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Hand Held Products Joins Microsoft's Smarter Retailing Initiative

May 26, 2005

CHICAGO & SKANEATELES FALLS, N.Y.--May 24, 2005--Hand Held Products, Inc., a leader in image based data collection systems for mobile, in-premise and transaction processing applications, announced today its support for Microsoft Smarter Retailing, a comprehensive solutions framework designed to enable the next generation of retail innovation.

As part of its commitment to Smarter Retailing, Hand Held Products has standardized many of its products on Microsoft technologies such as Windows Embedded for Point of Service, Windows Mobile, and Windows CE 5.0. As a result, retailers and customers alike will no longer be faced with a complex retail experience based on the interaction of numerous technologies that are often at odds with each other and which can be confusing.

"One of the consistent things we hear from our customer advisory board is the need to integrate technologies and streamline business processes to reduce costs and run more efficiently," said Brian Scott, vice president of Microsoft Corp.'s Retail & Hospitality Industry Solutions Unit. "Hand Held Products has a solid track record in helping retailers solve business and technology challenges; its Microsoft technologies-based solutions are a great addition in our Smarter Retailing lineup, helping to reduce both cost and complexity from POS systems and improve the in-store experience."

Microsoft Smarter Retailing is designed to help retailers dramatically improve the way they sell and operate through better access to customer and product information. Smarter Retailing focuses on three critical areas -- Smarter Shopping, Smarter Selling and Smarter Operations -- which reflect Microsoft's vision that business value will emerge at the boundaries of the retail enterprise, where retailers interact with customers and suppliers.

In an effort to help retailers achieve Smarter Operations, Hand Held Products' mobile computer line, the Dolphin 9500 series and Dolphin 7900 series, are based on Microsoft Windows Mobile software. The familiar Windows interface is not only easy to use but helps retailers save on development costs in the long run.

Several specific Hand Held Products technologies that have been standardized with Microsoft Smarter Retailing technologies include the popular line-up of image-based bar code readers that now support Windows Embedded for Point of Service enabling retailers to achieve Smarter Operations. The retail imagers supported include the IT(TM) 3800, IT 4600, IT5600, and IT5620 (see today's separate announcement).

Also, Hand Held Products' kiosk line has been optimized on Microsoft's Windows CE 5.0 to allow for Smarter Shopping. The Image Kiosk(TM)8560 Interactive mini-kiosk, built on Windows CE 5.0, is on display at the Hand Held Products booth #2319 (see today's separate announcement). The Image Kiosk 8560 provides customers with convenient access to information including price checking and a store map display, and provides the retailer with up selling opportunities and the ability to influence the customer at the point of decision.

"Hand Held Products technology and solutions have been developed with one goal in mind for our retail customers - to help them improve operational efficiency while delivering a heightened customer experience," said Kevin Jost, CEO of Hand Held Products. "Our relationship with Microsoft and participation in its Smarter Retailing initiative is key in achieving this goal."