IBM, Nokia, SUNW, ERICY to launch Global WAP portail.
The new site will be launched globally next july and it's made locally in Europe and US. It will be what AOL is and will be for fixed access home pc-users.
The softw. and hardw. will be provided by IBM and SUN. The new media WAP-phones will use Psion (EPOC operating system) and Nokia and Ericsson softw/hardw.
So the Symbian alliance seems to be as solid as a rock.
- What it's impact is to other 'wanna be wireless players'?
Msft-Ericsson browser deal seem to be sidelined now. Msf has no position in this deal. The deal was commented in CNBC Europe by IBM
communications division Val Rahmani, ceo.(seems that SUN and IBM are only choises to deliver applications and hardware globally in this rapid timescale -next july!)
- What is it's impact recently found new wireless software names like Puma, XTND, Phone.com etc. and Spyglass will be seen.
- It is designed to dominate wireless e-commerse at the beginning. Network security will be the key issue here.
Top Financial News
Technology
Tue, 11 Jan 2000, 11:29am GMT
IBM to Run Vodafone AirTouch Web Site for Wireless Devices
By Loren Steffy
IBM to Run Vodafone AirTouch Web Site for Wireless Devices
Armonk, New York, Jan. 11 (Bloomberg) -- International
Business Machines Corp., the biggest computer services company,
will design and run an Internet site for Vodafone AirTouch Plc
customers who want to use cellular phones and other wireless
devices to connect to the World Wide Web.
The site will have customized browsers that can link
customers to online broker Charles Schwab Corp. or travel
reservation service Travelocity.com.
IBM and Vodafone, the world's largest cellular operator, will
unveil the site in July in North America, Europe and Australia.
''We estimate that by 2003, more people will be connecting to
the Web via a wireless device than through PCs,'' said Doug Elix,
head of IBM's Global Services division.
London-based Vodafone AirTouch is beefing up efforts to add
data and Internet offerings to its mobile services as it builds
support for a $148 billion hostile offer for Germany's Mannesmann
AG.
Central to Vodafone's argument is its contention that a
combined Vodafone-Mannesmann would dominate Europe's market for
mobile phone services, which is expected to more than double in
value by 2003.
Vodafone Chief Executive Chris Gent said in an interview last
month he sees strong growth prospects in new technology that will
enable mobile phones to transmit data at faster rates and even
hold videoconferences on the run. As the biggest buyers of
networks using the new technology, the combined company will reap
bigger cost savings than rivals, Gent said.
Several European countries, including the U.K., will auction
mobile licenses to operate using the new technology this year.
Tue, 11 Jan 2000, 11:01am GMT
Vodafone AirTouch Set to Unveil Global System for Mobile Internet Services
By Kate Norton
Vodafone to Start Global Internet Service for Mobiles (Update1)
(Adds analyst comment, more on agreement from 4th paragraph.)
London, Jan. 11 (Bloomberg) -- Vodafone AirTouch Plc, trying
to make its $148 billion hostile bid for Mannesmann AG more
attractive, plans to create a global Internet access service for
cellular phones.
The largest cellular phone company will provide a service
that mimics what America Online Inc. sells to personal computer
users. Currently, such mobile services don't cross national
borders. One-third of Europeans will be online using mobile phones
by 2004, according to Forrester Research.
The plan is part of Vodafone's effort to counter Mannesmann's
argument that combining traditional voice and mobile services
offers faster growth than Vodafone's wireless-only focus. Vodafone
said the new services will boost revenue per subscriber by as much
as 25 percent in fiscal 2004.
''This is designed to dominate the wireless data market --
it's a compelling proposition that they've backed up with hard
numbers'' for growth, said Jim McCafferty, an analyst at SG
Securities, who has a ''buy'' rating on the shares.
Vodafone's shares rose 2.25 pence to 304 pence. Mannesmann
shares fell 1 euro to 236 euros.
Data services via mobile phone will be worth as much as $10.8
billion, or 13 percent of wireless services companies' revenue, by
2003, according to International Data Corp. That's up from $1.2
billion, or 2 percent, last year.
Custom Browse
Mobile phone equipment makers, network owners, software
companies and information providers are teaming up to bring
Internet features to phones. Vodafone is joining forces with Psion
Plc, Europe's top maker of palmtop computers; Nokia Oyj, the
world's largest mobile phone maker; Sun Microsystems Inc.; and
other partners to develop software and content. That includes a
mobile online personal manager that allows users to access and
share personal and corporate files.
International Business Machines Corp., the No. 1 computer
services company, will design and run an Internet site for
Vodafone customers who want to use cellular phones and other
wireless devices to connect to the World Wide Web. Vodafone will
also license the service to other network operators.
The Internet site will have customized browsers that can link
customers to online broker Charles Schwab Corp. or travel
reservation service Travelocity.com. Vodafone will unveil the site
in July in North America, Europe and Australia.
''We are opening a new chapter in the development of the
Internet, and invite Mannesmann shareholders to join us in adding
a fourth 'W' to the World Wide Web,'' Vodafone said. ''From now
on, it will be the World Wide Wireless Web.''
Faster Data
Vodafone has taken its offer for Mannesmann directly to
shareholders after management rejected the bid as too low and said
the companies' strategies didn't match. Shareholders of the German
company have until Feb. 7 to mull the offer of 53.7 Vodafone
shares for each Mannesmann share, worth 259 euros ($265) a share
at yesterday's closing stock prices.
Vodafone Chief Executive Chris Gent said in an interview last
month he sees strong growth prospects in new technology that will
enable mobile phones to transmit data at faster rates and even
hold videoconferences on the run. As the biggest buyers of
networks using the new technology, the combined company will reap
bigger cost savings than rivals, Gent said.
Several European countries, including the U.K., will auction
mobile licenses to operate using the new technology this year.
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