News | May 18, 2000

AT&T Wireless Introduces Mobile Internet Services

Although behind its nationwide competitors in offering mobile Internet services, AT&T Wireless Services (Redmond, WA) is now doing so with a twist. It has relaunched its Digital PocketNet service in a new-and-improved version that provides unlimited wireless access to more than 40 wireless Internet Web sites. The trick is that the carrier is not charging for the Internet access in the basic plan. Those who want additional on-line wireless capability, such as e-mail, personal organizer services, and access to the Internet portal Excite, can select from two flat-rate pricing plans.

The carrier is offering its Digital PocketNet service at three levels when combined with a digital voice plan:

  • Free—The Basic Plan includes more than 40 sites designed for use on a wireless phone. Customers receive the AT&T Personal Web Site, which serves as both their personal portal site and as a place to personalize their wireless phone experience.

  • $6.99 per month—The Plus Plan gives customers access to e-mail and faxing services (150 fax pages per month included) along with all of the Basic services. Customers can gain access to their existing AT&T WorldNet e-mail, Excite Inbox e-mail, and other e-mail boxes supporting POP3 (Post Office Protocol) access.

  • $14.99 per month—The Premium Plan provides access to Calendar, Contacts, and To-Do lists while including all of the Basic and Plus services. It also allows customers to gain filtered text access to any Web site by entering the URL on their phones or personal Web sites. Soon, customers will be able to download software to synchronize these services with most major organizers at no extra charge. The also receive access to the Excite Mobile portal, which features additional e-mail, organizer functions, and Web content.
Personal Web Site
The service provides customers with their own secure personal Web sites, allowing them to share Internet services between their wireless phones and any Internet-accessible computer. The site's "My Page" feature gives customers access to personalized information, such as weather, news, and stock quotes. Plus or Premium plan customers can manage their e-mail, calendar, contacts, and to-do lists from their wireless phones or personal Web sites.

Although the service provides unlimited access to the wireless Internet in more than 3000 cities across the United States, the data network doesn't reach as far as the voice network, and it leaves out some key cities such as Atlanta and Kansas City. Another potential drawback is that customers can only choose from two phones if they want wireless Internet service: the Ericsson R280LX or Mitsubishi MobileAccess T250.

Available Web Sites

  1. ABC-NEWS.com: News, sports, entertainment, business, technology, science and health
  2. Allrecipes.com: User-submitted recipes and review
  3. Astrological insights and advice; daily horoscopes; and forecasts of the U.S. stock market
  4. ATM Finder: Locate the nearest Automatic Teller Machine
  5. Barnes & Noble.com: Books, music, software, and CDs
  6. BarPoint: Obtain comparative pricing, product and manufacturer information, and reviews
  7. CBS Market Watch: Analytical tools, news and financial data
  8. CNET: News on computers, the Internet, and technology
  9. DealTime: Comparison shopping service; call in orders, buy with a DealTime account
  10. DLJdirect: Stock quotes, news, trading, and account information
  11. eBay: Person-to-person online trading site
  12. eSignal: Real-time stock quotes, financial news and market data
  13. ESPN.com: Sports information and scores
  14. E*TRADE: Real time quotes, news and commentary; place orders; get market and IPO updates
  15. Expedia.com: Combines air, car, and hotel booking, destination information, and mapping
  16. Fortune Cookie: Daily fortune
  17. FTD.COM: Foral arrangements and specialty gifts
  18. Gift Certificates.com: Overnight or standard mail, or send an electronic gift certificate via e-mail
  19. Hangman: Play the game on a wireless phone at novice, advanced and expert levels
  20. Hollywood.com: Show times searched by zip code and sorted by theater, movie or show time
  21. Keen.com: People with questions talk to people with answers live over the telephone
  22. Lottery Results: Latest lottery results by state or zip code
  23. Mapquest: Directions; obtain traffic conditions
  24. Mercata: Pools the purchasing power of buyers with a common goal; connects with sellers
  25. mySimon: Shop and compare products and prices on just about everything on the Web
  26. SportsFeed: Real-time sports scores, the top headlines, and odds
  27. TD Waterhouse Group Inc.: Quotes, charts, market updates, and news; account info
  28. TeeMaster.com: Make tee-time reservations; search a national golf course info database
  29. TrafficStation: Real-time, route-specific traffic and traveler information on demand
  30. Travelocity: Make online flight reservations, arrival and departure information, schedules
  31. USATODAY.com: Breaking news, sports, life, weather, and tech news
  32. Vicinity BrandFinder: Find the brands in retail, restaurants and other service providers
  33. The Weather Channel's weather.com: Real-time weather information for 44,000+ locations
  34. The Weather Underground: Current weather conditions, detailed forecasts
  35. White/Yellow pages: Phone numbers for individuals, businesses; dial directly from the listing
  36. Yahoo! Finance: Check stock quotes and market status; look up financial news
  37. Yahoo! News: Business, sports, world, technology, entertainment, and political news
  38. Yahoo! Sports: Look up sports score and news
  39. Zagat: Survey-based dining, lodging and leisure information
  40. ZDNET: Web destination for people who want to buy, use and learn about technology
Edited by Ellen Jensen