Mobile messaging coming to the US
Published: 28 Feb 2000 14:46 GMT
An agreement between Nokia and AOL, announced on Monday, will allow users to access the ISP's Instant Messaging service from mobile devices.
The two companies are to work together to develop a version of AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) for a variety of Nokia's handheld devices. This will allow real-time communication between mobile users and AOL's online AIM users.
The two companies also announced that they would team up to support AIM and any future wireless extensions of AOL's online services.
The scarcity of GSM networks in the US means that SMS is virtually unknown there. However, GSM has boomed in Europe, and with wireless AIM, Nokia and AOL hope to spark off similar levels of peer-to-peer mobile messaging in America.
"This is an attempt to get SMS-type functionality into the US market," says Nokia vice president of corporate communications, Jim Bowman. "SMS is a very effective way of communicating, and we hope this will jump-start it in the US."
The wireless instant messaging solution will be optimised to work with Telegic Communication's T9 predictive text input software, which is already employed in Nokia's 7110 handset.
The application is expected to arrive in products in the US by the second half of 2000.
AOL is aggressively expanding into the wireless space, announcing earlier this month its AOL Anywhere mobile strategy, which includes deals to develop content and services with Nokia, Ericsson and RTS Wireless.
What do you think? Tell the Mailroom. And read what others have said.
Did you find this article useful?
52 out of 83 people found this useful
Digg
Slashdot
Del.ici.ous
Stumble
Reddit
