itemus Unveils First Phase of Wireless Internet Strategy
itemus to offer national open wireless Internet for business users
TORONTO, Feb. 8 /CNW/ - itemus revealed today how it intends to utilize
the 3G PCS spectrum won by the company's partner, W2N Inc., in Industry
Canada's recent spectrum auction. W2N, a first time bidder, competed against
leading, established Canadian and foreign wireless carriers to win spectrum
blocks in three regions of Canada. W2N is owned by Wireless2net Inc. and
financial partners. Wireless2net is majority owned by Wispra Inc., with a
significant minority stake owned by itemus inc. (TSE:ITM, OTCBB:ITMUF)
W2N was the standing high bidder for 10 MHz licenses in British Columbia,
Alberta and Eastern Quebec for a total of $11.39 million. The company is also
positioned to benefit from resale provisions mandated by Industry Canada as
part of the auction terms to access additional spectrum in other regions of
the country. itemus' goal in participating in W2N is to have direct access to
a mobile carrier in order to provide wireless business Internet services
nationwide.
"As a founding partner of the only new entrant focusing exclusively on
the business market, we had a unique motivation driving our intentions
throughout this process," said Chris Scatliff, who is leading itemus'
broadband wireless initiatives. "Unencumbered by the restrictions faced by
established carriers, we can repeat the role played by the pioneering Internet
Service Providers of the early 1990's - opening up a new generation of
wireless Internet applications and services to business users."
Currently, Internet developers must negotiate with established carriers
if they wish to offer their business applications and content through wireless
Internet devices. itemus will build an "open" wireless alternative, providing
Internet interfaces and middleware based on wireline Internet standards to all
business application developers. In doing so, the company hopes to promote and
support innovation at the edge of the network and allow companies business
webs to collaborate through advanced mobile commerce services.
"Naturally, we will make available the technologies we develop without
hesitation to all carriers," added Mr. Scatliff. "We have no intention of
competing for voice traffic or directly in consumer markets."
About Wireless2net and W2N Inc.
Wireless2net Inc. is jointly owned by Wispra Inc., and itemus inc. W2N
Inc. is owned by Wireless2net Inc., and additional financial partners. W2N
will provide innovative wireless services to businesses and consumers that
combine the rapidly advancing technologies of wireless telecommunications and
the Internet.
About Wispra Inc.
Wispra Inc., a Canadian wireless telecommunications company, has been on
the forefront of the evolution of wireless in Canada. Last year, Wispra
Networks, a joint venture with TD Capital Group Ltd. and XO Communications,
Inc., won 24 GHz radio licenses in the top six metropolitan areas of Canada in
Canada's first spectrum auction. Wispra's founder, as Chairman and President
of LanSer Wireless, was an applicant for PCS spectrum in 1995. Please visit
the company's Web site at www.wispra.com
About itemus
itemus inc. is a leading architect of next generation Internet
Strategies, Solutions and Software for Global 2000 organizations. The
intellectual property of itemus is developing a new breed of solutions and
software for the new economy and providing a unique delivery mechanism for
organizations. itemus focuses investing efforts in three areas comprising the
next generation Internet: rich media, mobile economy and collaborative
commerce. For more information, please visit the company's Web site at
www.itemus.com. |
