BellSouth Wireless Data L.P. introduced two new initiatives at its WAVE developers conference this week-a new branding effort for its two-way messaging service and a plan to become the premier wireless network provider for wireless application service providers.
First, BSWD introduced MyBiz interactive, a new brand effort that aims to combine multiple wireless applications on a single device. Toward this goal, the company renamed its existing Interactive Paging service Interactive Messaging PLUS, adding several new features to the service. Most notably, the company has made its Interactive Messaging service available on BlackBerry devices.
BlackBerry is an e-mail forwarding service marketed by Research In Motion Ltd., which also manufacturers the Inter@ctive pagers used by BSWD. The BlackBerry service allows users to receive Microsoft Exchange-based e-mail on BlackBerry-branded devices over BSWD’s network.
RIM launched the service after BSWD introduced the Interactive Paging service, and the two have never been compatible. Customers using the BlackBerry solution did not get Interactive Messaging capabilities, and vice versa. Integrating both services on a single device is a move long expected by analysts.
Existing BlackBerry and Interactive Messaging customers will get software upgrades to add the appropriate capability to their devices, BSWD said, while new sales will have the technologies embedded.
The MyBiz service adds more than just the BlackBerry service to one device, though. The new service adds access to POP3 e-mail, e-commerce and information services. Other optional services include personal information manager functions and BSWD’s Personal Messenger Manager, a unified messaging service combining voice mail alerts with fax, pages and e-mail messages.
“The major thrust of this is putting together multiple services on a single device,” said Bill Lenahan, BSWD chief executive officer.
Information services at first will be available from BSWD’s content partners, such as Datalink.net, mobeo and PocketGenie. BSWD’s Web site contains links to these content provider partners, where users can go to provision information services on their own.
The idea is for customers to use the Internet to set up and manage the different services they wish to receive on their Inter@ctive messaging device.
Eventually, Lenahan said he hopes to add browser technology to the devices for full, two-way Internet interactivity without third-party influence. Exactly what type of browser to use is something the company is evaluating.
“[The Wireless Application Protocol] is really for casual data-sports scores and that kind of thing,” Lenahan said. “We’re looking at browsers for more robust applications, mission critical stuff.”
Continuing its push into wireless Internet, BSWD also said it wants to become the primary network used by wireless ASPs to deliver their applications. The company named Mobile Data Solutions Inc., Aether Systems Inc. and Dynamic Mobile Data as partners who are developing wireless applications for the BellSouth network.
MDSI is looking to deliver a bundled offering to small and medium-sized businesses, Aether is developing a wireless proof-of-delivery solution for the transportation industry and DMD is working on an Internet-based dispatch package called MobileDispatch. All use BSWD’s Intelligent Wireless Network.
