Magic Cap makes communication portable, accessible, expandable
San Francisco, January 6, 1994 - General Magic today introduced the Magic Cap software environment, a platform for communicating applications and a foundation for personal communicators. Matsushita, Motorola, Philips, and Sony, members of the General Magic alliance, are licensees of the new technology and are building handheld Magic Cap communicators.
The Magic Cap environment includes everything people need to interact through today's popular modes of communication: fax, public electronic mail services, and telephones. In addition, Magic Cap software incorporates General Magic's breakthrough communication technology, Telescript, and the Telescript-based AT&T PersonaLink Services.
Telescript technology allows users to launch their electronic surrogates, called agents, into the world of electronic networks. The agents can perform tasks such as screening, routing, and delivering electronic correspondence. They will also be able to shop for goods and services and seek out time-critical information. AT&T PersonaLink Services will support smart messaging and will host a variety of service providers, from personal newspapers to travel services to electronic shopping. Users of Magic Cap software will be the first to take advantage of this new class of services.
Integrated with its core communication capabilities, Magic Cap software includes features to help manage personal information: address cards that automatically get updated as the sender's information changes, a calendar that issues invitations to meetings, and a notebook that supports free-form and structured notes. Magic Cap's interface represents real-world objects on a screen, guiding people through its expandable range of capabilities.
Magic Cap software will be available in handheld communicators and as software running on personal computers, so customers can use it whether they are mobile or at their desks. Magic Cap applications running on Windows or Macintosh systems can take advantage of the storage, keyboard, networking, and printing facilities of the computer. In addition, for a customer who uses Magic Cap software on a personal computer and also owns a Magic Cap communicator, appointments, addresses, and other data will be reconciled when the two are connected.
The Magic Cap platform affords independent developers an opportunity to create a new class of communicating applications and services. Its extensible user interface, object-oriented architecture, built-in Telescript technology, and powerful communication building blocks enable creative developers to enhance Magic Cap. Developers' applications include functionality ranging from personal finance to personal newspapers to smart messaging and electronic shopping. More than twenty Magic Cap developers announced their product and service plans today.
Since both the Magic Cap hardware standard and Magic Cap software are extensible, manufacturers will be able to create a variety of Magic Cap-based products that incorporate their unique expertise and differentiate their products from others in the market. Two-way communication is built into every Magic Cap communicator. Customers will have a range of Magic Cap products to choose from-wireless and wireline, mobile and stationary-all of which will take advantage of the growing library of products and services developed by independent vendors and all of which will communicate.
Magic Cap licensees are expected to start making product announcements in the first half of 1994. The first Magic Cap communicators will be available in the second half of 1994.
General Magic was founded in May 1990. Its mission is to create personal intelligent communication products and services by developing and licensing technology to equipment manufacturers, network and information service providers, and software and entertainment companies. General Magic has teamed with standard-setters in the entertainment, information, and communications fields to ensure that its technologies reach the widest possible audience.
