LAS VEGAS-AT&T Wireless Services Inc. plans to relaunch its mMode wireless data offering in November, although details of the carrier’s plan are unclear.
Andre Dahan, president of AT&T Wireless’ multimedia services, announced the carrier’s intent during the CTIA Wireless I.T. show earlier this week in Las Vegas. Dahan provided few details, however, and AT&T Wireless officials refused to elaborate on his comments.
Dahan announced the plans during the Mobile Entertainment Summit held in conjunction with the CTIA show. The well-attended conference covered a variety of topics, including wireless games, ring tones, graphics and other data applications. Dahan keynoted the event.
In his comments, Dahan said AT&T Wireless plans to relaunch its mMode service, and it will feature an improved user interface. Dahan said the move would address some user concerns over wireless data services, including the lack of simplicity and functionality.
“Our objective is to make it usable for everyone,” Dahan said.
Specifically, Dahan said AT&T Wireless would create a My mMode service for its data platform, allowing users to select specific wireless sites and add them to their wireless Internet home pages. Also, Dahan said AT&T Wireless would offer a technology that would allow users to send WAP links to their friends and family, thus promoting the use of such wireless Internet sites. Dahan said the carrier would unveil the changes in a November relaunch.
Interestingly, people at the show were buzzing with news of AT&T Wireless’ plans. According to industry sources, the mMode relaunch primarily involves AT&T Wireless’ adoption of the WAP 2.0 standard. Sources said the launch would include a promotional campaign, and that many of AT&T Wireless’ content providers would redesign their WAP sites using WAP 2.0 technology in conjunction with the launch. AT&T Wireless has long voiced support for the WAP 2.0 standard.
The new version of the WAP standard includes support for several advanced technologies, including xHTML. Essentially, the new WAP standard improves on standard text-based WAP sites with support for graphics, animations and other eye-catching features.
AT&T Wireless will offer several WAP 2.0-capable mobile phones in conjunction with the new mMode launch. It is unclear whether the relaunch will be available only on newer WAP 2.0 mobile phones or if it will affect all the company’s mMode-capable phones.
