Virtual Reach Launches Newsclip 2.0: Server Integrated Client Application for Greater Optimization
Toronto, ON – 24 October 2005 – Virtual Reach Inc. (“Virtual Reach”) announced today the release of Newsclip 2.0 for BlackBerry. After a very successful beta test over the course of one month, the mobile application for reading RSS news and other content is now available for release by Virtual Reach. Beginning today, Newsclip can be purchased and downloaded from the Virtual Reach website, www.virtualreach.com.
Virtual Reach opened the beat test to the public on Sept 19, 2005, with a primary goal being to test the scalability of the server hosting, something previous versions of Newsclip did not have. “The response was very enthusiastic and greater than anticipated,” commented Brian Goldberg, President of Virtual Reach. “Many of our testers responded to our announcement through the various technology forums and blogs, and we ended up having a good mix of CDMA, iDEN, and GPRS provisioned devices across a variety of service providers worldwide,” he added.
At the end of the testing period, testers were asked to complete a survey on which they were asked various questions regarding performance, usability, value, features and the like. Every participant said they found Newsclip to be very useful and also added that they would recommend the application to another person. Over ninety-five percent of the respondents found Newsclip to be either “much better” or “better” than comparable applications that they have purchased and evaluated in the past.
The beta test also provided Virtual Reach with an opportunity to clean up a few bugs and enhance a few features prior to official launch. “We’re extremely pleased with the feedback we were provided,” noted Jay Steele, Chief Technology Officer. “This is precisely why software companies undergo beta tests. With the feedback we were given, we were able to make adjustments with the manner in which we manage content on both the client and server, as well as affect numerous user interface improvements,” added Steele.
Newsclip is available for purchase beginning today. Interested subscribers will be offered a free seven day trial evaluation period. In the coming months, Virtual Reach plans to roll out multiple platforms including Java MIDp and Windows Mobile on which the Newsclip application will run. Multiple platforms will give Virtual Reach access to a variety of devices and hardware, providing an opportunity for more appealing user interfaces, as well as a greater and sophisticated deployment of RSS content.
About Virtual Reach Inc.
Virtual Reach is a leading developer of compelling and useful software applications for wireless devices, specializing in the efficient delivery of content and media to mobile handsets. The Virtual Reach suite of products are built on a platform using RSS, or “Really Simple Syndication”, a fast growing and open Internet standard used for syndicating various forms of content throughout the world. With its flagship product, Newsclip, users are provided with the ability to access, manage and consume content of all kinds directly on their mobile handset with ease and efficiency.
Founded in 2004, Virtual Reach is a privately owned company with its corporate head office in Mississauga, Ontario. For more information on Virtual Reach and its RSS solutions for wireless and mobile platforms, please visit www.virtualreach.com.
Virtual Reach, the Virtual Reach logo, and Newsclip are all trademarks of Virtual Reach Inc.
The BlackBerry and RIM families of related marks, images and symbols are the exclusive properties and trademarks of Research In Motion Limited. RIM, Research In Motion and BlackBerry are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and may be pending or registered in other countries.
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| Contact: | Robert Belliveau Director, Business Development |