Casio Phonemate Corporate Information

CASIO PHONEMATE SETS THE TONE FOR
ANSWERING MACHINE, CORDLESS INDUSTRIES

For more than 25 years, CASIO PHONEMATE, INC. has answered the call for technologically advanced telecommunications products. 1995 marked the start of a new chapter in the company's history when Casio Computer Co., Ltd. of Japan repositioned PhoneMate, Inc. as CASIO PHONEMATE, INC. The name change, along with a direct infusion of capital into PhoneMate, was a result of Casio's desire to strengthen its involvement in the sales of telecommunications products in the United States. Casio has been the largest shareholder in Asahi Corporation, PhoneMate's parent company, since 1991
CASIO PHONEMATE created the telephone answering device (TAD) industry as we know it today by introducing the first commercially viable answering machine a quarter of a century ago. The product - the Model 400 - is now featured in the Smithsonian Institution's exhibit titled "Information Age: People, Information and Technology." The company's long history of telephone answering machine and cordless telephone innovations has resulted in 14 patents currently in place and more than a dozen pending - more than all market leaders combined in similar categories
Some of the industry concepts pioneered by CASIO PHONEMATE include the first TAD to use a synthesized voice to announce the time and day messages were received, the first all-digital answering machine, the first integrated answering machine with handset message retrieval, and the first answering machine with an integrated Electronic PhoneBook.
CASIO PHONEMATE continued to set the pace as a technology leader in 1995 by introducing a videophone that uses conventional phone lines and a standard television, a unique answering machine with a corded feature phone/speakerphone and 25-channel satelite cordless telephone/speakerphone, the first stand-alone answering machines with Work and Talk Speakerphones, and all-digital answering machines with three mailboxes and patented message forwarding.
The company's 1996 Winter Consumer Electronics Show introductions include a next-generation videophone targeting the telesurveillance and security markets, as well as a new telesurveillance application for the original LT-70P Videophone; two answering machines with integrated 25-channel cordless phones (one of which has three individual mailboxes and patented message forwarding); and two all-digital answering machines with speakerphones.
These latest introductions incorporate CASIO PHONEMATE's new logo and a new, more intuitive model identification system. CASIO PHONEMATE's most recent product introductions tell just part of the story of how the company has helped make telephone answering machines and cordless telephones the household staples they are today.
Industry Pioneer CASIO PHONEMATE's contribution to the telecommunications industry began in 1968, when an ambitious inventor, working out of his garage, developed a reel-to-reel TAD. The operation, called TronTech, became PhoneMate, Inc. in 1971.
Other milestones:

1971 PhoneMate introduces one of the first commercially viable answering machines, the Model 400. The unit weighs 10 pounds, screens calls and holds 20 messages on a reel-to-reel tape. An earphone enables private message retrieval.
1978 PhoneMate breaks new ground with the 900 Series. This line of TADs incorporates microprocessor circuitry for smaller, more reliable units.
1984 PhoneMate introduces the MiniMate series. One-fourth the size of previous models, the MiniMate series uses microcassettes. For the first time, users can listen to, save and erase messages with the touch of one button. The MiniMates also offer a personal memo function, so users can leave messages for family members separate from incoming messages.
1985 PhoneMate introduces the Performance Series, a high-end line of TADs that provide a synthesized voice to confirm machine functions, such as "I will replay messages." The electronic voice also announces the time and day messages were received, and explains machine operations.
1988 PhoneMate introduces half-digital models at popular prices. During a period when most TADs have outgoing and incoming tape cassettes, the digital concept replaces the outgoing message cassette with microchip circuitry.
1989 PhoneMate introduces four highly advanced TADs which allow users to forward messages to any pre-programmed location, including a car phone or pager, and retrieve messages privately through the handset.
1990 PhoneMate unveils the most advanced TAD available, ADAM, an All- Digital Answering Machine. Featuring increased reliability through the elimination of moving parts, ADAM weighs less than 2 pounds and uses digital signal processing to convert caller's voices into a series of digital signals, which are then compressed for storage in the machine's memory. Users can access messages instantly, increase or decrease message playback speed, and skip, repeat and save individual messages with the touch of a button. During the same year, PhoneMate re-enters the cordless telephone market with two uniquely designed units: the Model 650 and the Model 1850, featuring an integrated answering machine.
1991 PhoneMate introduces the Model 2900, a cordless phone featuring the company's trademarked Ultra Clear Noise Reduction Circuit, which reduces background noise for superior reception. The Model 2900 also features trademarked Optimum Channel Memory for quick selection and recall of the clearest available frequency from 10 channels. During this year, PhoneMate also introduces PAM, Private Answering Machine, which brings the advantages of voice mail into the home by allowing multiple answering machines to be used on a single telephone line. PhoneMate's most advanced cordless telephone feature, SecureCall, is also introduced in 1991. This feature scrambles the signals between the handset and base unit to prevent others from eavesdropping.
1992 Two units with advanced digital technology, as well as PAM-2, which integrates a feature phone with the innovative PAM, are introduced. PhoneMate also unveils five additional new products, including the Model 8900, which incorporates Caller ID and digital outgoing message technology.
1993 PhoneMate introduces 15 products: one of the first all-digital telephone answering machines with integrated cordless telephone; two additional integrated TAD/cordless units; two stand-alone cordless telephones; four sophisticated digital TADs; a two-line integrated speakerphone and answering machine; and five entry-level TADs (one of which uses digital recording technology).
1994 PhoneMate introduces a unique answering machine with an integrated 100 name Electronic PhoneBook; several attractively priced answering machines; and an answering machine combined with a cordless telephone.
1995 PhoneMate, repositioned as CASIO PHONEMATE, INC., introduces 13 new products, including the LT-70P, a videophone that simultaneously transmits and receives audio and color video signals over conventional phone lines and televisions; two unique integrated answering machine/cordless telephone units (one with an integrated corded speakerphone); an answering machine with Caller ID; two all- digital units with three mailboxes each featuring the company's patented message forwarding; and two answering machine/cordless telephone units with 25 channels.
1996 CASIO PHONEMATE introduces five products at the Winter Consumer Electronics Show: Image Tel, a next-generation videophone targeting the telesurveillance and security markets, as well as a new telesurveillance application for the original LT-70P Videophone; two answering machines with integrated 25-channel cordless telephones - one of which includes three mailboxes and patented message forwarding - and two all-digital answering machines with speakerphones.

Total Employees: 175
Formerly PhoneMate, Inc., a company founded in 1971, CASIO PHONEMATE, INC. was established in May of 1995 when Casio Computer Co. of Japan repositioned PhoneMate. The name change, along with a direct infusion of capital into PhoneMate, was a result of Casio's desire to strengthen its involvement in the sales and development of telecommunications products in the U.S. Casio has been the largest shareholder in Asahi Corporation, PhoneMate's parent company, since 1991.
CASIO PHONEMATE's line of telecommunications devices include entry-level and advanced telephone answering machines, answering machines with integrated telephones, cordless telephones and answering machine/cordless telephone combos. In early 1995, the company introduced a unique videophone that simultaneously transmits full-screen, high-resolution color images with audio signals over conventional phone lines, using a standard television.

Corporate Headquarters
20665 Manhattan Place
Torrance, Calif 90501
(310) 618-9910

Baltimore Branch
8805 Kelso Drive
Baltimore, MD 21221
(410) 686-1700

Stephen Knuth, President
Moriaki Umetsu, Chairman of the Board
John Kavazanjian, Vice President of Sales

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CASIO PHONEMATE INC.
P.O. Box 2914, Torrance, California 90509-2914
20665 Manhattan Place, Torrance, California 90501
(310) 618-9910 . FAX (310) 212-6316