HANDSPRING LAUNCHES VISOR ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST

MDS Holdings Group to Distribute Full Product Family of Handheld Computers in 10 Additional Countries

Geneva, Switzerland and Dubai, UAE (December, 2000 - press1: iBOT) - Handspring International SARL announced the availability of its Visor line of expandable handheld computers and Springboard expansion modules across the Middle East. The products can be purchased in the International English version through appointed retailers in Lebanon, Jordan, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Handspring has extended its current agreement with MDS Holdings group through which IMC Middle East, a division MDS Holdings, will distribute the Visor product family, including the recently introduced Visor Platinum and Visor Prism.

“Mobility today requires intuitive, pocket-sized computing products that can easily converge with voice and data communications,” said Jacques Chammas of MDS Holdings in the Middle East. “Handspring, with its compelling Springboard expansion technology, is helping people reach this objective in a simple yet elegant way. ”

Handspring continues to focus intensely on building its global leadership and is selling Visor in 39 countries in four languages including German, Japanese, French and English. The move into the Middle East is the most recent development designed to deliver the Visor product line to an expanded range of consumers around the world.

“In these price-sensitive, but competitive markets, we expect Visor to be popular among consumers in the Middle East and a great business growth opportunity,” said Roy Bedlow, Handspring EMEA Marketing Director. “We believe that providing an affordable, yet expandable, option for handheld computing will help drive rapid global adoption.”

Handspring International SARL opened earlier this year in Geneva, Switzerland, with logistics and customer support operations in the Netherlands. Visors are available in the above-mentioned countries through reseller channels, and sales and marketing are managed through a distributor relationship. Prices will vary based on custom duties and shipment costs. Handspring expects its partner to begin carrying a variety of Springboard modules as they become available.


This announcement comes on the heels of introductions of Visor and Springboard modules and accessories throughout Europe earlier this year and this month’s global introduction of two new products in Handspring’s popular Visor family of handheld computers: Visor Prism and Visor Platinum. Visor Prism, Handspring’s first color-enabled product, boasts 16-bit color and can display over 65,000 colors for viewing picture-quality graphics, as well as vivid games and maps. Visor Platinum is the fastest Palm OS handheld computer on the market today, at least 50% faster than Visor Deluxe and as much as twice as fast as many other Palm OS handheld computer on the market today.

As with all Visor products, Visor Prism and Visor Platinum feature the Springboard expansion slot to harness the true benefits of full expandability. Visor Prism and Visor Platinum both come with Palm OS 3.5 and are powered by Motorola’s Dragonball VZ 33 MHz processor, bringing important advantages to typical daily handheld use. The increased power results in faster search capabilities as well as rendering of images for use in multimedia applications such as games, mapping applications, and video playback.

About Visor and the Springboard Expansion Platform
All Visor products are based on Palm OS software. Built from the ground up for expansion, all Visor products feature the Springboard slot for plug-and-play integration with Springboard modules that are sold separately. With Springboard expansion modules – hardware components that slide easily in and out of the Springboard slot on the back of the Visor products - people can easily tailor their handhelds to suit their specific needs, with the flexibility to interchange modules as desired. All Visor products offer HotSync software for desktop synchronization and a conduit to Microsoft Outlook



About Handspring Inc.
Handspring (NASDAQ: HAND) is a leading innovator in the handheld computing industry. The company develops, manufactures and markets a family of expandable handheld computers for a broad range of markets and customers. Founded in 1998, Handspring's flagship technology is the Springboard platform that provides a simple and easy method for hardware and software expansion. Today Handspring sells its Visor line of handhelds at Handspring.com and through select Internet and retail partners in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Asia and the Middle East along with a line of Springboard expansion modules and accessories.

About MDS Holdings
For over 33 years the MDS Group of Companies has distinguished itself by developing prosperous enterprises in many of the world's most challenging markets for the highly demanding IT industry. MDS is a diversified holding company controlling a portfolio of autonomous businesses dedicated to the selling, marketing, support and servicing of commercial office equipment, information and telecommunications systems and software.
Since its creation the company has enjoyed consistent growth through a disciplined approach to developing niche market opportunities. Its initial success was established through multiple investments in developing countries, followed by systematic diversification into more stable and mature economies.
Today, the MDS Group of Companies is conducting business in 38 countries throughout three continents.
The company's organizational structure and expertise make it an ideal partner for leading IT manufacturers who share the MDS 's goal to expand the markets it serves. For more information, please visit: www.mdsholdings.com


CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including those relating to: the wide availability of the Platinum and Prism models; the future popularity of the Visor product line in the Middle East and the potential for sales growth in that market; Handspring's ability to expand its market presence globally and across an expanded range of consumers; the degree to which affordability and expandability will help drive the rapid global adoption of handheld computers; and the willingness of Handspring distribution partners to carry a wide variety of Springboard modules. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors including, among others: Handspring’s ability to quickly ramp production of its Platinum and Prism products that were only recently introduced; consumer acceptance of the Visor product line and the Springboard expansion slot; the difficulty of conducting business in emerging markets; Handspring and its suppliers ability to meet product demand in light of component constraints; and the rapid pace of technological change and competitive developments in the handheld computer industry.

Handspring, the Handspring logo, Visor and Springboard are trademarks of Handspring, Inc. and may be registered in certain jurisdictions. All other brand and company names are trademarks of their respective owners.


Press Contacts:

Volker Jacob
Handspring International
+ 41 22 747 7754
vjacob@handspring.com


Dany Khair
IMC Middle East
+9714 2233438
danyk@appleme.co.ae