STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Feb. 1, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Anoto has according to plan sold around twenty beta versions of the proprietary Application Development Kit (ADK) to partners who can use them to develop their own services with Anoto functionality. The ADK will cost USD 10,000 and a commercial market launch is planned for the end of the first quarter of 2002. ADK accelerates acceptance of the global de facto standard for digital paper and offers companies in most sectors the opportunity to develop paper-based digital communication services utilising Anoto functionality. These services will be a future source of income for Anoto and Partners.
"Initially our marketing efforts have been focused on spreading and gaining acceptance of our standard for digital paper and paper based services. We have now approached our network of partners and sold beta versions to a select few who are already developing new service solutions. Companies such as AU-System, adDoc, iBusiness and Teleca Exxalon are some of the partners with development of new exciting services underway, facilitated by the development tool", says Christer Fahraeus, President, Anoto AB.
"The ADK is an excellent tool for companies wishing to utilise and benefit from the potential of the Anoto concept to develop paper-based services. We are making use of ADK to be able to this year launch paper- based services enabling different types of form processing", says Rolf Nord, President, iBusiness AB.
Processing forms is one of several areas where Anoto functionality could make a powerful breakthrough. Examples are the many types of forms used within different sectors such as the pharmaceutical industry (clinical trials), medical services (case books, referrals, prescriptions), the public sector (election forms, application forms, income-tax return forms) etc.
Anoto Partners will be trained in the use of the tools to enable development of new services at the Anoto Academy. Anoto will initially present standardised services, and by using the ADK tools Partners will have the opportunity to develop new services and applications together with their customers.
ADK consists of two separate parts, Software Development Kit and Graphical Design Kit aimed at different target groups.
Software Development Kit (SDK)
The Software Development Kit (SDK) is aimed at software developers who develop application software for different services enabling Anoto functionality. The application software is located on a server and constitutes that part of the service that utilises the information that the end user is creating when writing with the digital pen on the digital paper enabling Anoto functionality. SDK also contains parts for testing and verification of developed applications.
Graphical Design Kit (GDK)
The Graphical Design Kit (GDK) is aimed at graphical designers to assist them in developing the graphical part of applications and services with Anoto functionality. The Anoto pattern is printed on different types of paper and paper products, thereby giving them, among other things, different functions. By using a digital pen enabling Anoto functionality the user can for example order products directly from an Anoto pattern enabled catalogue.
The company Anoto AB was founded in Lund, Sweden in late 1999 as a fully owned subsidiary of C Technologies AB. The company Anoto currently has over 220 employees working in offices in Lund, Stockholm, Boston, Tokyo and Hong Kong. www.anoto.com
C Technologies AB (publ) was founded in 1996 and is a well-established Swedish high-technology company. C Technologies holds cutting-edge expertise in the fields of digital camera technology, image processing. The C Technologies Group, which also comprises the subsidiaries Anoto AB and WeSpot AB, currently has over 300 employees and offices located in Lund, Stockholm, Atlanta, Boston, Tokyo and Hong Kong. Major shareholders include company founder Christer Fahraeus, Capital Group and Ericsson. C Technologies' share is listed on the O-list of the OM Stockholm Exchange (Attract 40). www.ctechnologies.se
A Global de facto Standard for Digital Paper
Anoto is currently creating a global de facto standard for digital paper. Anoto thereby unites one of mankind's most preferred ways of communicating, pen and paper, with the tremendous power of the digital world. This combination is Anoto functionality. There are several underlying technologies behind Anoto functionality, such as pen technology, server technology and paper technology as well as Bluetooth(tm) communication. It is all these technologies that make Anoto functionality as intuitive, spontaneous and individual as possible for the end user. Anoto functionality makes sure that pen and paper remains pen and paper even when digital services are available.
A Network of Partners
Anoto is establishing the de facto standard through a network of partners from a wide range of industries: Mobile phone industry, traditional pen and paper industry, operators, software developers only to mention some. Till now, Anoto has established about 50 partnerships in Europe, USA and Asia.
Ordinary pen and paper, yet more...
Anoto functionality turns handwritten notes, doodles and sketches digital. A pattern, almost invisible to the naked eye, is printed on to ordinary paper. A digital pen enabling Anoto functionality reads the pattern and can thereby determine its' position and copy the pen movement. The information can then via a Bluetooth(tm) communication node (e.g. a mobile phone) be sent to any computer, mobile phone, PDA, fax or information bank. Specific commands or functions can also be assigned to a certain area of the paper, thanks to the Anoto pattern. This enables services such as retrieving information or placing an order directly from a mail order catalogue, newspaper or magazine using the digital pen enabling Anoto functionality.
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Selection of Partner Contacts
adDoc AB Carl Schnell CEO +46 733 174801 AU-System Jonas Olsson Business Manager +46 705 470824 iBusiness AB Rolf Nord CEO +46 739 824409 Teleca Exxalon AB Lars Kruuse Department Manager +46 703 791016
Pictures: http://www.anoto.com/pressroom/material/