April 5, 2005 (Monterey, Calif.) – The Sea Otter Classic, the most celebrated cycling festival in North America, has paired up with palmOne, Inc. to take advantage of the power of Treo smartphones and text messaging to broadcast alerts to fans, athletes, press or anyone else who wants to stay informed of key milestones in each race as they happen. The 15th annual Sea Otter Classic will be held this year on April 14-17, 2005 at the Laguna Seca Recreation Area, Monterey, California. palmOne will be in booth #737 showcasing mobile products and accessories plus great fitness software for athletes..

Event management will be equipped with Treo 650 smartphones to help prepare for, and execute the huge undertaking that is the Sea Otter. Prior to the event Treo smartphones are key to keeping in touch with sponsors, contractors, athletes and the media via phone and email, helping the event staff get accurate information to make critical, time sensitive decisions. During the event, Treo smartphoness with email and SMS messaging will be able to quickly and accurately broadcast breaking information to groups of people and offer real-time pinpoint communication.

“palmOne is the ideal company to showcase the power of mobile technology at the Sea Otter Classic. With our event texting service, not only can the fans and athletes stay informed of any last-minute changes, but the information finds them right at their fingertips. No need to log-in to a website or stand in line at an information booth,” says Frank Yohannan, President & CEO of Sea Otter Classic. “By offering this information on the fly, we hope we can add to everyone’s enjoyment of the event.”

To start receiving Sea Otter Mobile Alerts, sponsored by the Treo smartphone from palmOne, attendees need to simply register their phone number and indicate their cellular carrier on the Sea Otter website. Once registration is complete, for the four days of the Sea Otter Classic registrants will receive event alerts throughout the day. This service is exclusive to the four days of the Sea Otter Classic and phone numbers will not be shared with anyone.

“I had no idea how much I needed my Treo, until I got one,” says Marla Streb, 2003 National Champion. As an oft-traveling world class pro athlete, I now can get the same stuff done on the road with my Treo as I did from home. No more scrambling for a pen and my ripped up calendar. No more iPod for riding music. And between the phone, text-messaging, internet access, and camera, I can communicate all my race reports to my sponsors and journalists at any time and practically any place.”

“Whether it’s for a cyclist, the fan or a busy professional, the Treo smartphone defines the freedom of connected mobility,” said Joe Fabris, palmOne marketing director. “”With the Treo, it’s just as easy to track your training, snap a photo of your favorite cyclist or look up the latest sales figures. And, since it fits equally well in a jersey pocket as it does a business suit you can always access your important information.”

Nearly 10,000 professional and amateur athletes and over 50,000 spectators will attend the Sea Otter Classic. The outdoor cycling tradeshow will host over 250 vendors who showcase the latest trends and technologies in road cycling, mountain biking and recreational products and services. Over 200 international media representatives will report on the competitive action in over 20 professional and amateur events, including the Pro Road Stage Race, the Pro Mountain Bike Stage Race, and the Pro Gravity Omnium.

Who: Cyclists in all age groups; wide range of professional and amateur categories
What: Sea Otter Classic
Where: Laguna Seca Recreation Area, Monterey, California, USA
When: April 14-17, 2005
Event Entry Fees: Range from $25 – $85
Spectator Fees: $10 per day or $30 for a four-day pass; free admission for children ages 12 and under
Information: www.seaotterclassic.com or (650) 364-7612

Sea Otter is sponsored by SRAM, Sierra Nevada, Kodak EasyShare Gallery, Clif, SIDI, Easton

palmOne, Zire, Tungsten and Treo are among the trademarks or registered trademarks owned by or licensed to palmOne, Inc..

*Calls and Texting coverage may vary by specific geographic location.