General Magic Alliance OverviewThe days when a company could single-handedly launch new technologies and capture mass markets are gone. Successful new products today integrate and interoperate with products from other technology vendors.
Since its inception, General Magic has been strongly committed to fostering cooperation among vendors. Much of the company's early funding was generated by an alliance of industry-leading corporations from around the world, who saw that General Magic had created technologies that could yield many benefits for their own companies as well as for end users.
Under the General Magic Alliance model, each strategic business partner makes equity investment in the company as well as a licensing agreement for one or more of its core technologies. In addition to funding ongoing technology development and operations of the company, the equity investment ensures that each contributing company maintains a stake in the company's success and a say in its strategies and tactics.
Today, the General Magic Alliance is stronger than ever, with more than two dozen participants representing some of the world's largest and most successful corporations. The Alliance partners meet formally twice each year to discuss developments in markets and technologies. A variety of subcommittees have been formed, including special-interest groups for manufactures, network operators, marketing, and the Internet.
Looking forward, General Magic will continue to pursue opportunities for strategic alignment with leading-edge corporations, and will continue to expand and evolve the programs that are available to members.
Fujitsu, "At Fujitsu, we have been doing research and development projects using Telescript technology. We believe that its agent-place model provides unique, effective and sound architectural foundation for building a wide range of information service offerings in the ever-changing and competitive Internet business environment" said Akira Kamakura, Lifemedia Development Project, Fujitsu Limited.
Mitsubishi Corporation, "We welcome the new direction of General Magic to embrace the Internet market. We believe that the combination of Telescript agent technology and differentiated Internet services is the trend for the next decade. Mitsubishi Corporation remains dedicated to pursuing business opportunities with General Magic into the future," said Mr. Hajime Nomura, General Manager, Multimedia Business Department
Mitsubishi Electric, "Mitsubishi Electric and General Magic have been investigating ways to apply the Magic Cap environment to different hardware form factors. Magic Cap is powerful, easy-to-use software that is also versatile," said Super Yamaguchi, Managing Director of the Multimedia Business Development Group.
Motorola, "Motorola and General Magic are working together to deliver powerful mobile computing solutions--such as wireless access to corporate information--for the Envoy Wireless Communicator. Motorola's expertise in wireless data technology continues to help broaden the appeal of the Magic Cap platform," said Tim McCarthy, Business Manager, Motorola Wireless Data Group.
General Magic Alliance
Apple Computer, Inc., a leading vendor of PCs, joined the alliance in February 1991.
AT&T Corp., a world leader in communications, computers, network equipment and consumer telephony, joined the alliance in January 1992. AT&T licensed the Company's Telescript technology and launched the first public Telescript-based network, the AT&T PersonaLink network, in September 1994.
Cable & Wireless plc, an international federation of 38 telecommunications providers operating in over 50 countries, joined the alliance in November 1994. Cable & Wireless has not entered into a technology licensing agreement with the Company to date.
France Telecom, one of the world's largest telecommunication companies, joined the alliance in April 1994. In 1995, France Telecom entered into a commercial Telescript license agreement with General Magic and announced the development of a Telescript-based propriety on-line pilot service in France known as Pyramide.
Fujitsu Ltd., one of the largest computer companies in the world, joined the alliance in March 1994. Fujitsu entered into a Telescript technology research and development licensing agreement with the Company in 1995.
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd., one of the world's largest consumer electronics manufacturers and entertainment companies, marketing its products under the Panasonic and National brands, joined the alliance in January 1993. Matsushita entered into a license agreement for the Magic Cap technology in 1992. Matsushita has developed the NeoNet, which is a Magic Cap-based personal intelligent communicator based on Release 1.0 of the Magic Cap technology; Matsushita has only released this product for use with NTT-Fan's Paseo service in Japan.
Mitsubishi Corporation, one of the leading trading companies in Japan, with 230 offices in 85 countries including overseas subsidiaries, joined the alliance in 1995. Mitsubishi Corporation has not entered into a technology licensing agreement with the Company to date.
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, one of the world's leading consumer electronics companies, joined the alliance in November 1994. Mitsubishi entered into a Magic Cap licensing agreement with the Company in 1994.
Motorola, Inc., one of the world's leaders in wireless technology, cellular telephony and electronic components, joined the alliance in February 1991. Motorola has licensed the Magic Cap technology and has commenced shipping the Envoy, its Magic Cap-based wireless personal intelligent communicator. In April, 1996, Motorola shipped the Envoy 150, which is based on release 1.5 of the Magic Cap software and numerous hardware upgrades.
Nortel, formerly known as Northern Telecom, one of the world's leading manufacturers of telecommunication equipment, joined the alliance in November 1994. Nortel entered into Magic Cap and Telescript evaluation agreements with the Company in 1994.
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, one of the world's largest network operators, joined the alliance in February 1994. In 1994, NTT entered into a technology research and development licensing agreement with the Company. In July 1995, NTT announced that it had formed a joint venture known as NTT-Fan with AT&T and Sony Corporation for the purpose of offering the Paseo English language Telescript-enabled pilot service in Japan which began in March 1996. Such service is now available in Japan.
Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd., one of Japan's leading telephone and telecommunications equipment manufacturers, joined the alliance in November 1994. In 1994, Oki entered into a Magic Cap technology licensing agreement with the Company.
Philips Electronics N.V., one of the world's largest consumer electronics companies, marketing its products under the Philips, Magnavox and Norelco brands, joined the alliance in December 1992. Philips entered into a license agreement for Magic Cap technology in 1992.
PTT Telecom, a subsidiary of Royal PTT Netherlands, and a world leader in electronic "smart" card transactions, joined the alliance in January 1996 by entering into a commercial Telescript license agreement to provide a Telescript-based network in the Netherlands.
Sanyo Electric Co., one of the world's leading suppliers of electronic products, joined the alliance in November 1994. In 1995, Sanyo entered into a Magic Cap technology licensing agreement with the Company.
Sony Corporation, one of the world's largest consumer electronics and entertainment companies, joined the alliance in February 1991. Sony has licensed Magic Cap technology and has commenced shipping the Magic Link PIC-1000, which was the first Magic Cap-based personal intelligent communicator. Sony has recently begun shipping its next version of the Magic Link, the Magic Link PIC-2000, which contains release 1.5 of the Magic Cap software and numerous hardware upgrades. Sony has stated, that it will continue to perform research and development activities with respect to second generation Magic Cap software, and that it will continue to market the Magic Link PIC-2000 in the United States.
Toshiba Corporation, one of the world's largest computer and consumer electronics companies, joined the alliance in February 1994. Toshiba has not entered into any technology licensing agreement with the Company to date.