Combined Development Effort to Yield Accelerated Development of Hands-Free
Mobility for Telephone Intensive Professionals
SAN JOSE, Calif., June 13 /PRNewswire/ -- In a move to further expand its
leadership in wireless headset technology, Hello Direct, Inc. (Nasdaq: HELO)
announced today it has signed an exclusive agreement with Addvalue
Technologies Ltd. to accelerate development of new Bluetooth(TM) wireless
products. With this agreement in place, Hello Direct, the recognized leader
in the development and business-to-business direct marketing of telephone
productivity tools, and a pioneer in wireless headset products, can act more
quickly to provide products using the emerging Bluetooth standard for
hands-free wireless solutions.
The combined development effort will utilize Hello Direct's expertise in
headset ergonomics and acoustics as well as its advanced telephone interface
technologies. Addvalue Technologies, in a strategic partnership with Philips
Electronics, Semiconductors Division, will provide a highly skilled product
development team that can take advantage of its broad experience in radio
frequency (RF) circuitry and cordless telecommunications software to quickly
develop low-cost, high-quality Bluetooth cordless headset products. Hello
Direct's RF engineering team has already been working closely with Addvalue's
engineers to define detailed requirements for the various products to be
developed. The products will be manufactured by Hello Direct and the first
offerings are expected to be available through Hello Direct's sales channels
next year.
"A great deal of research and specification work has been done over the
last six months to pinpoint the best technologies and development partners,"
stated Mr. John Magnasco, Senior Director of Engineering for Hello Direct,
Inc. "Addvalue, as a result of its recently announced strategic cooperation
with Philips Semiconductors, promises to be at the forefront of Bluetooth
systems and product development."
The Bluetooth Wireless Standard
The Bluetooth wireless technology is set to revolutionize the personal
connectivity market by providing freedom from wired connections. It is a
specification for a small-form factor, low-cost radio solution providing links
between mobile computers, mobile phones and other portable handheld devices,
and connectivity to the Internet. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG),
comprised of leaders in the telecommunications, computing and network
industries, is driving development of the technology and bringing it to
market. The Bluetooth SIG includes promoter companies 3Com, Ericsson, IBM,
Intel, Lucent, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia and Toshiba, and nearly 1,900
Adopter/Associate member companies, including Hello Direct, which joined the
SIG in November 1999.
"This strategic partnership with Addvalue is testimony of our belief that
Bluetooth growth will drive high volume semiconductor sales. We are a leading
supplier of RF and baseband components and Addvalue is a top-rated system
design house. As a result, the benefits to Hello Direct are time-to-market,
flexibility and interoperability." said Mr. William Sim, Director of Philips
Electronics Singapore, Semiconductors Division.
Hello Direct a Pioneer in Cordless Headset Technology
Hello Direct marked itself as a leader in the Cordless Headset market in
1991 with the introduction of its 900MHz Cordless 50 Headset. As one of the
first licensees in the 900MHz ISM band, Hello Direct addressed a significant
market need by designing, manufacturing and selling a light-weight, high-
quality, commercial-grade cordless headset for office or home use. Hello
Direct has continuously improved upon the product and now sells a lighter
weight, more versatile Cordless XLT(TM) as well as a belt-pack version called
the Office Rover(TM). Hello Direct continues to stay at the forefront of
development with R&D efforts in a number of emerging wireless and interface
technologies.
"Bluetooth promises to drive wireless communications development over the
next several years and we are delighted to be working with Hello Direct in
creating a new generation of wireless headset products utilizing this exciting
technology," said Dr. Colin Chan, Chairman and CEO of Addvalue Technologies
Ltd., the parent company of Addvalue Technologies Ltd. "Together with the
strong support from leading Bluetooth chipset manufacturer Philips
Semiconductors, we are confident that we will deliver a series of successful
Bluetooth headset products to the market very quickly."
About Hello Direct, Inc.
Hello Direct, Inc. (Nasdaq: HELO) is the leading developer and business-
to-business direct marketer of desktop telephony and equipment interface
solutions, including headsets, teleconferencing, wireless and related desktop
products. Through a combination of distinctive catalogs, outbound
telemarketing and Internet sales channels, the company offers a broad
selection of commercial-grade solutions to its customers' evolving
communications needs. For more information on Hello Direct, Inc. and its
products, please visit http://www.hellodirect.com , the leading online source of
telecommunications information, products and services.
About Addvalue Technologies. Ltd.
Addvalue Technologies Ltd. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Addvalue
Technologies Ltd., and is based in Singapore. Addvalue is a digital, wireless
and broadband communications solutions provider, and is focused on providing
comprehensive designs, turnkey solutions and project management for systems
integration, as well as product development for our customers. Based on our
clients' specifications and concepts, and with our extensive experience in
technology and design methodologies, we add value from initial product
conceptualization to mass production of the final product. In particular, we
have developed and are developing various technology platforms including
'wireless access technologies' such as Bluetooth and DECT, 'wired access
technologies' such as cable modem and ADSL, and 'media streaming technologies'
such as digital audio, digital video and voice. Additional information on the
Addvalue Technologies Ltd can be obtained by accessing its home page at
http://www.addvaluetech.com .
About Philips Semiconductors
Philips Semiconductors, which has annual revenues of approximately
$5 billion, designs and manufactures semiconductors and silicon systems
platforms. Philips Semiconductors is spearheading the emerging field of
systems on silicon solutions with the innovative Nexperia(TM) platform and
VLSI Velocity(TM) tool set. The company's Sea-of-IP(TM) design methodology
allows plug and play intellectual property blocks for easily customizable
products. The company is a leader in communications, consumer, PC peripherals
and automotive semiconductors, which are key applications for convergence in
end-user products. Philips Semiconductors is headquartered in Eindhoven, The
Netherlands, and has operations throughout the world. For more information:
http://www.philips.semiconductors.com
Note: * Bluetooth is a trademark owned by Telefonaktiebolaget L M
Ericsson, Sweden.
This release contains forward-looking statements including, but not
limited to, statements regarding the development of new Hello Direct products
and technologies, and their potential to contribute to incremental revenue and
profit at some point in the future. These forward-looking statements involve
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ, and such
differences could be material. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are
not limited to, the following: the uncertainty of the Company's future
operating results, the fact that the market for telecommunication products is
generally characterized by rapidly changing technology, the Company's need and
ability to successfully develop new products, the Company's dependence on and
market acceptance of its current and newly introduced products, risks
associated with managing a growing business and the Company's dependence on
key personnel. A description of the risks that could cause results to vary
are contained under the caption [Risk Factors] in the Company's reports on
Form 10-K and Form 10-Q on file with the SEC for a discussion of risks and
uncertainties. Hello Direct assumes no obligation to update these forward-
looking statements for subsequent events.
SOURCE Hello Direct, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.hellodirect.com
CONTACT:
Ron Becht of Hello Direct, Inc.,
408-363-2026, or e-mail, ron.becht@hellodirect.com; Mr. Wong Wing
Kiong with the Semiconductors Division of Philips Electronics
Singapore, e-mail, wong.wing.kiong@philips.com, or fax,
+65-251-6500; Mr. Kay Wee Kiat of Addvalue Communications Pte
Ltd, e-mail, weekiat@addvalue.com.sg, or fax, +65-242-4555
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