By Tony Hallett, 21 January 2000 17:47
NEWS BT Cellnet has spelled out its mobile Internet strategy, comprising SMS messaging, its Genie Internet portal, WAP services, and high-speed GPRS (General Packet Radio Services). The BT subsidiary will, from Monday, offer circuit-switched WAP services over Nokia 7110 (£129.99) and then Motorola P Series phones. It has promised to kick-off with 36 new applications using WAP (Wireless Application Protocol), and make use of its Genie portal, which already has 500,000 users. Commenting on recent mobile Internet pushes by Orange and Vodafone AirTouch, Peter Erskine, BT Cellnet managing director, said: "Our presentation is about real things, so unlike some of our competitors, we're not showing dry ice, not showing pictures - we're actually doing it." BT Cellnet is offering Mmail and Infotouch, mobile email and information services that use SMS. In addition to basic WAP services, it is also promising services over GPRS in the summer, and will start a 500-user corporate trial next month. Erskine reacted strongly to previous claims by Orange that GPRS - which many see as a natural stepping stone to full third-generation UMTS - won't happen until the end of the year. However, he declined to put an exact date on the rollout of services. The company confirmed there will be a separate consumer launch later on in the year. Prices for packet-switched GPRS services which are 'always-on' have yet to be revealed.
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