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Tuesday November 10, 4:05 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: BellSouth Corporation
BellSouth Partners With Wireless Knowledge to Offer Expanded Wireless Access to Internet, Corporate Networks
REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- BellSouth (NYSE: BLS - news) will join with Wireless Knowledge, LLC, a partnership between Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT - news) and Qualcomm Inc. (Nasdaq: QCOM - news), to provide business customers using Microsoft BackOffice(R) with wireless access to vital corporate information and applications using a wide range of mobile devices, the company announced today.
With Wireless Knowledge services, BellSouth customers using Microsoft BackOffice(R) will be able to access a wide range of information and applications, including e-mail, calendars, contact databases and other essential information, regardless of their location and type of mobile device used. End users will be able to connect to the Internet and their own business networks using digital phones, interactive pagers, Web access terminals and computers running the Windows(R) CE, Windows(R) 98 or Windows(R) NT operating systems.
As one of Wireless Knowledge's original carrier partners, BellSouth expects to offer the joint venture's services to its wireless customers as soon as those services are commercially available. BellSouth will offer the services nationwide through the BellSouth Wireless Data network and in its cellular and PCS markets through BellSouth Cellular.
''This partnership with Wireless Knowledge will enable us to add this important new service to our existing wide array of wireless data solutions serving over 140 Fortune 1000 companies. Wireless Knowledge, with Microsoft's involvement, will further accelerate the broad-based acceptance and utilization of wireless data solutions that are rapidly being embraced by the enterprise and SOHO markets,'' said William F. Lenahan, president and CEO of BellSouth Wireless Data. BellSouth Wireless Data is the BellSouth subsidiary that offers nationwide wireless data services over a network covering 93 percent of the U.S. urban business population.
At a press conference today announcing the venture, the promise of the Wireless Knowledge service was demonstrated over the BellSouth Wireless Data network using the RIM Inter@ctive Page 950 with Bellcore-developed HDML browser and AirBoss(TM) middleware solution.
''In its non-proprietary approach to wireless networks and devices, Wireless Knowledge is acknowledging that no single technology and no single device will dominate the wireless space, which is consistent with BellSouth's strategy of providing a portfolio of solutions to end-users. The use of open, network-neutral protocols will benefit the entire wireless industry. Using Wireless Knowledge services will enable our customers to access their corporate information and applications from next-generation smart phones and mobile computing devices,'' said Mark Feidler, president of BellSouth Mobility, Inc, the BellSouth subsidiary providing cellular services in eight Southeastern states.
Wireless Knowledge, a Qualcomm and Microsoft company based in San Diego, enables wireless carriers to deliver on the convergence of wireless communications and information technology in an air link- and device- independent environment. Wireless Knowledge expects to roll out services for beta testing in early 1999, with launches in major North American markets proceeding through the remainder of 1999.
BellSouth is a $22 billion communications services company. It provides telecommunications, wireless communications, directory advertising and publishing, cable and digital TV, Internet and information services to nearly 33 million customers in 19 countries worldwide.
For more information:
Kevin Doyle, 404-249-2793
John Kampfe, 732-602-5476
Jeff Battcher, 404-713-0274
SOURCE: BellSouth Corporation
Related Quotes
Tuesday November 10, 4:01 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
SOURCE: Sprint PCS
Sprint PCS Announces Strategic Alliance with Wireless Knowledge: A QUALCOMM and Microsoft Company
REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Heralding a new era in the availability of wireless data services, Sprint PCS(R) today announced plans to partner with Wireless Knowledge, a QUALCOMM Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM - news), and Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT - news) company, to provide its customers wireless access to vital corporate information and applications using any mobile device from any location in the 100-percent digital, nationwide Sprint PCS network. Sprint PCS expects to offer wireless data services in the first half of 1999.
''As the nation's largest all-digital, national PCS network we are proud to be a part of Wireless Knowledge to deliver to our customers a real-time wireless connection to their applications from any device,'' said Al Kurtze, Sprint PCS chief operating officer. ''We believe Wireless Knowledge is well positioned to achieve a true convergence of computing and wireless communications, regardless of technology or device, thereby enabling Sprint PCS to rapidly deliver a broad array of new wireless data services to our customers.''
Sprint PCS customers will soon be able to access their corporate e-mail, calendars, contact databases and other essential information from anywhere on the extensive Sprint PCS nationwide wireless network. Sprint PCS data-capable CDMA phones, which provide crystal clear voice service, will also act as a data modem, eliminating the need for specialized data devices. To access their data, Sprint PCS customers will use a simple serial cable to connect to any computing device.
For carriers, the Wireless Knowledge platform model enables rapid implementation of low-cost, value-added data services and applications, thereby increasing minutes of use and customer loyalty while reducing subscriber churn. Wireless Knowledge services will rollout for beta testing in early 1999, with launches in major North American markets proceeding through the remainder of 1999.
Wireless Knowledge, a QUALCOMM and Microsoft company, based in San Diego, California, enables wireless carriers to deliver on the convergence of wireless communications and information technology with the delivery of productivity and information services in an airlink and device independent environment. For more information, please visit wirelessknowledge.com.
Sprint PCS has the largest 100 percent digital, 100 percent PCS nationwide wireless network in the United States, already serving 177 metropolitan markets which include more than 4,000 cities and communities across the country. Sprint PCS, together with its affiliates and Sprint Corporation [NYSE:FON - news], has licensed PCS coverage of nearly 270 million people in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Sprint PCS is a partnership of Sprint Corporation, Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI), Cox Communications, Inc. and Comcast Corporation [Nasdaq:CMCSA - news]. For more information, visit the Sprint PCS web site at sprintpcs.com.
SOURCE: Sprint PCS
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