, between desktop PCs, servers and mobile devices - and for managing handheld software and devices from one centralized location. The Company's Satellite Forms MobileApp Designer software offers a flexible and extensible rapid application development platform for connecting PDAs to mission-critical enterprise information residing in desktop and server databases.

"The development of wireless infrastructure in Japan is far ahead of the rest of the world," explained Clyde Foster, Pumatech's senior vice president of sales and marketing. "Hitachi recognizes the importance of working with Pumatech to deliver a server-based wireless solution to this eager Japanese enterprise market. By doing so, they are also giving their systems integrators the ability to add tremendous value while creating custom mobile solutions for their customers, utilizing our Satellite Forms and Enterprise Intellisync Server software."

ABOUT HITACHI

Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company, with approximately 320,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2001 (ended March 31, 2002) consolidated sales totaled 7,994 billion yen ($60.1 billion). The company offers a wide range of systems, products and services in market sectors, including information systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products, materials and financial services. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's Web site at http://global.hitachi.com.

ABOUT PUMATECH

Pumatech, Inc. (NASDAQ: PUMA) provides organizations with a comprehensive suite of software products and services that synchronizes and distributes critical information for an individual or throughout an enterprise. Organizations can choose to use Pumatech's ready-made enterprise offerings, or they can leverage Pumatech's professional services team to create custom solutions built upon Pumatech's core enterprise platform. Pumatech's customer and strategic partner base includes Global 2000 companies such as Microsoft, Sony, Siebel, Oracle, Yahoo!, NTT DoCoMo, Boeing and General Motors. The Company has headquarters in Silicon Valley and offices in Munich, Tokyo and London. 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 and potential foreign currency exchange fluctuations, 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.

Pumatech, the Pumatech logo, Enterprise Intellisync and Satellite Forms are trademarks of Pumatech, Inc., that may be registered in certain jurisdictions. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.