Tero,
<< Let's look at Eric's favorite - BAM. Since over 80% of the subscribers of BAM are still using analog phones, it's pretty clear why BAM is lagging behind in mobile data technology. >>
Since we have talked about this on several occasions I thought I would provide an update to your statistics by sharing this excerpt from BAM's recent quarterly report with you:
>> The primary force behind BAM's strong 1999 growth was the company's popular digital wireless services.
More than 70 percent of all new retail customers and nearly 40 percent of BAM's total base now subscribe to CDMA digital services, generating 72 percent of the company's busy-hour network usage. BAM continued its aggressive rollout of new digital voice and data service offerings, including:
-- Web Access service, featuring Web-enabled digital wireless phones that allow customers to surf the Web.
-- Share-A-Minutesm, which allows families and small businesses to share monthly access and local airtime minutes among multiple phones -- all on one bill.
-- "Call Me" service, an option freeing wireless customers from paying for incoming calls received in their local service area. <<
Right now the Qualcomm 860 is the Smartphone with microbrowser available for BAM CDMA voice and data services. BAM also carries the Nokia 5180.
In addition (from BAM's website):
Right now, if you have a Qualcomm 800 or 820 digital cellular phone, or a Nokia 2180 digital cellular phone, we can offer you a data solution utilizing our Analog cellular network. The QUALCOMM Data on the Go PCMCIA Card (PC Card) is currently available from Bell Atlantic Mobile for the QUALCOMM 800 and 820 CDMA cellular phones. The Data on the Go card slides into the Type II PC slot in your laptop computer and connects to your cellular phone through a cellular connection cable. With this solution you can transmit files and faxes in AMPS (analog) mode, dial into your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to access the World Wide Web, or access your corporate intranet and e-mail. You can do the same with the Nokia 2180 digital cellular phone, using the 3COM/Megahertz XJ5560 PCMCIA Card.
- Eric - |
