TROY Group, Ricoh and WIDCOMM to Demonstrate Next-Generation Mobile Printing at COMDEX/Fall 2000

Users of Handheld Computers, Cell Phones and Laptops Can Print Effortlessly Without the Use of Cables

TROY Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:TROY) today announced that its subsidiary TROY XCD is partnering with Ricoh Co., Ltd, one of the world's leading manufacturers of imaging equipment, and with WIDCOMM, Inc. to demonstrate mobile wireless printing in the Ricoh Corp. booth at COMDEX/Fall 2000 on Nov. 13-17.

The purpose of the demonstration is to show a scenario, which the companies believe will soon be commonplace, in which a mobile user is able to print on demand without the need for a cable to connect the computing device to the printer.

This cable-free environment, which is made possible by the new Bluetooth wireless technology, has numerous applications. For example, a handheld computer user could walk up to a printer in a hotel or airport lounge and print out a map with the push of a button.

Ricoh will supply the printers used in the demonstration, TROY will provide the hardware for enabling wireless communications on the Ricoh printers, and WIDCOMM will contribute their BlueConnect wireless module for Handspring, Inc.'s (Nasdaq:HAND) Visor handheld computer.

"With the advent of laptop computers, handheld computers and cellular phones, mobile computing has become commonplace in our society," said Hideko Kunii, Senior Vice President of Ricoh. "But until now, mobile users have had to find a cable whenever they needed to print. Bluetooth wireless technology gives these users a new level of convenience."

"In order for mobile users to be truly mobile, they can't be constrained by the need for cables," said Patrick Dirk, TROY 's chairman and CEO. "Bluetooth wireless technology allows true mobility by eliminating cabling for printing as well as for many other applications."

"People buy mobile devices like handheld computers so they can use them anywhere and anytime," said Hiep Pham, WIDCOMM's president and CEO. "By using a Handspring Visor with Bluetooth wireless technology, such users can achieve this kind of complete freedom."

Bluetooth, named for the 10th Century Viking king who united Denmark, is a new low-cost radio technology that is designed to eliminate the need for cabling in a wide range of products, including cellular phones, PCs, headphones, audio equipment, and much more.

It has unprecedented industry support, with over 1,800 companies in the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, including all of the leading players in the telecommunications and computing industry. According to Cahners In-Stat group, the Bluetooth market will grow from virtually zero in 1999 to over one billion in 2005.

Bluetooth is a trademark of Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson, and is licensed to TROY XCD and WIDCOMM. Ricoh is a registered trademark of Ricoh Co., Ltd. Handspring and Visor are trademarks of Handspring, Inc. BlueConnect is a trademark of WIDCOMM, Inc. All other trademarks are hereby acknowledged.


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