Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : General Magic -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: hcirteg who wrote (7082)	10/16/1999 12:34:00 AM
From: Toni Wheeler	Respond to of 10081

Wonder if this has any significance ... thanks to EDVIRTUAL for sendin' it my way: MSFT, BT, AT&T and GMGC in the U.S.?? [the possibilities are endless !!...] <<<October 15, 1999 Telecom 99 Microsoft, British Telecom Team Up To Develop Web-Capable Phones By KEVIN J. DELANEY and GAUTAM NAIK Staff Reporters of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL GENEVA -- Microsoft Corp. deepened its partnership with British Telecommunications PLC in the race to bring the Internet to mobile phones, one of the hottest new areas in the wireless industry. The two companies plan to jointly create wireless devices running Microsoft's Windows CE operating system that will allow consumers to access the Internet and other information, in addition to making voice calls. They also plan to launch multimedia services linked to the smart phones by next summer. Nokia's Cellular Phones Will Use Palm Computing's Operating Software (Oct. 14) Increasing Competition Surrounds Development of Smart, Online Phones (Oct. 14) A host of high-profile deals has been struck in recent weeks, as companies anticipate booming demand for cell phones that can download content from the Internet. On Wednesday, Nokia Corp. announced a pact with Palm Computing Inc., a U.S. maker of handheld computers, to develop a pen-based smart phone. Palm, a unit of 3Com Corp., is also beginning talks to share similar technology with Symbian PLC, an alliance of Nokia, Motorola Inc., Telefon AB L.M Ericsson, U.K. hand-held computer company Psion PLC, and Japan's Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Having gained a strong position in the market for providing Internet software for personal computers, Microsoft is now making a push to provide similar software for cell phones. So far, Microsoft's Windows CE operating system, which is used in handheld computers, hasn't matched the popularity of similar Palm software. Analysts say those handheld devices will gradually be replaced by the new breed of Internet smart phones. Microsoft's latest pact with BT may be only the first step in linking up with carriers that plan to offer the new Web-based wireless services. Through the deal with BT, Microsoft also gets an edge over its rivals in selling its software to BT partner AT&T Corp. BT and AT&T have an alliance to provide global services to corporations and recently agreed to jointly market mobile-phone offerings around the world. Microsoft executives said they hope to strike a similar pact with AT&T, one of America's biggest wireless players. "This offer extends to AT&T," said Thomas Koll, vice president for network solutions at Microsoft. Although Mr. Koll said Thursday's alliance doesn't include AT&T, it gives Microsoft a stepping stone for a possible pact with the U.S. carrier. Last winter, the software giant and BT began working together on wireless Internet projects for corporate customers and this month began testing those services in Norway and the U.K. They expect to offer the services in the first quarter of 2000 using phones manufactured by France's Sagem SA and South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. Internet-phone services, including chat groups and games, will be offered to consumers in the summer. One reason why Microsoft is attracted to BT is that Britain -- after Japan and Scandinavia -- is expected to become an early adopter of Internet phones. BT's mobile-phone unit, Cellnet, already offers sports scores, stock prices and other data via a service called Genie, although each download is limited to 160 characters. By the end of the year, Cellnet plans to adopt a new technology, called Wireless Application Protocol, and provide more full Internet browsing via cell phones. After Japan, Britain is also expected to be one of the first countries to auction licenses for "third-generation" services, which will enable users to view Internet images as well as text on their cell phones. As part of Thursday's announcement, Microsoft and BT said they would create an industry group to set software standards for third-generation phones. These new devices will become available two or three years from now. BT said the planned wireless multimedia services will be compatible with devices not running Microsoft software. And it said the pact doesn't prevent it from working with other smart-phone software or device makers.>>>