*NEXTEL <NXTL.O> ACCELERATES UNVEILING OF ITS INTERNET-READY PHONE
RESTON, Va., June 8 (Reuters) - Wireless telephone company Nextel
Communications, Inc. <NXTL.O> on Tuesday introduced a new phone
that includes an Internet Web browser and upgraded voice features,
ahead of offering online services.
The company, which does not offer Internet services yet, said it would sell
its i1000plus phone ahead of launching online services later this year. The
phone, which is expected to sell for $299, has to be used with Nextel
online services.
It was supposed to come on the market in July but Nextel and equipment
supplier Motorola Inc. <MOT.N> completed preparations ahead of plan.
"This allows us more time to seed the market in anticipation of providing
wireless Internet services later this year," Tom Kelly, Nextel's chief
marketing officer, said.
The Nextel online wireless Internet services to be rolled out later this year
would provide Nextel customers access to a full range of Internet
services.
Nextel plans to roll out its online service in six markets later this year:
Washington D.C., New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and the
Carolinas region.
Its new phone would include features to alert people to missed calls, allow
them to view, dial and store the last 10 numbers received and sent from
the phone and add phone numbers to a personal directory.
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