SAN FRANCISCO-Cellcom and Northern Telecom Ltd. are working together to prove the commercial viability of delivering Internet access to desktop computers over cellular networks using Cellular Digital Packet Data technology.
Cellcom said if the pair is successful, they plan to offer desktop Internet access by the end of this year to business and residential customers as a complimentary offering to its existing wireless access service.
“We believe we can make desktop Internet access over cellular competitive and attractive,” said Pat Riordan, president of Cellcom.
“Second telephone lines can be difficult and expensive to obtain in rural areas,” added Rob Riordan, chief executive officer of NetNet Inc., the Internet service provider for the trial and a sister company of Cellcom.
“We believe we can provide rural customers flat-rate, unlimited Internet access at a slightly higher price than wireline ISPs using wireless packet data, leaving their primary telephone line free for voice calls.”
