US:PA-4: Re: a question from week one - WAN wireless...
Re: a question from week one - WAN wireless...
Gene Hastings (hastings@info-ren.org)
Mon, 6 Oct 1997 16:43:26 -0400
A Bell Atlantic anouncement is included below, basically as a sign that CDPD
cellular data are coming to the market, and do not have the same nickel and
dime circuit billing model that analog modems over voice cellphones do.
AT&T is currently in trials of CDPD as well, at about the same price
(~$60/mo). (You have to read to the bottom to get to that part.) A major
caveat is speed (only up to about 19,200bps) but for applications like
Laurie's Bookmobile, it may be the lowest cost of entry.
Gene
>Date: Mon, 6 Oct 1997 10:05:01 -0400 (EDT)
>From: Bell Atlantic News Made to Order <proactive@ba.com>
>Subject: BA: Bell Atlantic Mobile Expands Wireless Internet Access Services
>To: medialist@ba.com
>Reply-to: bounces@ba.com
>Precedence: bulk
>
>Bell Atlantic Mobile Expands Wireless Internet Access Services
>
> Cellscape(sm) service offers new features, predictable pricing
>
>
>
>Ocrober 1, 1997
>
>BEDMINSTER, NJ -- In its continuing effort to provide customers with
>easy and affordable ways to access information on the Internet and
>corporate intranets, Bell Atlantic Mobile today announced its
>next-generation Cellscape(sm) service, including more information
>services, enhanced encryption, and new, predictable pricing.
>
>Cellscape service gives business customers touch-of-a-button access to
>information on the Internet and on their corporate databases, e-mail,
>fax, and voice service, via their Cellscape "smart phone" that runs on
>Bell Atlantic Mobile's AirBridge CDPD network.
>
>All Cellscape customers begin with a basic package that provides
>Internet/intranet access and information services. Customers can then
>add on other services -- including e-mail, fax, and voice -- to meet
>their needs and budget.
>
>For $19.99 a month, the basic Cellscape service gives users unlimited
>access to business-critical information on Internet or company
>intranets as well as a wide variety of information services including
>news, financial information, weather, travel, sports, and directory
>assistance.
>
>For $24.99 a month, customers can add e-mail service, a
>fully-integrated two-way system that gives them the ability to send,
>receive, reply to, and forward Internet e-mail via their Cellscape
>phone. The sender can embed "multiple choice" replies in their
>e-mails that allow the Cellscape customer to respond with a few simple
>keystrokes. In addition, the service can store up to 50 messages.
>
>Usage outside Bell Atlantic Mobile's CDPD service areas is billed at
>$0.08 per kilobyte.
>
>Cellscape's new features and services are made possible through the
>latest developments in micro-browser software from Unwired Planet* --
>UP.Link* Platform -- which also supports these additional
>enhancements:
>
>End-to-end encryption and authentication: The UP.Link Gateway version
>2.0 now supports data encryption between the Gateway and secure Web
>servers. Now the entire path from the mobile phone to a Web service
>can be fully encrypted and authenticated.
>
>"Push" of alerts with notification: This enables customers to
>passively receive information updates from the Web server on their
>Cellscape phone. For instance, software developers can create
>services to alert Cellscape customers of stock price changes, news
>headlines, sports scores, or dispatch messages.
>
>"Our new Cellscape service is a perfect example of our strategy to
>provide customers with a wide variety of ways to wirelessly access the
>Internet and corporate intranets with affordable and predictable
>pricing," said Mike Franklin, Bell Atlantic Mobile's executive
>director-wireless data marketing. "Customers who need the convenience
>of a single unit for both voice and data services will appreciate the
>new features and pricing of our Cellscape services. And, for
>customers who need full Internet access, our AirBridge Internet Access
>service offers unlimited access for a flat fee of $54.95 a month."
>
>There is a one time activation fee of $35 per user. Cellular voice
>service fees and activation charges are not included. Customers
>seeking additional information about Cellscape service can call
>1-800-308-DATA, or visit www.bam.com.
>
>*The UP.Link Platform and the Unwired Planet name are trademarks of
>Unwired Planet, Inc.
>
>Bell Atlantic Mobile is the largest wireless service provider on the
>East Coast and the second largest in the United States. The company
>owns and operates the most extensive network in the East, covering
>111,000 square miles, and the largest chain of wireless retail outlets
>offering a full range of wireless personal communications services,
>including voice, data and paging. Based in Bedminster, NJ, Bell
>Atlantic Mobile has more than 5 million customers and 7,000 employees
>in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and, through a separate
>subsidiary, in the Southwest. The company is the chief wireless
>subsidiary of the new Bell Atlantic, formed through the merger of Bell
>Atlantic and NYNEX corporations.
>
>####
>
>Media contact:
>
>Maggie Aloia Rohr
>908/306-7757
>Kristen Holmes
>617/520-7058
>
>
>