Sprint takes Wireless Web to enterprise
To develop and deliver these new services, Sprint PCS has formed alliances with leading application providers and systems integrators, including Lotus, Wireless Knowledge, Siebel Systems, Sabre Holdings Corp., and PeopleSoft. The new business suite includes faster wireless Internet access comparable to landline dial-up access of 56.6 kb/s. The new products and services will be available to businesses nationwide next month.
Since its launch of the Wireless Web a year ago, the company's national business accounts have grown 285% percent said Ronald T. LeMay, interim president of Sprint PCS and COO and president of Sprint Corp. Now, the company is planning to take that success a step further.
Corporate network connections
Two new connection solutions provide faster and more secure access to the Internet and corporate networks via a Windows-based laptop. The enhanced Internet connection enables business customers to access the Internet in a matter of seconds using an Internet-ready phone as a wireless modem.
A combination of new bandwidth optimization technology on the network and Sprint PCS Dialer 2.0 software provides faster access—comparable to a 56.6 kb/s landline dial-up connection. The connection extends the corporate network wirelessly while maintaining existing security. In about 20 seconds or less, employees can connect to the Internet or their corporate network and access key information between or during meetings, sales calls, hotels, and plane flights.
Business solutions
At launch, the Wireless Web for Business will include:
- Corporate e-mail/information management (Wireless Knowledge, Lotus)—real-time, wireless access to Microsoft Exchange and Lotus Notes e-mail, schedules, and contacts.
- Corporate directory services (PeopleSoft)—real-time, wireless access to a corporate directory that can pull information from a variety of sources.
- Corporate travel services (Sabre)—real-time, wireless access and the ability to receive and modify personalized corporate travel information via a direct link to major corporate travel providers.
- Sales and field service applications (Siebel Systems)—real-time, wireless access to customer account information, and the ability to review and update sales opportunities, inquire about products, services and order status, and respond to time-critical service activities directly on the handset minibrowser.
Customized page for business
Later this year, Wireless Web for Business will offer a custom link on the Sprint PCS Wireless Web Browser that provides employees with a single location to access e-mail, sales tools, travel services, corporate directories, as well as other corporate content, applications and sites identified by the company.
New connection devices, such as the Wireless Web modem by Sierra Wireless and the Wireless Connection Card Kit by Socket Communications provide "slotted-device" options for easier, faster wireless connections to the Internet or corporate networks.
- The Wireless Web Modem is a CDMA digital PC card that fits into a standard Type II slot on a laptop running Microsoft Windows. The modem enables customers to dial into a corporate network or the Internet without using a wireless phone and data cables. The modem has its own telephone number, so customers can use their phones for other purposes while accessing the Internet or their corporate network on a laptop. With the Add-a-Phone option, customers can receive one invoice for both wireless numbers and share minutes between the phone and modem.
- The Wireless Connection Card Kit enables connection of phones to multiple handheld computing devices and Windows or non-Windows based laptops. Kits will be available for Windows CE devices, Pocket PCs, Windows notebooks and Apple Macintosh portables. This kit also comes with an adapter that fits into a standard Type II slot on a laptop or other handheld computing device, freeing up the serial port for fax and printer use.
Managing Editor, Wireless Networks Online