Personal communication service provider VoiceStream Wireless Wednesday
launched the first phase of its wireless Internet services
VoiceStream’s customizable portal services allows
customers to receive e-mail, news, sports, entertainment and other
information on their wireless phone. Dubbed MyVoiceStream.com, the wireless
service debut marks the first in a series of messaging and data services
VoiceStream has scheduled for commercial release this year.
Unlike other wireless services, content and branding of MyVoiceStream.com
is completely controlled by VoiceStream. The stripped-down portal was
custom designed by InfoSpace, Inc.
for VoiceStream. It was built to fully integrate Internet functionality
with wireless service in a way that complements both technologies to
provide a superior customer experience.
Bob Stapleton, VoiceStream president and chief operating officer, said its
wireless Internet and data strategy is consistent with its successful “Get
More” business strategy, which is centered around offering customers
value-added wireless services.
“VoiceStream’s unique offering will give customers access to a broader
array of Internet services than they’ve seen with any other provider,
delivering them the information and services they want, when they want,
directly to their handset,” Stapleton said.
In addition to accessing news and information services, the integrated
portal offers the ability to send and receive e-mail to and from a wireless
device and allows customers to filter, forward and reply to home or office
e-mail addresses.
Additionally, customers can select from over 175 downloadable ringtones to
distinguish their service, purchase custom face plates and accessories,
manage their personal phone directory, as well as view and pay their bill
online.
VoiceStream Wireless operates on the global system for mobile communication
technology platform. GSM is a digital mobile telephone system that is the
de facto wireless telephone standard in Europe. GSM uses a variation
of time division multiple access and is the most widely used of the three
digital wireless telephone technologies.
GSM digitizes and compresses data, then sends it down a channel with two
other streams of user data, each in its own time slot. It operates at
either the 900 MHz or 1800 MHz frequency band. Since many GSM network
operators have roaming agreements with foreign operators, users can often
continue to use their mobile phones when they travel to other countries.
VoiceStream can bring cost-effective wireless Internet and data services to
the marketplace by leveraging the strengths of the GSM platform.
John Stanton, VoiceStream chairman and chief executive officer said the
inherent strength of the GSM platform makes VoiceStream’s wireless service
offering a category killer.
“VoiceStream’s strong combination of high-speed packet data, Internet
content and high quality wireless service will allow us to become the
industry leader in wireless data and Internet services as we expand our
services over the next 12 months,” Stanton said.
VoiceStream intends to expand its wireless data and Internet services in
two additional phases later this year. VoiceStream is scheduled to add
e-commerce functionality to its personal portal portfolio and deploy
high-speed packet network data using GPRS.
VoiceStream’s implementation of wireless Internet services is supported by
a group of partners providing high-speed network equipment, wireless
devices and Internet content. Key suppliers include Nokia Inc. , Nortel Networks
,
and LM Ericsson Telephone Co. .
VoiceStream partnered with key content providers, including InfoSpace
, Ticket Master,
Inc. and others to add co-branded e-commerce
services and entertainment information, as well as online shopping and
travel services.
VoiceStream’s high-speed packet network using GPRS will launch this fall in
several key regions of the country. High-speed Internet browsing will be
available in all VoiceStream markets by the middle of next year.
Stapleton said the high-speed network enhancement would combine two-way
messaging applications with the demand for mobile Internet services.
“By combining two way messaging and packet data, VoiceStream is better
positioned for consumer growth and acceptance of wireless data services
than other wireless providers in the marketplace,” Stapleton said. “Our
entire customer base currently has messaging capable phones, and we process
over one million text messages a day on our networks.”
Based in Bellevue, Wash., VoiceStream Wireless is one of the leading wireless
communications services providers in the United States. According to
VoiceStream, nearly three out of every four people in the U.S. live in
areas licensed to be served by VoiceStream or its affiliates.
