Hello Direct Joins Bluetooth SIG; Advances R&D Efforts Toward Bluetooth
Compatible Products
SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Hello Direct, Inc.
(Nasdaq: HELO), the leading developer and direct marketer of telephone
productivity products and a pioneer in headset technology, today announced its
membership in the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). The Bluetooth
initiative is an architecture that provides a standard short range wireless
interface for a variety of communications products. Hello Direct will
leverage its leadership position in the wireless headset market by developing
a number of products utilizing the low cost Bluetooth technology.
Bluetooth is a wireless technology standard initiated by Ericsson, IBM,
Nokia, Intel and Toshiba in May, 1998. The Bluetooth technology uses short
range radio signals to connect devices such as mobile phones, mobile computers
and handheld devices to each other. Since its launch, over 1,100 leading
companies have joined the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, including
Motorola, Sony, 3Com, Compaq, Hewlett Packard, Lucent Technologies and Dell.
The technology has been hailed by industry watchers as the most significant
development in wireless communications in 20 years.
Bluetooth Initiative Extends Hello Direct Leadership in Cordless Headsets
"The Bluetooth technology offers us the opportunity to strengthen our
dominant position in the cordless headset category. Lightweight wireless
headsets are the headsets of the future. They provide a perfect solution for
anyone in the office or on the go who requires more freedom, flexibility, and
productivity," said Ron Becht, vice president of product marketing for Hello
Direct. "Bluetooth technology may provide the ideal wireless links among many
different products and applications from a single hands free device."
Seamless Mobility among Business, Home and Cellular phones
Hello Direct introduced the first cordless headset eight years ago, and
has continued to develop state of the art technology and deliver powerful,
lightweight cordless headsets to the market. The company earlier this year
introduced its Cordless(R) XLT, the most advanced, compact and comfortable
900 MHz cordless headset available today. The company recently announced an
exclusive technology license agreement with Aura Communications to utilize its
magnetic induction technology to develop a lower cost, lighter weight wireless
headset solution for shorter range, higher user density applications.
By exploiting its knowledge of human factors related to cordless headsets
and its patented smart interface technologies, Hello Direct will now explore a
range of products that utilize Bluetooth technology. Targeting both the
business desktop and mobile markets, these new Hello Direct products will
offer professional users seamless mobility among their business offices,
cellular phones, and home offices. Dataquest predicts that 79 percent of
digital handsets and more than 200 million PCs will incorporate Bluetooth
technology by 2002.
The Bluetooth development efforts at Hello Direct are further evidence of
the company's strategy to build core competencies in emerging technologies.
More information about the Bluetooth initiative and SIG can be found at
http://www.bluetooth.com .
About Hello Direct, Inc.
Hello Direct, Inc. (Nasdaq: HELO) is the leading developer and direct
marketer of desktop telephony and equipment interface solutions, including
headsets, teleconferencing, wireless, digital adapters, 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., please
visit http://www.hellodirect.com , the leading online source of telecommunications
information, products and services.
Safe Harbor Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements including, but not
limited to, statements regarding Hello Direct's product development plans and
the market for wireless headsets. 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 telecommunications products is
generally characterized by rapidly changing technology, the Company's need and
ability to develop new products, the Company's dependence on and market
acceptance of its current and newly introduced headset products, the Company's
dependence on sole or limited source suppliers and foreign manufacturing, the
highly competitive market for telecommunications products, the dependence of
internet sales on the continued growth in electronic commerce, risks
associated with managing a growing business and the Company's dependence on
key personnel. Investors should also review the Company's reports on Form
10-K and Form 10-Q on file with the SEC for a discussion of risks and
uncertainties.
For more information on Hello Direct, Inc. via fax at no cost,
dial 800-PRO-INFO (908-544-2850 outside the U.S.), ticker symbol: HELO.
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 ron.becht@hellodirect.com; or Allison Niday of
Impact Communications, 831-439-0977, allison@impactcommpr.com
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