PocketGenie

Last updated
PocketGenie
Developer(s) WolfeTech Corporation
Initial release1997
Final release
3.2
Platform BlackBerry, Motorola, SkyTel, PalmPilot, Windows CE devices
Type Business collaborative software, Finance
License Trialware [1]

PocketGenie was an embedded wireless application developed for two-way pagers in 1997. At the time WAP was commonplace for mobile services; PocketGenie utilized HTML and URL links. [2] [3] It was the first commercial wireless service for RIM (BlackBerry) and Motorola. [4]

WolfeTech was founded by Surya Jayaweera (CEO) in January 1997. Jayaweera developed PocketGenie in November 1996. Two days later, he drove to COMDEX and pitched the idea to Motorola. Its approval led to the start of WolfeTech. [5] [6] PocketGenie was announced to the public in 1997. [7]

PocketGenie was a text-based software before it upgraded to an icon based GUI in 2000. Users could type keywords into the software's menu to access the Internet services of WolfeTech's business partners; users could check stock reports, news headlines, get driving directions or purchase assorted goods. Later versions made improvements to business transactions and included a multilingual translator. [8] [9] Over 200 different services were provided. [10] A companion software PocketInternet permitted global web browsing and full HTML functionality. [2]

PC Mag gave PocketGenie a good performance rating but noted its sluggish lag times in its review. [1] In 2011, the trademark for PocketGenie expired. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BlackBerry</span> Line of wireless handheld devices and services

BlackBerry was a brand of smartphones and other related mobile services and devices. The line was originally developed and maintained by the Canadian company BlackBerry Limited from 1999 to 2016, after which it was licensed to various companies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smartphone</span> Handheld mobile device

A smartphone is a portable computer device that combines mobile telephone and computing functions into one unit. They are distinguished from feature phones by their stronger hardware capabilities and extensive mobile operating systems, which facilitate wider software, internet, and multimedia functionality, alongside core phone functions such as voice calls and text messaging. Smartphones typically contain a number of metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) integrated circuit (IC) chips, include various sensors that can be leveraged by pre-included and third-party software, and support wireless communications protocols. More recently, smartphone manufacturers have begun to integrate satellite messaging connectivity and satellite emergency services into devices for use in remote regions, where there is no reliable cellular network.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BlackBerry Limited</span> Canadian technology company

BlackBerry Limited is a Canadian software company specializing in cybersecurity. Founded in 1984, it was originally known as Research In Motion (RIM). As RIM, it developed the BlackBerry brand of interactive pagers, smartphones, and tablets. It transitioned to a cybersecurity enterprise software and services company under Chief Executive Officer John S. Chen. Its products are used by various businesses, car manufacturers, and government agencies to prevent hacking and ransomware attacks. They include BlackBerry Cylance's artificial intelligence based cyber-security solutions, the BlackBerry AtHoc emergency communication system (ECS) platform; the QNX real-time operating system; and BlackBerry Enterprise Server, a Unified Endpoint Management (UEM) platform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AT&T Mobility</span> US Wireless Carrier

AT&T Mobility LLC, also known as AT&T Wireless and marketed as simply AT&T, is an American telecommunications company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of AT&T Inc. and provides wireless services in the United States. AT&T Mobility is the third-largest wireless carrier in the United States, with 101.6 million subscribers as of the end of Q1 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amdocs</span> Israeli-founded software company

Amdocs is a multinational corporation that was founded in Israel and currently headquartered in Chesterfield, Missouri, with support and development centers located worldwide. The company specializes in software and services for communications, media and financial services providers and digital enterprises.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siavash Alamouti</span>

Siavash Alamouti is an Iranian-born business executive, entrepreneur. and electrical engineer. He is the Executive Vice President of Innovation R&D at Wells Fargo, and the executive chairman of Mimik Technology, Inc. He is known for the 1998 invention of the Alamouti's code, a type of space–time block code.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BlackBerry Pearl</span> Series of smartphones developed by Research In Motion

The BlackBerry Pearl was a series of smartphones developed by Research In Motion, and was the first BlackBerry device with a camera and media player. It was originally released on September 12, 2006. T-Mobile was the first US carrier to release the phone as a carrier device. The last BlackBerry Pearl released was the 9100 series on May 13, 2010. After this model was cleared out, RIM discontinued the Pearl series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palm Vx</span> Type of Palm PDA

The Palm Vx was a personal digital assistant made by the Palm Computing division of 3Com. It benefited from the sleek design and low weight of its predecessor, the Palm V, while increasing the available storage to 8 MB. At 114 grams, it was one of the lightest models ever offered by Palm. Retail price at launch was US$399.

The Motorola Slvr is a series of mobile phones from Motorola, and is one of the series in the 4LTR line. The first phones were released in early 2005. They are designed to be very thin and lightweight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Hesse</span>

Daniel R. Hesse is the former chief executive officer of Sprint Corporation. Hesse's tenure at Sprint focused on improved customer service, and he served as the spokesperson in Sprint's "Simply Everything" commercials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruckus Networks</span> Networking equipment brand

Ruckus Networks is a brand of wired and wireless networking equipment and software owned by CommScope. Ruckus offers Switches, Wi-Fi access points, CBRS access points, Controllers, Management systems, Cloud management, AAA/BYOD software, AI and ML analytics software, location software and IoT controller software products to mobile carriers, broadband service providers, and corporate enterprises. As a company, Ruckus invented and has patented wireless voice, video, and data technology, such as adaptive antenna arrays that extend signal range, increase data rates, and avoid interference, providing distribution of delay-sensitive content over standard 802.11 Wi-Fi.

SEVEN Networks, Inc. is a privately funded American corporation founded in 2000. It had about 265 employees in 2010. As of 2017, the company has research and development centers in Texas and Finland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Droid X</span> Android smartphone developed by Motorola Mobility

The Droid X is a smartphone released by Motorola on July 15, 2010. The smartphone was renamed Motoroi X for its release in Mexico on November 9, 2010. The Droid X runs on the Android operating system, and the latest version supported was 2.3 Gingerbread. It was distributed by Verizon Wireless in the United States and Iusacell in Mexico.

Telenav, Inc. is a wireless location-based services corporation that provides services including Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite navigation, local search, automotive navigation solutions, mobile advertising, enterprise mobility and workflow automation. The company’s headquarters are located in Santa Clara, California in the United States with additional offices in the U.S., Germany, Japan, Romania, China, and Brazil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arlene Harris (inventor)</span> American inventor

Arlene Joy Harris is an entrepreneur, inventor, investor, and policy advocate in the telecommunications industry. She is the president and co-founder of Dyna LLC, an incubator for start-up and early-stage organizations historically in the wireless technology field. Harris is widely recognized as a pioneer in mobile and wireless enterprise and an innovator of consumer products and services. In May 2007, she became the first female inductee of the Wireless Hall of Fame, and was named to the Consumer Technology Hall of Fame in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nexus 6</span> Android smartphone developed by Motorola Mobility and Google

The Nexus 6 is a phablet co-developed by Google and Motorola Mobility that runs the Android operating system. The successor to the Nexus 5, it is the sixth smartphone in the Google Nexus series, a family of Android consumer devices marketed by Google and built by an original equipment manufacturer partner. Nexus 6 and the HTC Nexus 9 served as the launch devices for Android 5.0 "Lollipop".

John D. Marshall is an American entrepreneur and inventor. He is the co-founder and former president and CEO of AirWatch, which VMware acquired for $1.54 billion in 2014. He is co-chairman at a software start-up called OneTrust.

The Bayou Music Center is an indoor theater owned by Live Nation and located in Houston, Texas, United States. The theater is located at the Bayou Place entertainment complex in Downtown Houston.

References

  1. 1 2 Brown Bruce, Brown Marge (01 August 2000). "WolfeTech PocketGenie". PCMag. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  2. 1 2 Simmons, Curt. How to Do Everything with Your BlackBerry, Chapter 13 Extending the BlackBerry, pages 260~278. Osborne/McGraw Hill, 2001, ISBN   0-07-219393-X
  3. (18 May 1999). "Research In Motion and WolfeTech Corporation Deliver Wireless Portal with BlackBerry and PocketGenie". BlackBerry Press Releases. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  4. (24 January 2002) "PocketGenie 3.2 Receives 4 COWS on Tucows; WolfeTech's Information-On-Demand Software Receives Top Rating From Leading Distributor of e-Business Services and Applications". PR Newswire. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  5. Hermann, David. Entrepreneur's epiphany engineers success. Inland Valley Times. 21 March 2001.
  6. Prather, Michelle (28 February 1999) "Beep, Beep! Hot high-tech entrepreneurs". Entrepreneur. Retrieved 6 October 2015.
  7. Kaplan, Karen (08 September 1997) "A Genie Grants Wish for Tiny Web Surfer". Heard on the Beat, LATimes. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  8. Felps, Bruce The Dream: Leaving Laptops Behind. The Wireless Week. 19 August 1999.
  9. Gregson, Reily (28 June 1999) "Wolfetech Upgrades PocketGenie". RCR Wireless News. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  10. Gregson, Reily (15 March 2002) "PocketGenie app available on SkyTel devices". RCR Wireless News. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  11. "POCKETGENIE". Trademarkia. Retrieved 5 October 2015.