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Visto Corporation Purchases Psion Software
Technology to Enhance Wireless Push and Symbian OS Support
(Redwood Shores, CALIF., February 2, 2004) – Visto Corporation (www.visto.com), the leading provider of personal and corporate mobile messaging solutions that are easy to install, administer and use, today announced that it has acquired Psion Software of London, UK, a division of Psion PLC. Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.
Psion Software was founded in 2001. Psion Software's flagship product, Transcend Mail, is an enterprise-grade, highly secure, instant push email/PIM solution for mobile devices. Psion Software's unique message delivery technology has been implemented on selected GPRS Symbian OS devices and is extensible to the other device platforms within the 400 million mobile devices shipped world wide each year.
This is the third acquisition by Visto since the closing of its $50 million in financing in the first half of 2003. During that time, Visto has accelerated product innovation, expanded sales initiatives, has utilized M&A to complement the company's business and technology strategy, and has aggressively protected its intellectual property. In June 2003, Visto merged with ViAir, a Seattle-based company providing carrier-grade wireless email solutions, and in September 2003, it purchased the assets of Jarna, a Silicon Valley company known for its real-time corporate groupware access solutions across multiple wireless devices.
"Psion Software's breakthrough real-time push technology on the Symbian platform is a critical component of operator sponsored enterprise mobility. Together, with Visto's wide deployment of technology across Microsoft, Palm, J2ME and BREW devices, Psion Software's technology will provide Visto with the broadest and deepest platform for wireless operators and enterprises to deploy today," said Brian Bogosian, chairman, president and CEO of Visto. "The integration of this technology will provide a complete and affordable 'mobile messaging for the masses' that will grow our subscriber base to millions of users."
"We have watched Visto put together an impressive wireless messaging offering to wireless operators, enterprises and device manufacturers, and the breadth of their technology and momentum is impressive," commented Tom Wright, managing director of Psion Software. "We believe the addition of the Psion Software technology and team will further accelerate Visto's leadership in the market and we're pleased to be a part of it."
"Visto continues to march forward in the wireless messaging space and is executing well in purchasing technology players that will enhance their product offering in the wireless messaging market," said Eugene Signorini, senior analyst at the Yankee Group. "Psion Software's technologies should benefit Visto, particularly in expanding their support for the large numbers of Symbian OS devices shipped worldwide and in achieving message push for all of their supported platforms."
Visto, headquartered in Redwood shores, CA, has offices in Seattle and European headquarters based in London. Call +1-866-82-VISTO for product information or visit www.visto.com
About Visto Corporation
Established in 1996, Visto is the leading provider of wireless
messaging solutions to mobile operators for personal and corporate
use. Visto's technology provides secure access to the most widely
used corporate applications over any network and on a broad array
of devices, and supports both browser-based as well as offline-capable
devices. Visto Mobile Access Solution, Server Edition, provides
departmental and enterprise access to corporate email. Visto MessageXpress
provides individual access to corporate, Internet and POP3 email. Both Server
Edition and MessageXpress are well suited to the "converged" wireless PDAs/phones
using Palm OS, Pocket PC, Smartphone, J2ME and Symbian platforms. Visto's WirelessInbox,
provides real time access to corporate and personal email via direct access
through desktop computers via any wireless device's browser and is well suited
to wireless phones with only WAP browser capability. Leveraging a portfolio
of eight granted patents in synchronization, access and security technologies,
Visto's platform is a proven, scalable solution that has supported more than
2.7 million users. Visto's solutions are available through wireless operators
worldwide, including AT&T Wireless, Bell Mobility, KPN, Manitoba Telecom
Services, Nextel Communications, Inc., Rogers AT&T Wireless, SaskTel Mobility,
SmarTone and TELUS Mobility. www.visto.com
Visto is backed by Oak Technology Partners, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Vantage Point Venture Partners, Rustic Canyon Ventures, Allegis Capital, Blueprint Ventures, The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University, Bessemer Venture Partners, New Enterprise Associates and Walden VC.