Communications Briefs

Atlanta— Internet access provider EarthLink has begun offering EarthLink-branded Internet access through public wireless 802.11b Wi-Fi networks aggregated by Boingo Wireless. Through Boingo, EarthLink will offer 11Mbps Internet access in hundreds of public 802.11b networks in hotels, airports, cafes, and other private and public venues. EarthLink software sniffs out Wi-Fi locations, or subscribers can use the software's database to find the nearest network. EarthLink's prices are $7.95 per connect day; $24.95 for 10 connect days per month; and unlimited access for $74.95/month. Boingo was founded in 2001 by Sky Dayton, who is also founder and chairman of EarthLink. Boingo aggregates the footprints of multiple 802.11b networks for access with a single username and password.

Redmond, Wash. — AT&T Wireless selected Nokia to provide 1900MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE radio-network systems in markets that the carrier recently purchased from TeleCorp PCS. The markets include Alabama, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. EDGE delivers data at data rates up to 473kbps, Nokia said.

Irving, Texas — Almost 200 companies in the wireless, IT and content industries formed the Open Mobile Alliance (OMA) to promote interoperable wireless standards, and the first order of business is to consolidate multiple standards-setting alliances, Nokia said. Two groups have already joined: the WAP Forum and the Open Mobile Architecture Initiative. Four other groups intend to join, including the MMS Interoperability Group and the Wireless Village Initiative. The latter is developing an open universal standard that would make it possible for users of any type of portable wireless device to exchange text messages in real time with one another and with subscribers to PC-based online services.

Wye Valley, U.K. — PDA software developed by Electric Pocket enables wireless-equipped Palm and PocketPC PDAs to send pictures and messages to any email address or to any wireless phone equipped with Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS). The Pixer software retails for $29.95. Users can import pictures into Pixer or use ZipNotes business-stationery templates with cartoon characters. Pictures and photos can be annotated in the user's own handwriting.