Visor Family Of Expandable Handheld Computers

Handspring Brings Popular Visor Family Of Expandable Handheld Computers To New Zealand

Visor products and Springboard expansion modules available now through distribution agreement with Vodafone Pty. Ltd.

AUCKLAND, New Zealand – (March 15, 2001) – Handspring, a leading innovator in the handheld computing industry, today announced an agreement with Vodafone Pty. Ltd. for distribution of the Visor line of handheld computers and Springboard expansion modules in New Zealand. Vodafone has an established sub-distribution relationship with Brightpoint New Zealand, who will manage all aspects in relation to channel partners, service and support. Pricing in New Zealand will start at the manufacturers suggested retail price of NZD $699.00 for the 8MB Visor Deluxe and product is immediately available at retail.

"Mobility today requires intuitive, handheld computing products that can easily converge with voice and data communications. Handspring has built its reputation on great products that do just that," said Stuart Palmer, General Manager, Mobile Data Sales for Vodafone. "Handspring’s Springboard expansion technology makes mobile data communications combined with a handheld computer a reality for all consumers and business professionals and is ideally suited to innovative markets like New Zealand.”

Handspring is currently the second largest provider of handheld computers in the world, shipping over one million units in under a year. Due to its unique expansion platform called Springboard, Handspring has become the first innovator to manufacture and sell a telephony product that works in conjunction with a Palm OS based handheld computer.

Product distributed in New Zealand will include: the recently released super-thin Visor Edge; Visor Prism, Handspring’s colour-enabled product; Visor Platinum, the fastest Palm OS handheld computer on the market today; and Visor Deluxe, a competitively priced 8MB model. Handspring Springboard modules and accessories, including the Backup Module and the 8MB Flash Memory Module, will be made available at major retail stores across New Zealand. Vodafone is also currently working with key members of the Handspring developer community to bring a compelling selection of third-party Springboard modules including MP3 players, keyboards, digital cameras, GPS, games and others to the market. Handspring is testing its VisorPhone GSM world phone in the region and expects to make it available later this year.

Dataquest/Gartner Group indicates that worldwide shipments of handheld computers will total 33.7 million units by 2004 and that the positioning of handhelds as a productivity-enhancing tool will encourage corporate spending by IT departments for the use of the devices within corporations.

"Vodafone delivers the best of two worlds – a strong background in the distribution and support of handheld computers and extensive experience in the wireless domain,” said Bill Holtzman, vice president of international for Handspring. "These areas are now beginning to merge and Vodafone is very well positioned for this transition on tactical and strategic levels."

About Visor and the Springboard Expansion Platform
All Visor products use Palm OS software – allowing users to download existing Palm-compatible applications or to simply beam information between other Palm OS organisers. A full complement of new and improved software helps make Visor the premiere tool for day-to-day organizing – three specific enhancements include an advanced calculator, Datebook+ and City Time. Additional unique features include USB connectivity and Mac compatibility out of the box. All Visor products offer HotSync software for desktop synchronization and a conduit to Microsoft Outlook

Built from the ground up for expansion, Visor is the only handheld computer with the unique Springboard expansion slot enabling people to add a range of hardware and software in a true plug-and-play fashion. With Springboard expansion modules – hardware components that slide easily in and out of the Springboard slot on the back of Visor products – people can easily tailor their handhelds to suit their specific needs, with the flexibility to interchange modules as desired.

About Handspring
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., Asia, Japan, the Middle East, Canada and Europe, along with a line of Springboard expansion modules and accessories. For more information please visit www.handspring.com or www.handspring.com/au.

About Vodafone
Vodafone Group Plc. is the world’s largest mobile telecommunications company with more than 78 million proportionate customers. The company provides quality services to 1.96 million Australian customers, 753,000 New Zealand customers and 45,000 Fijian customers. It has interests in mobile telephone networks in 26 countries over five continents. For more information please visit http://www.vodafone.com.au

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including those relating to: the growth of the IT market and the potential for worldwide shipments for handheld computers to reach 33.7 million by 2004 and the degree to which Handspring’s channel strategy will reach a new demographic of consumers and professionals thereby contributing to this sales growth. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors including, among others; continued consumer acceptance, adoption by the IT community, widespread adoption, development and distribution of Springboard modules and demand for handheld computers; the ability of Handspring’s distribution partners to effectively distribute Handspring products, the ability of suppliers to meet demand in light of industry wide component shortages; macro-economic developments; the appeal of Handspring’s Visor products to consumers that have been typically slower to adopt new technology products; and the rapid pace of technological change and competitive developments in the handheld computer industry. The matters discussed in this press release also involve risks and uncertainties described in Handspring’s most recent Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Handspring assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this press release.

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

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