PCIA GlobalXChange: Sonera zed to launch mobile chatting

Sonera zed U.S. Inc. is launching its WAP services at PCIA GlobalXChange 2000. The WAP services will be commercially available in the first quarter of 2001. The offering is designed to simplify and enhance consumer lives. Zed allows a personalized and seamless access to relevant services through its intuitive and easy-to-use navigation. Users can customize menus, set personal profiles, and receive personalized alerts.

The most unique feature is the capability to pass relevant content from one application to the other, i.e. the address of a restaurant from Zagat can be added to a user's contact book or designated as the end point for driving directions. The review can then be sent to a friend as a recommendation.

"Our goal in designing our WAP offering has been to seamlessly integrate various applications and therefore reduce the number of key strokes required to achieve desired functionalities," said Ilkka Aura, vice president product and strategy.

For the carrier, zed provides a one-stop shop for providing these services to end-users. This includes the compelling content services (such as Zagat's Guide, Fodor's Hotel Guide, and Warner/Chappell Music ringing tones), technology platform, and implementation.

"WAP services will help to increase mobile phone adoption in the United States," said Sohrab Torabi, m-commerce analyst at Datamonitor. "PC-based Internet access has become mainstream. WAP-enabled services will be the bridge for consumers to experience true functionality with their wireless devices."

All of zed's WAP services have been designed to integrate with other zed tools. For example, users can access and store personal information in the contact book. The company also provides a history function, allowing the user to save previously referenced information for the future, i.e. driving directions to a restaurant.

Demonstrated WAP services

• Mobile communities–zed connects mobile chat users in touch with other users, allowing users to create their own communities with others that have a common interest or connection
  
• Entertainment–Jokes, trivia, horoscopes, and games
  
• Information Services–Personalized information such as news headlines, weather, sports, stocks, traffic reports and driving directions
  
• Planning–Contact book, history and alerts
  
• Travel–Access flight arrival and departure schedules tracked by flight number, city, date, and time. Schedule change alerts are also sent to the handset
  
• Find–Search for a person, business, restaurant, or hotel

Edited by Ellen Jensen
Managing Editor, Wireless Networks Online