PR releases

PR Visto Files Patent Infringement Lawsuit Against Smartner

REDWOOD SHORES, Calif., Feb. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Visto Corporation, a leading global provider of secure push email, whose platform for mobile operators supports the broadest set of mobile devices, today announced that it had filed a complaint alleging patent infringements against Smartner Information Systems Ltd. The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, seeks a permanent injunction that would prohibit Smartner from continuing to misappropriate Visto's intellectual property in the United States. Visto will also seek monetary damages as compensation for Smartner's illegal actions.

 "With over 22 patents worldwide, Visto is driving progress and advancement in the push email and personal information market," said Daniel Mendez, vice president and CTO of Visto Corporation. "Smartner's attempt to misappropriate our industry-leading technology for their own gain hinders fair competition, inhibits true innovation, and ultimately creates confusion among customers and partners. We will continue to lead by aggressively investing in research and development and will vigorously pursue companies such as Smartner that attempt to misuse or exploit our intellectual property."

 Visto asserts that Smartner Information Systems Ltd. is infringing on five of its patents: US patent nos. 6,085,192 and 6,023,708, which describe systems and methods for securely synchronising multiple copies of a workspace element in a network, and the use of a global translator to synchronise workspace elements across a network. Patent No. 5,961,590 entitled, "System and Method for Synchronising Electronic Mail Between a Client Site and a Central Site", Patent No. 5,968,131, entitled "System and Method for Securely Synchronising Multiple Copies of a Workspace Element in a Network" and Patent No. 6,708,221 entitled, "System and Method for Globally and Securely Accessing Unified Information in a Computer Network".

 Visto currently holds 22 patents in the United States, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Israel. Dozens of other patents are pending in Europe and worldwide.

About Visto

 Visto is the leading global platform for mobile operators to provide wireless push email to the broadest set of mobile devices. Visto's open solution enables email for the mass market, targeting large enterprises, small businesses, mobile professionals and consumers. The company's patented Visto Mobile(TM) platform with ConstantSync(TM) technology works in real time with POP3, IMAP, Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Domino email solutions for personal to enterprise use, providing maximum control and flexibility for the operator and choice for the customer. Visto's customized, brandable solutions are available through mobile operators worldwide including AT&T Wireless, Bell Mobility, KPN, Manitoba Telecom Services, Nextel Communications, Inc., Rogers Wireless, SaskTel Mobility, SmarTone and TELUS Mobility.

 Established in 1996 and headquartered in Redwood Shores, California, with offices in Seattle, London, Rome, Paris, Toronto, Tokyo, Beijing and Tianjin, China, Visto is backed by Oak Investment Partners, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, VantagePoint Venture Partners, Meritech Capital Partners, Rustic Canyon Ventures, Allegis Capital and Blueprint Ventures. For more information, visit http://www.visto.com or email sales@visto.com

 NOTE: Visto Corporation, Visto, the Visto logo, Visto Mobile, ConstantSync and Constant Synchronisation are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Visto Corporation. All third-party trademarks, trade names, or service marks are the property of their respective owners and are used only to refer to the goods or services identified by those third-party marks. Visto's technology is protected by U.S. Patents 6,085,192; 5,968,131; 6,023,708; 5,961,590; 6,131,116; 6,151,606; 6,233,341; 6,131,096, 6,708,221 and 6,766,454 and 12 foreign patents. Other patents pending.