Two U.S. cellular operators (Verizon Wireless and Cingular) announced this week separate deals to carry IM (Instant Messaging) services.
Verizon (NYSE:VZ) is adding e-mail and instant messaging via the MSN Mobile offering under its Verizon Get It Now umbrella. The service allows subscribers to send e-mail and exchange instant messages between cellular phones, or mobile handsets and PCs. MSN Mobile achieves this by providing these end-users with mobile versions of MSN Hotmail and MSN Messenger. These Microsoft software packages that can be downloaded by the subscribers directly from their cellular phones. The service in now available for Get It Now phones for an introductory rate of $2.49 per month (for the duration of the subscription). However, starting from the end of October, customers can sign up for the service at a monthly rate of $2.99.
Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT)
has already successfully introduced the new version of MSN Mobile
in South Korea. MSN Mobile has been available in that
country since early 2003, via a relationship with Korea Telecom Freetel, geared towards offering "always-on" IM service for 3G CDMA phones. Other variants, such as one in Hong Kong with T-Net have
also been deployed in the Asia/Pacific region. The GUI
(Graphical User Interface) has the same look-and-feel of the MSN PC
applications. The Verizon account represents the first major
wireless operator win in North America (for the full suit of MSN Mobile
services, including IM).
Cingular Wireless, the second largest wireless U.S. operator (behind Verizon Wireless), is a joint venture between the domestic wireless divisions of former Baby Bells SBC (60% ownership) and BellSouth (40% ownership).
Cingular has partnered with Yahoo! (Nasdaq:YHOO) to enable its subscribers to send and get IM, e-mail, and to download mapping information, games, news and weather, all via the the carrier's Media Net service. The users also have the ability to log in to the Yahoo Web site from their wireless phones.