Two-way messaging took a leap forward last week as Motorola Inc. introduced a new two-way pager and JP Systems Inc. implemented a mobile Internet portal service.
Motorola unveiled its Talkabout T900 two-way messaging device, which features a full Qwerty keyboard, a flip-top screen and a four-line, 80-character display.
It supports two-way messaging, wireless Internet e-mail and on-demand information services. The Info-on-Demand feature allows users to request and receive custom content, such as traffic information, news, weather, movie show times and horoscopes.
It also features a private-time feature, which users may program to automatically shut off the device at pre-selected times. The network will store the message until the device is automatically reactivated.
The device is aimed at consumers, with Motorola promoting its social chat and scheduling features over the business uses it touts for other devices. In addition, the T900 is available in more flashy colors, such as Aqua Ice, Razberry Ice, Mystic Blue and Opaque Black.
The T900 is being offered by carriers Metrocall Inc. and WebLink Wireless Inc. WebLink is marketing the device on its online store and will add retail stores such as Best Buy and RadioShack in July, the company said. The device will also allow WebLink users to access MSN.com content via WebLink’s relationship with Microsoft Corp. Pricing plans begin at $15 a month, with the pager going for $180. An $80 rebate is offered to credit-card customers who agree to a one-year service commitment.
Metrocall is marketing the device in its retail stores and through AT&T Wireless Services Inc. retail stores. Metrocall said it will offer the T900 for less than $200 and will make it available to its My2Way customers.
In addition, WebLink Wireless and SkyTel Communications Inc., a WorldCom company, both launched mobile Internet portals using JP Systems’ InfoBeam.net information-on-demand service.
InfoBeam.net content includes phone number listings, stock information, flight schedules, package delivery tracking, weather reports and news headlines.
The client-server solution requires pagers to have JP Systems’ browser software installed on two-way pagers. The InfoBeam technology will be pre-loaded on Motorola’s PageWriter 2000X and the upcoming Timeport P325. Current PageWriter 2000X users may download the browser to their devices at no charge from the Internet.
JP Systems will act as the mobile application service provider for the solution, hosting the InfoBeam.net portals for WebLink and SkyTel. Both carriers will market the service nationally to their respective subscribers, co-branded with JP Systems.
