Handtap Launches Comic Notes on Palm Powered Handhelds

Message packs to feature Garfield and other popular comic characters
 

MILL VALLEY, CA (August 23, 2001) Handtap Communications today announces Comic Notes, a new messaging solution for Palm Powered™ handheld computers. Comic Notes are message packs featuring popular comic characters such as Garfield, Bizarro, Cathy and Ziggy, and is based on Electric Pocket's best-selling BugMe! software.
    BugMe! and BugMe! Messenger have both been commercial successes in the handheld computing industry, enabling users to quickly and easily handwrite notes or sketches directly on the screens of their Palm Powered handhelds and set reminder alarms. With the release of BugMe! Messenger late last year, Electric Pocket added the ability to send notes, sketches and even photographs to any email address directly from the handheld device. Now users will be able to select from a wide variety of Handtap Notepacks to automatically send fun and practical messages from their handheld. Examples from the Comic Notes collection include a "To Do" stationery template featuring the image of the popular Cathy character with her trademark pile of paper on her desk, and an "It's Time" reminder note featuring a sleepy Garfield taking out his frustration on an unfortunate alarm clock.
    "Comic Notes let you communicate quickly and with character," said Fabrice Florin, CEO of Handtap. "It's a great way to stay in touch with peers, family and friends. We look forward to releasing a range of BugMe! NotePacks for personal and business use."
    Garfield, Cathy, Bizarro and other popular characters are provided by uClick, the world's largest distributor of comics on the Web. "We're delighted to be working with Handtap and Electric Pocket on this exciting project," said Chris Pizey, chief operating officer of uClick. "This is a world class example of how our comic characters can add value in the wireless market."
    "BugMe! is so successful because it is both playful and practical," said Iain Barclay, Electric Pocket's co-founder and chief products officer. "Our new BugMe! NotePack further expands upon the fun and practicality of BugMe! and BugMe! Messenger and creates new opportunities for our customers and our partners, who can now create and share BugMe! NotePacks with the BugMe! community."

About Handtap Communications
Handtap Communications provides creative messaging solutions for mobile devices. Handtap message templates are available for a range of platforms, from Palm handheld computers to mobile phones. Handtap also provides consulting services for market leaders in wireless entertainment and communication. For more information, visit www.handtap.com

About Uclick
uclick is the largest packager of comics on the Web, distributing over 100 popular comic characters such as Garfield, Doonesbury, Bizarro and Cathy. This exclusive content is now syndicated to over 500 sites including Yahoo!, MSNBC.com, washingtonpost.com and CNNi. uclick is a division of Andrews McMeel Universal, the world's largest independent newspaper syndicate and a leader in branded content merchandising, Andrews McMeel is also a leader in calendar and humor book publishing. For more information, visit www.uclick.com.

About Electric Pocket Limited
Electric Pocket was founded in January 2000 to build upon the mobile and wireless computing technologies of Haus of Maus, the developer of the award-winning BugMe! application for Palm Powered™ and Pocket PC handheld devices. Headquartered in the scenic Wye Valley of Wales, UK, the company is spearheaded by a team of experienced technology engineers and visionary experts in mobile and wireless technologies. Electric Pocket offers innovative mobile computing solutions and consultancy services. For more information, visit www.electricpocket.com.