OVERLAND PARK, Kan.-Sprint PCS said it would begin offering its next-generation PCS Vision service through its retail stores and business channels nationwide beginning next week.
Initial applications for the service will allow customers to take and receive pictures, check personal and corporate e-mail, play games with full color graphics and polyphonic sounds, and browse the Internet wirelessly at speeds up to 144 kilobits per second with average throughput of between 50 and 70 kbps.
Initial handsets for the service will all have color screens and will include three handsets from Sanyo, Samsung Corp. and LG, Handspring’s Treo 300 smartphone, a pair of PCMCIA cards from Novatel Wireless and Sierra Wireless and an InfoHand produced camera designed to work with Samsung’s wireless handsets.
Sprint PCS said it plans to unveil additional devices in the coming weeks including a pair of handsets from Samsung and Hitachi, a Toshiba 2032 Pocket PC smartphone and a PCMCIA card from Yiso.
Price plans for the PCS Vision service will be available with Sprint PCS’ current Free and Clear voice plans and will add an additional $10 per month for 2 megabytes of data. Laptop users can purchase higher quantity of data plans ranging from $40 per month for 20 MB up to $120 per month for 120 MB. Sprint PCS will also offer an unlimited data package for $100 per month, with an introductory offer of $50 per month for the first three months.
