Action Engine today announces a licensing agreement with Casio Computer Co., Ltd. (OTC:CSIOY) to deploy Action Engine's mobile services framework on the CASSIOPEIA family of PDAs, including the new BE-300, which Casio unveiled at PC Expo this week.
Under the terms of the agreement, Action Engine will license its framework technology and a suite of ready-made business applications to Casio, serving as the backbone of the myCasio myAgent(SM) service (also announced at PC Expo). Action Engine's software will debut in September, making the myCasio myAgent service available for Casio's customers this fall.
"This agreement is a huge win for Action Engine. Our team has worked diligently during the past 18 months to build technology that completely changes the wireless computing experience -- we've taken a leap beyond the browser-based model to make wireless transactions simple and efficient. Casio shares this vision," said Craig Eisler, chief executive officer of Action Engine. "This agreement puts the technology into the hands of consumers, who have always been our main focus and consideration during the development stage."
Action Engine unveiled the Beta version of its mobile services framework at the DEMO 2001 conference in February 2001. The framework supports transactional, informational or enterprise-type applications. For instance, using the Traveler, Dining and Movie applications, business professionals can purchase air travel, reserve hotel rooms, book rental cars, make restaurant reservations, and buy movie tickets right from their mobile devices; tasks frequently associated with being away from the office.
The Action Engine framework -- and now myCasio's myAgent service -- features a guided user interface that walks users through a simple question-and-answer procedure to build a complete request before going to the wireless network. For example, a person might ask myAgent to: "Book a flight for me departing from San Francisco airport on 07/1/01 8:30AM, going to New York Kennedy airport returning on 7/5/01 10:00AM. Search all airlines, direct flights only, with my preferred seating." Several flight options, or 'solutions,' are delivered back to the user; a ticket is selected and purchased in just one more step.
The technology is also designed to learn from each transaction, personalizing solutions to meet the user's individual preferences. "Action Engine will assist Casio in providing an enhanced experience for CASSIOPEIA users. myCasio's myAgent service allows users to transact on the go, taking full advantage of the power of their PDA," said Jonathan Mann, head of product strategy for Casio's U.S. Research and Development Center. "The myAgent application suite is a vital business component to the myCasio service, as well as for our larger mobile strategy. Casio and the myCasio service are creating the comprehensive solution for the mobile business professional -- that means hardware and services for your complete digital lifestyle."
Action Engine's mobile services framework will be available on CASSIOPEIA devices this fall. This is not an exclusive agreement. The framework is designed to be platform agnostic, allowing access to available applications and services via any Internet connection, wired or wireless. The framework is currently available for the Palm OS, PocketPC, Windows CE, RIM, Windows 98/2000, Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer, and will be available on J2ME this fall. Action Engine plans to develop Symbian and Linux versions in 2002.
"Action Engine has consistently hit and exceeded its goals since OVP Venture Partners initially invested in the company early last year. A licensing agreement with a major manufacturer like Casio was the next big hurdle. Action Engine has delivered well ahead of schedule -- we couldn't be happier," said Bill Miller, partner with OVP Venture Partners, Action Engine's lead investor.
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