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

To: JGoren who wrote (25835)	4/1/1999 7:33:00 PM
From: Ruffian	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 152472

Back To Business> 4/01/99 - Microsoft To Add Wireless Links To MSN Mar 31, 1999 (Tech Web - CMP via COMTEX) -- Microsoft is re-engineering its online network for unplugged consumers willing to pay for Web updates, according to company sources. The Redmond, Wash.-based company is creating an Internet service called MSN Mobile that will deliver Web content to a variety of wireless devices, including cellular phones, pagers, and palm PCs such as Compaq's recently released Windows CE-based Aero 2100. The service, for example, will blast Hotmail e-mail messages, stock quotes, sports scores, traffic updates, and select Web content over wireless networks to consumers on the go. To enable MSN Mobile, Microsoft engineers are developing a scalable server that will reformat Web content via XML/XLS to a push notification engine, according to company information. A company spokesman said wireless-enabling Microsoft services is a goal, but would not comment further. Analysts familiar with MSN Mobile said they expect it will debut in 2000, but question whether consumer appetite for mobile updates will be as strong as that of mobile professionals. "It makes sense they're looking to repurpose that content for the mobile market," said Warren Wilson, an analyst with Summit Strategies, in Bellevue, Wash. "Stock quotes have obvious benefits for certain users. But it's less clear what other kinds of information mobile consumers will want badly enough to acquire to read on their browser-equipped phone screens." Microsoft is working on this project internally and as part of its joint venture with Qualcomm in the wireless space, called Wirelessknowledge. That project, unveiled last November, promises to provide consumers and corporations with many services, including E-Mail Anywhere Services, Corporate Information Services, Personal Data Services, and Mobile Web Services. As part of Mobile Web Services, for example, consumers will have access to white- and yellow-page directories and MSN Sidewalk Services, according to Microsoft's Internet Services Network. The Wirelessknowledge service, Revolv, is in field trials and is expected to be commercially available in the third quarter, said John Major, president and CEO of the San Diego-based venture. Sources said, however, the venture is focused on giving professionals access to corporate data. "This is a Hotmail consumer play rather than a corporate portal play," said one source familiar with MSN Mobile and Wirelessknowledge. Microsoft is developing a CE micro-browser for the Wirelessknowledge service, with source code is expected to be available later this year. The micro-browser, which is being developed for small wireless devices such as phones (for example, Qualcomm's forthcoming pdQ), was unveiled at the Wireless IT Show in October. Analysts said equipping MSN with wireless services is a major value-add, but the company continues to lag behind other big online networks and portal sites. According to recent statistics by MediaMetrix, America Online continues to lead with 38 million customer visits. Yahoo remains in the No. 2 position with 31 million visitors, and "all Microsoft sites" including MSN occupies third place with 30.8 million visitors. "Microsoft's travails in the portal business are well-known, so it's a bigger challenge to find a solution," said Wilson. MSN also has been beset with outage problems and leadership issues. Microsoft reportedly attempted to lure an executive from a major portal site to head up MSN and Microsoft's Interactive Media Group, but has not succeeded, said one analyst familiar with the search. -0-

To: JGoren who wrote (25835)	4/1/1999 11:44:00 PM
From: Drew Williams	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 152472

<<I am afraid that they are looking for unreasonable, quick gains.>> Just like there is no such thing as excessive profits, there is no such thing as an unreasonably quick gain. The faster the better. Looking for them is a good thing, too. <G> Whether it is reasonable to expect them is something else entirely.