Casio Computer Co. Ltd - Focus On Wireless Communications

FOCUS ON WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS

Casio was a fairly early player in the personal communications services (PCS) market. In March of 1994, the firm shipped its first paging device, which offered alphanumeric messaging capabilities. A year later, it introduced the Casio PhoneMate LT-70 video telephone and an FM teletext receiver. Casio became the world's first mass producer of digital cameras in 1995 when it shipped the QV-10 digital camera with an LCD monitor. In 1996, Casio unveiled the Cassiopeia, a Windows CE-based handheld computer system with 2MB of RAM, audio capabilities, and limited versions of popular word processing, spreadsheet and scheduling programs. The Cassiopeia also boasted e-mail capabilities via Microsoft Exchange and was able to accommodate wireless data transfer.

Casio entered the U.S. pager market in 1997 after announcing an intent to increase its focus on telecommunications products. The following year, the firm established Casio Soft Inc. to develop and market additional Windows CE applications for its U.S. customers. In January of 2000, America Online and Casio agreed to develop software that would allow AOL subscribers to use their Cassiopeia handheld computer for checking, sending, and receiving e-mail. According to a January 2000 Business Wire article, the deal was part of Casio's attempt to "target the mobile needs that arise for personal computers, the Internet, and the rapid growth of mobile telecommunications markets." In keeping with this strategy, the firm worked with FotoNation Inc. to develop a digital camera from which users could upload pictures directly to the Zing.com Web site.

It was at this time that Casio began seriously targeting the corporate sector with its Pocket PC. In June of 2000, Casio and Sybase Inc.'s iAnywhere Solutions unit forged a joint venture to make mobile e-business products and market them on a global scale. Specifically, Casio began using the SQL Anywhere Studio—along with mobile integration and database technology—on its corporate Pocket PCs. Early in 2001, to set its product apart from competitors like Palm and address security concerns about giving corporate intranet access to wireless devices, the firm connected its Cassiopeia E-707 Pocket PC to a packet communications service that only allows authorized users to access corporate networks.