Frezza Speaks>
From the March 8, 1999 issue of Wireless Week
Analysts Debate At BSWD Forum
By Rikki Lee
DALLAS--Computer giant Microsoft Corp. now occupies several stools at the wireless data bar, and applications developers
continue to squeeze Internet access successfully through ever-shrinking form factors. While many data true believers have
heralded these and other recent events as the awakening of a lethargic market, some analysts don't expect a stampede for data
devices and services in the near future.
The analyst panel preached caution and often pessimism to attendees at last week's BellSouth Wireless Data Solutions
Conference, which drew more than 300 customers, end-users, developers, integrators and resellers of BSWD services.
The recent announcements are all positive developments, "but as for whether this is the year we all realize our sales goals and
our budgets and ride off into the sunset, we're not there yet," said Steve Virostek, vice president for wireless data and dispatch
projects-North American Telecommunications Group for The Strategis Group.
Alan Reiter, president of Wireless Internet & Mobile Computing, accused carriers of missing the Internet boat. "Carriers
have the power to dramatically increase the wireless Internet market by integrating their [Internet service provider] operations
with their wireless operations." He said that when subscribers sign up for Internet service, they should be able to have their
e-mail filtered and forwarded to a wireless device.
With future data networks going in new directions, BSWD will need to continue to work with third-party developers and
maintain the growth of its unique service, said Bill Frezza, general partner at Adams Capital Management and president of
Wireless Computing Associates. "BellSouth is living on an orphan technology platform."
In an interview, BSWD President and CEO Bill Lenahan said he was more optimistic than the panel, citing the relatively
unserved market that can increase productivity through his carrier's service and devices such as the Research In Motion Ltd.
Inter@ctive Pager 950. "We need to be successful in getting interactive paging into the market ... We've spent a lot of time
positioning the service."
About 25 companies provided demonstrations of products and services using the BellSouth Wireless Intelligent Network.
Itronix Corp. displayed its Windows CE-based T5200 handheld wireless workstation for field service personnel.
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