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Clarion Selects ORA to Provide Hands-Free Nokia Cellular Cradle

9 November 1999

Clarion Selects ORA Electronics to Provide Hands-Free Nokia Cellular Cradle for Clarion AutoPC 
 Device Ships With PhoneBase Application Software From InfoGation Corporation

    TORONTO, Nov. 8 -- Clarion Sales Corporation, a world leader
in the car audio and electronics industry, has selected ORA Electronics to
offer a USB-controlled cellular cradle, along with InfoGation Corporation's
PhoneBase application software, for Nokia phones (Model #s 5120, 5160, 6120,
6160 and 6162) for the Clarion AutoPC(TM).  Clarion will demonstrate the
cradle in its booth (#543) at the ITS World Congress.  The cradle will be
available late November through authorized Clarion dealers.  The suggested
retail price is $399.  The Clarion AutoPC is the first product that integrates
car audio, computing functions, navigation and wireless communications through
hands-free voice activation into a 1-DIN unit in the dash of an automobile.
It is built on a revolutionary open architecture platform and powered by the
Microsoft Windows(R) CE operating system.
    The ORA Electronics USB TelCar(R) Mark VII, when combined with the
included InfoGation PhoneBase software, will allow users to dock their phones
and control it with voice-activated dialing and hands-free access via the
AutoPC.  Developed for in-vehicle use, the TelCar Mark VII is a handset
specific docking unit that enables a variety of wireless telephone operations.
    "We are excited to be working with Ora Electronics and InfoGation again to
provide the much-anticipated Nokia phone cradle for AutoPC users," said James
Minarik, president and CEO of Clarion Corporation of America.  "The
introduction of this new technology demonstrates Clarion's ongoing commitment
to provide consumers with cutting-edge mobile electronics solutions that also
address the issue of safely using a cellular phone completely hands-free while
driving."
    InfoGation Corporation's PhoneBase software solution with the ORA cradle
makes the cellular phone in the car completely hands-free.  This voice-based
interface that allows users to enter and call numbers, set and store numbers
in 100 preset locations, answer the phone automatically, select and dial
numbers, and view call statistics on the AutoPC display.  The software will
automatically mute the vehicle's entertainment system when placing or
receiving calls and charge the phone's battery when the vehicle ignition is
on.
    "With the success of the Motorola MicroTAC phone cradle, we are pleased to
be working again with Clarion to provide a hands-free cellular solution to
support the world famous Nokia wireless phones," stated Martin Pichinson,
president and CEO, ORA Electronics Inc.
    Similar to the Motorola MicroTAC phone cradle currently available, the
accessory works by incorporating the USB cellular cradle with both the voice
control and speech synthesis of the Clarion AutoPC.  Drivers are able to
command the Clarion AutoPC to look up a phone number, dial and speak without
ever having to take their eyes off the road.
    "PhoneBase fulfills one of InfoGation's missions: to provide a safer and
improved driving experience for our customers," said Dr Kent Pu, InfoGation
president and CEO.  "Since most AutoPC customers use cell phones, they should
have the PhoneBase and ORA cradle to ensure they are getting the added
convenience and safety provided by this solution."
    ORA Electronics is a leading designer and supplier of PCS and cellular
accessories; wireless communication peripheral devices; and enhancement
products.
    InfoGation Corporation is a leading developer of software for the mobile
computing market.  It provides both OEM and consumer products for in-vehicle
computing systems based on the open Auto PC platform powered by the Windows CE
operating system.  InfoGation collaborated with Microsoft and Clarion in the
development of the Auto PC platform specification, wrote many of the device
drivers for the Clarion AutoPC, and was one of the first to deliver
third-party applications for the platform.  The privately held company was
founded in 1996 and is headquartered in San Diego, Calif.  The InfoGation web
site is http://www.infogation.com.
    Clarion Corporation of America, with U.S. headquarters in Gardena, Calif.,
has been an international leader in car audio and electronics since 1940.  The
company conducts research, development, engineering, design and manufacturing
of entertainment, communication, security, computing and navigation systems
products.  Clarion has more than 14,000 employees worldwide and 24 factories
in 10 countries, with marketing and sales affiliates in Europe, North and
South America, Asia and Australia.  Clarion is located on the Web at
http://www.clarionmultimedia.com.
    Clarion is the developer and manufacturer of the revolutionary Clarion
AutoPC(TM), which is the first product to integrate car audio, computing
functions, navigation and wireless communications through hands-free voice
activation within the dash of an automobile.  Information on the Clarion
AutoPC, which is powered by the Microsoft Windows(R) CE operating system, can
be found at http://www.autopc.com.

    Other product and company names herein may be the trademarks of their
respective owners.