Sprint to Boost Wireless Web Service with Google
Sprint PCS announce a deal with Google Inc. that will boost its
wireless Web service from 130 sites to more than 1.3 billion Web
pages. The deal will make Google's search technology available to
Sprint's 11.8 million wireless customers, enabling them to search
about 1.3 billion Internet pages via wireless devices. Financial
terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Sprint's Starter Kits Target Mobile Workers
Sprint PCS is trying to make it easy and inexpensive for IT managers to use its wireless network to give mobile workers access to business applications via PCS phones or notebook computers with wireless modems. Last week, the carrier introduced two starter kits to let companies test-drive its wireless Web service.
The Application Starter Kit offers 10 Sprint PCS phones, three months of service, and 10 licenses for Wireless Knowledge's WorkStyle for Microsoft Exchange--server-based software that lets phones access the Exchange messaging system. The kit costs $3,200 for three months.
The Modem Starter kit is designed for notebook computer users and includes 10 wireless Web modems and 10 service plans. The modems have their own wireless radios and support a PCS feature that enables data throughput that Sprint says is close to that of a 56-Kbps landline modem. The kit costs $2,500 for three months.
"The package for mobile workers with laptops sounds very attractive pricewise, and it eliminates the problem of traveling employees having to find a wall jack for access to our corporate network or the Internet," says Mason Roteli, CIO at Communications Supply Corp., a networking products distributor in Chicago. "But as far as the other kit is concerned, getting E-mail on a cell phone isn't very useful unless your device has a large display.''
Sprint hopes to convert trial users to full-fledged customers after the three-month test period. Those who buy the service after the trial period can keep the phones or modems at no extra charge.
Sprint's strategy is to boost wireless data usage on its network and position itself as a full-service provider of everything--airtime, devices, hardware, and software--that IT managers need for wireless data access. All wireless data traffic travels over Sprint's nationwide digital PCS network.
Most wireless service providers first targeted the large consumer market with a variety of services, but they recently have broadened that strategy to sell wireless data devices and services to businesses.
The Application and Modem starter kits are available until Sep 1,
2001.
Sprint to Launch Voice-Activated Services
Sprint PCS is expanding its voice-activated calling services to
include features such as listening and responding to e-mail and
requesting updates on news and stock quotes. The service called
Sprint PCS Voice Command is being launched today throughout Sprint's
U.S. markets.
For more information: http://www.informationweek.com/838/sprint.htm
Mobileinfo Comments and Advisory: Sprint is
aggressively trying to increase its wireless data subscriber base.
These steps will help. Introduction of a trial kit is a good idea.
