Just picked this off the wires. This could be very interesting to watch/ listen for. It doesent mention wireless knowledge and PERHAPS is something Microsoft is doing to get customers who are not planning on subscribing to WK. Infowave for the net (MSN)?
New Portal to Give Cellular Phones, Handheld Devices and Pagers Access to Full
Suite of MSN Services via Wireless Internet Connections
REDMOND, Wash., May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT)
today announced plans to deliver a wireless portal designed to work with
handheld devices, cellular phones and interactive pagers via the MSN(TM)
network of Internet services. A component of the end-to-end wireless solution
from Microsoft, the wireless portal is scheduled to be available later this
year in conjunction with the next major upgrade of the MSN portal. Also
announced today, Nextel Communications, a leading provider of fully integrated
wireless communications, will be the first such provider to work with
Microsoft to deliver the benefits of these capabilities to its customer base.
Internet users will be able to easily access their online information
wherever and whenever they want through the wireless MSN portal. The wireless
offering will include the most popular MSN Internet services, such as e-mail
and address books from the MSN Hotmail(TM) Web-based e-mail service; news,
sports and weather from MSNBC; stock updates from the MSN MoneyCentral(TM)
personal finance online service; forthcoming calendar features from recently
acquired Jump Networks Inc.; and other Web-based content such as weather and
door-to-door directions.
"This is a significant step toward simplifying people's access to valuable
online tools and information where and when it's most convenient to them,"
said Brad Chase, vice president of the Consumer and Commerce Group at
Microsoft. "We're literally delivering MSN users' most powerful tools right
into their hands and extending their computing experience beyond the desktop
PC."
An example of the users receiving immediate benefits are the more than 40
million members of MSN Hotmail who will soon be able to access their e-mail,
reply to it, use their online address books to dial their friends or business
associates using their cell phone, and track local news and weather.
In the future, the wireless portal services will include e-commerce
extensions. For example, wireless users of MSN might get a "playoff tickets
now on sale" notification from their local box office. Through the wireless
portal, users will be able to buy tickets with a single click and have them
shipped to a group of friends immediately using the information in their
online address book. All this can be accomplished via the user's cell phone
or handheld wireless PC.
Implementation
Two-way MSN services will include notification -- through which users can
set thresholds for news, e-mail and financial data delivery -- and interactive
browsing -- through which information modules delivered to the wireless device
are enabled with links to more information so users can pursue additional
details.
Users will be able to manage their wireless delivery settings through MSN
from either their PC or wireless device. The personalized settings are
consistent across devices and are optimized for the environment. For example,
PC users see a rich graphical interface, while mobile device users will see an
MSN portal optimized for their device's smaller form-factor.
"The wireless and handheld customer bases are exploding, and the
demographics of these users overlay the mainstream users and online
enthusiasts of the core MSN audience perfectly," said Sung Rhee, general
manager of MSN Wireless Services at Microsoft. "Continuing growth of wireless
networks and decline in prices of wireless devices will further fuel this
segment."
The wireless MSN portal is based on industry standards and will be widely
accessible by devices employing microbrowser technology, such as Pocket
Internet Explorer for the Windows(R) CE operating system, and wireless
Internet access. Microsoft plans to build strong relationships with leading
wireless carriers to promote technology enhancements that optimize customers'
online experience.
In a separate announcement, Microsoft announced an agreement with Nextel
Communications to deliver a wireless co-branded portal for Nextel's 3.15
million customers, who will also be able to access their e-mail, calendar,
address books, news, financial information and other Web-based content from
MSN via their Nextel phones. The Nextel portal will utilize the wireless MSN
portal and provide additional valuable services for Nextel customers. As part
of this agreement, Microsoft also committed to a $600 million equity
investment in Nextel in support of Nextel's leading position in the deployment
and development of these wireless Internet services.
"As an ally to support Nextel Online(SM), MSN offers a perfect fit for the
types of services and content our customers would like added to their Nextel
phones," said Tom Kelly, vice president and chief marketing officer of Nextel
Communications. "Providing wireless access to e-mail, calendar functionality,
news and applications gives people instant access to the Internet any time,
anywhere on the Nextel National Network."
About MSN and Microsoft
MSN is the network of Internet services from Microsoft that helps people
better organize the Web around what's important to them. The network of MSN
services, located on the Web at MSN.COM (http://msn.com/), helps people easily
stay in touch with friends and colleagues, make smart and secure purchasing
decisions, and get more done. MSN offers award-winning e-mail functionality;
personal communications services; customizable access to news; popular sites
for travel, investing, automotive services, shopping and more; an online
community; a Web search engine and directories; and top-rated Internet access.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) is the worldwide leader in
software for personal computers. The company offers a wide range of products
and services for business and personal use, each designed with the mission of
making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take advantage of the full
power of personal computing every day.
Microsoft, MSN, Hotmail and MoneyCentral are either registered trademarks
or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.
Other product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective
owners.
SOURCE Microsoft Corp.
Web Site: microsoft.com
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