Geoworks' Mobile ASP Will Enable United Airlines Passengers to Receive UK
Flight and Travel Information on Their Mobile Phones
MACCLESFIELD, UK, April 18 /PRNewswire/ --
Geoworks Corporation (Nasdaq: GWRX), a pioneer in mobile data communications
services and technologies, announced today that it has signed a definitive
letter of understanding with United Airlines to provide the airline with a
service powered by Mobile ASP, Geoworks' mobile communications solution for
enterprise clients. The new Geoworks Mobile ASP service will enable United
Airlines to offer its UK customers relevant and time-sensitive travel
notifications on their mobile phones.
With the new service, United Airlines passengers will be able to determine
flight arrival and departure times, gate information, delays and
cancellations, all from simple text messages on their mobile phones.
"The value of on-the-go, time-sensitive travel information to United
Airlines' frequent flyers is immeasurable," said Mike Tunnicliffe, UK
Marketing Manager of United Airlines. "This customised solution provided by
Geoworks will enable United to extend and enhance our customer service
capabilities to benefit our UK passengers."
"Because United Airlines will leverage the power of Geoworks Mobile ASP
solution to mobilise its information, it is a perfect example of how companies
can take existing information and make it relevant for the users of mobile
devices," said Ken Norbury, Vice President and General Manager of Geoworks
Ltd. "We anticipate that United's mobile information service will help United
continue to earn greater loyalty among its most frequent UK travellers."
Because Mobile ASP is a scalable solution that is customized to each
client's needs, United Airlines will be able to enhance or change its mobile
service offering at any time. United will utilise several elements of
Geoworks' Mobile ASP solution, including the company's proprietary Premion
Server+ technology, a robust information server that is capable of receiving
and sending information to a wide variety of mobile communications devices,
including SMS and WAP-enabled cellular phones, personal digital assistants and
pagers.
Currently there are 35 million wireless data subscribers in Europe
according to the ARC Group, a UK-based telecommunications analyst firm. This
figure is expected to increase to 310 million across Europe by the year 2005.
About Mobile ASP
Geoworks offers Mobile ASP to a wide variety of businesses, from financial
and credit institutions to airlines and rental car agencies. With Mobile ASP,
these companies can leverage the time-sensitive and personal nature of the
mobile medium to provide relevant communications and services to their
customers. By extending customer service and other enterprise applications to
the mobile medium, Geoworks' Mobile ASP clients will be able to increase
revenue, reduce costs and increase customer loyalty.
Because each Mobile ASP client requires a range of technologies and
services to best meet the needs of their mobile customers, Geoworks Mobile ASP
is comprised of several different components, including application
development, Premion Server+, systems integration, wireless network
integration, 24x7 customer care and application hosting. Mobile ASP clients
select the elements of this offering that suit their individual needs for a
mobile customer service solution.
About United Airlines
United Airlines is the largest air carrier in the world and the largest
majority employee-owned company, offering more than 2,300 flights a day to 138
destinations in 26 countries and two U.S. territories. It is an industry
innovator with breakthroughs such as E-Ticket(sm) Service, Airport Gate
Readers, The ChariotSM mobile airport podium, United Shuttle, and the
introduction of the technologically advanced Boeing 777. The company can be
found on the Web at http://www.ual.com, where consumers can book reservations with
over 500 airlines, 45 car rental companies and 30,000 hotels worldwide.
From London, United offers convenient daily non-stop service to Boston,
Chicago, Los Angeles, New York-JFK, New York-Newark, San Francisco and
Washington-Dulles. United operate its London to United States schedule with
Boeing 777 and 767 aircraft, featuring 3-class service. From its Chicago, Los
Angeles, San Francisco, and Washington DC hubs, United offers convenient
connections to destinations throughout Asia, Hawaii, Latin America, North
America and the Pacific.
About Geoworks
Geoworks Corporation is a pioneer in wireless data communications services
and technologies for the business and consumer markets. The company's vision
is to enable mobile Internet access in the business to business and business
to consumer markets. Geoworks' Mobile ASP solution utilizes a flexible
combination of its proprietary Premion Server+ technology and its mobile media
expertise to enable businesses to reach their mobile customers with relevant
and timely information. By licensing its essential Intellectual Property
Rights for the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP), Geoworks plays a central
role in advancing the worldwide market for mobile devices that enable people
to easily and instantly access and interact with information and services.
Based in Alameda, California, the company has international offices in Sweden,
Japan and the United Kingdom, and can be found on the World Wide Web at
http://www.geoworks.com .
In keeping with U.S. law, Geoworks notes that this press release includes
independent third-party research and forward-looking statements, including the
emergence of, and Geoworks' participation in, the mobile services market, the
potential size of the market, and technology innovation and licensing issues
relevant to these markets. Actual results may vary significantly due to
various risks and uncertainties. Those include, but are not limited to, the
following: i) the mobile services market may not emerge to the degree or
timing anticipated; and ii) new technologies, licensing programs and new
services are inherently subject to development, timing and consumer acceptance
risks. Additional information is available in the Risk Factors and Business
discussions in the Company's Forms 10- K, 10-Q and other filings available
from the Company or from the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE Geoworks Corporation
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