3M, Anoto and Ericsson Announce Collaborative Agreement to Produce Wireless Digital Post-it(R) Notes
13 November 2000
3M, Anoto and Ericsson Announce Collaborative Agreement to Produce Wireless Digital Post-it(R) Notes
LAS VEGAS, Nov. 13 3M , Anoto and Ericsson
Mobile Communications are exploring a new communication concept that will
bring the quick and user-friendly communication of the Post-it(R) Note into
the wireless, digital domain. The companies hope to introduce several products
and services arising from this project, based on Anoto-technology, during the
second half of 2001.
"Bringing Post-it(R) Notes into the wireless digital domain will combine
the power of the mobile Internet with the convenience of Post-it(R) Products.
With this new concept, consumers can use paper Post-it(R) Notes as usual, with
the additional benefit of convenient wireless communications through this
user-friendly technology," says Darrell J. Gacom, director, eBusiness,
3M Consumer and Office Markets.
Users will be able to write messages with an Anoto-pen on a familiar
canary yellow Post-it(R) Note that has been imprinted with an Anoto-pattern.
The contents of the Post-it(R) Note will then be sent from the pen to a PC or
cellular phone using Bluetooth wireless technology. The digitally transmitted
message can be sent to one or more recipients, who are then notified that they
have received a message by the appearance of the well-known Post-it(R) Note
icon on their PC or cell phone screen.
"3M is the world's leading manufacturer of repositionable note pads. Since
inventing the Post-it(R) Note 20 years ago, 3M has developed a strong brand
identity and a comprehensive global distribution network. As a result, we view
this collaboration as extremely important to our efforts to create a global de
facto standard for digital paper," says Christer Fahraeus, chief executive
officer, Anoto AB.
"Guiding the development of this new world-standard together with Anoto
and strategic partners like 3M is entirely in line with our strategy of being
a leader within mobile Internet communications," says Jan Ahrenbring, Market
Director, Ericsson Mobile Communications.
"This collaboration with 3M further strengthens our ability to create a
global de facto standard based on Anoto's concept. Post-it(R) Notes can be
found in almost every home and every office. The ability to create digital
Post-it(R) Notes and transmit them wirelessly will make communication easier
and more convenient both at work and at home," says Jan B Andersson, president
Anoto Inc.
The Anoto-technology comprises a combination of a so-called intelligent
pen, proprietary patterns, advanced image processing, Bluetooth wireless
technology, and an information infrastructure. The unique pattern is almost
invisible and can be printed on almost any paper using standard printing
technology. By using an Anoto-pen, your notes, handwritten messages and
sketches can be transmitted wirelessly as e-mail, SMS, or fax messages
directly from the paper. They can also be stored on a computer or on your own
website on the Internet. With the Anoto-technology, you can, just by checking
a box, send personal messages to whomever you want, wherever you want and
whenever you want.
This new communication system is a joint effort involving the three
companies. It will be demonstrated at the Anoto booth (L341) at the upcoming
Comdex Fall 2000 in Las Vegas, Nev., Nov. 13-17. Those who visit the Anoto
booth can see this technology demonstrated and learn more about this new
communication tool.
Company information
Anoto AB was founded in Lund, Sweden in late 1999 as a subsidiary of
C Technologies, which is listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange (O-Listan).
The company currently has about one hundred employees working in offices in
Lund, Stockholm, Boston, and Tokyo. Ericsson Mobile Communications holds an
important minority stake in the company and is also represented on the board.
Anoto focuses on research, development, and marketing for the various aspects
of Anoto-technology and in creating a de facto standard for digital paper.
Anoto-technology comprises a combination of a so-called intelligent pen,
proprietary patterns, advanced image processing, Bluetooth wireless
technology, and an information infrastructure. Handwritten notes can be
stored, graphic e-mails sent, and electronic orders placed using nothing other
than pen and paper. Users can communicate with anyone who has a cell-phone,
PC, hand-held computer, or PDA.
http://www.anoto.com
3M is a $16 billion technology company with leading positions in consumer
and office, electronics, telecommunications, industrial, health care, safety
and other markets. 3M businesses share technologies, manufacturing operations,
brands, marketing channels and other important resources. Headquartered in
St. Paul, Minn., the company has operations in more than 60 countries and
serves customers in nearly 200 countries.
htto://www.3m.com
Ericsson is the leading communications supplier, combining innovation in
mobility and Internet in creating the new era of mobile Internet. Ericsson
provides total solutions covering everything from systems and applications to
mobile phones and other communications tools. With more than 100,000 employees
in 140 countries, Ericsson simplifies communications for customers all over
the world.
http://www.ericsson.com
About Anoto-technology
The Anoto-technology is a combination of a so-called intelligent pen,
proprietary patterns, advanced image processing, Bluetooth wireless
technology, and an information infrastructure.
Anoto-technology puts an end to the need for time-consuming transfer of
handwritten notes into the digital domain. Users are no longer relegated to
text-based SMS or e-mail, but can now use handwritten to communicate with
anyone who has a cell-phone, PC, hand-held computer, or PDA. This makes it
possible to store handwritten notes, send graphics in e-mails, and place
electronic orders using nothing other than pen and paper.
The proprietary Anoto-pattern consists of small dots that are spread out
in unique combinations around an imaginary grid. The pattern can be printed on
normal paper and is visible only as a faint gray tone. On paper printed with
the Anoto-pattern, any position can be expressed as absolute X-Y coordinates.
The Anoto-pen uses a normal ballpoint cartridge and is equipped with a
"scanning eye" -- a digital infrared camera and advanced image processing
system -- and a Bluetooth-transmitter/receiver.
When writing with an Anoto-pen on Anoto-patterned paper, the digital
camera takes a picture every hundredth of a second, each picture containing
all the pattern information needed to provide an exact position determination
on the grid. When combined, these positions provide a digital "trail" of the
pen's movements on the paper. With the help of Bluetooth technology, this
information can be transferred to a cellular phone or computer, for example,
and from there to other digital environments such as the Internet, via the
Anoto concept's information infrastructure.
About Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a wireless transfer technology that is expected to
revolutionize the personal communication market. The Bluetooth specification
enables low cost, small format radio communication. The technology makes it
possible to establish wireless connections between portable computers, mobile
phones and other handheld units, and to connect, without wires, to the
Internet. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) comprises players in the
telecoms, computers and networks sectors, and is engaged both in developing
the technology and in introducing it on to the market. 3Com, Ericsson, IBM,
Intel, Lucent, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia and Toshiba are the leading members
of Bluetooth SIG, which also comprises approximately 1,700 other companies
that have taken on board and implemented the technology. The Bluetooth brand
name is owned by Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, Sweden. See also
http://www.bluetooth.com