Nextel Communications Inc. and Symbol Technologies Inc. will partner to develop and co-market mobile computing solutions, including embedding the carrier’s iDEN technology into future handheld devices.
The companies hope to produce voice and data mobile applications to help business customers reduce operating costs and increase workforce productivity. The are targeting vertical field service and sales workers across many industry segments, including transportation and distribution, public safety, retail, manufacturing, healthcare, utilities and telecommunications.
The alliance will allow consumers with handhelds featuring the embedded iDEN technology to access both Nextel’s nationwide wireless network and Symbol’s enterprise mobility architecture. Symbol and Nextel plan to use each other’s channel partner and reseller networks to market the new products.
“This joint effort will help our customers take advantage of potential productivity gains enabled by integrated wireless mobile computers with advanced data capture,” said Chuck Dourlet, Symbol’s vice president of mobile computing product marketing. “Symbol plans to expand its portfolio of wide-area wireless-enabled mobile computing devices so that our customers can leverage Nextel’s nationwide network and service offerings.”
Both stocks were up less than 1 percent mid-day Wednesday following Tuesday’s announcement.
