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Technology Stocks : Qualcomm Incorporated (QCOM) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JGoren who wrote (48775)	11/9/1999 11:43:00 PM
From: LBstocks	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 152472

AirTouch Launches All-Digital Mobile Internet Service SPOKANE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 9, 1999--AirTouch Cellular today launched Net Access, an all-digital service that lets travelers and mobile workers in Spokane and North Idaho cut the tether to their desktops and access the Internet, online services or corporate networks while on the go. Armed with a laptop computer and a data-ready AirTouch digital phone, customers in Spokane and North Idaho now can enjoy the freedom and convenience of Net Access -- one of the fastest and most convenient wireless information services offered by a major U.S. wireless carrier. AirTouch was the first major digital CDMA carrier to launch commercial wireless Internet service in the United States, beginning this July in Seattle, Salt Lake City and Detroit. Net Access also was recently launched in Columbus, Ohio and Portland, Oregon. AirTouch plans to roll the service out to its entire wireless footprint by first quarter 2000, and to cover the nation through roaming agreements with other carriers in the same period. Users at airports, client sites or even the beach now can send and receive e-mail, files and faxes; access their company's intranet; update contacts and schedules; and use the Internet to check a customer's Web site, monitor news and stock prices and review airline schedules -- all without having to plug into a telephone line. "In today's fast-paced world, Net Access will help you stay in touch, manage information more productively and balance your life," said Robert Duron, branch manager for AirTouch in Spokane. "It promises to be as revolutionary for personal information access and management as cellular was for voice communications." Net Access is the first of several planned Mobile Internet offerings from AirTouch. Products coming soon will include wireless portal services that work with handheld smart phones and personal digital assistants to facilitate a variety of mobile messaging, information and e-commerce services. Unlike previous wireless data access services, Net Access doesn't require an expensive wireless modem. It works with new data-ready digital phones such as the sleek, lightweight and inexpensive Qualcomm 860 Thin Phone. The phone, connected to your laptop with a simple serial cable (available from AirTouch), is all you need -- the service requires no other hardware or special software. Net Access provides a speedier and much more reliable connection than older analog-based wireless services and is more than adequate for text-based applications such as e-mail or most Web browsing. In addition, Net Access connects you directly to the Internet exceptionally fast -- typically in less than 10 seconds compared to as much as 30 seconds for dial-up access from your desktop. "With its promise of broad geographic coverage, Net Access will be an invaluable tool for many professionals and business people who can't afford to wait to access vital information," said Andrew Seybold, mobile communications analyst and publisher of Andrew Seybold's Outlook. "The service is affordable, easy to use, and will set customers free from the tether of telephone lines while they're on the go." The service is priced for now at the same airtime rates as voice communications. While connected to Net Access, customers can use the minutes they already have in their monthly bundle. The Qualcomm 860 is available through AirTouch retailers in Spokane for $129. AirTouch serves 9 million U.S. cellular and PCS customers on a proportionate basis. Its ventures operate in 25 states and 22 of the top 30 U.S. markets, including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle. AirTouch is part of Vodafone AirTouch Plc, the world's largest wireless communications firm, based in the United Kingdom. It has mobile operations in 23 countries on five continents, with more than 31 million proportionate customers. For more information, visit the AirTouch web site at www.airtouch.com. CONTACT: AirTouch Cellular Patti Finley, 425/603-7503

To: JGoren who wrote (48775)	11/10/1999 12:45:00 AM
From: Joe NYC	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 152472

I switched to Thin phone myself (from Qcom 1920). I of course like the reduction in weight and I think it sounds better. But I preferred the wheel control of the old phone. Also, I think the buttons where generally bigger or spaced differently. I think they are way too close to each other on the Thin phone for a guy. I don't think my fingers are fat. They are kind of long and thin. If I were to design a phone, I would make it longer, so that while the ear piece is on the ear, the mic is in general area of my mouth, not somewhere barely half the distance between my ear and my mouth. This added real estate on the phone could be used for additional lines of display and for bigger buttons. Re: Internet connection I tried it last night for the first time myself, and it was slow as well, and I kept getting service unavailable myself. I don't think it is ready for prime time. Do you know how they are billing for it? Is it from the time I select the browser until I end the session, rounded up to the minute? Anyway, I tried to create a tiny web site accessible through the phone, and so far, I failed miserably. I may be using the wrong version or syntax of the hdml, which I am assuming they are using. Re: Sprint service in general I have to eat my words of praise of Sprint. Our company got Sprint less than a year ago. Back then, the service was good, customer service and responsiveness were excellent. Now, it is at the point of meltdown. The service has been down in New York City repeatedly over the last month - meaning we couldn't reach our employees for hours. They changed their customer support several times over last year, each time for the worse. Now we are at the point where the corporate support is below of what $16 / per month customer gets. They started to add these nickle and dime charges, reneged on things we agreed on when we signed the contract. If things don't improve, I think I am ready to drop them. Joe PS: sorry for the negativity on the Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. It has a special meaning for me, since I am originally from the part of the world - behind the Iron Curtain.