VoiceStream Wireless (Nasdaq:VSTR), the country's fastest growing provider of personal communications services, successfully launched the first phase of their wireless internet services allowing customers to receive news, sports, entertainment and other information on their wireless phone.
The services are offered through VoiceStream's `personal portal' called MyVoiceStream.com and mark the first in a series of messaging and wireless data services to be commercially available this year including e-commerce and high-speed internet browsing.
Unlike other services in the marketplace, content and branding of MyVoiceStream.com is completely controlled by VoiceStream. The portal, custom designed with InfoSpace for VoiceStream, was built to fully integrate internet functionality with wireless service in a manner that complements both technologies and provides a superior customer experience.
"VoiceStream's wireless internet and data strategy is consistent with our successful GET MORE business strategy which is centered around offering our customers more value in their wireless service," said Bob Stapleton, president and COO, VoiceStream. "VoiceStream's unique offering will give customers access to a broader array of internet services than they've seen with any other provider, delivering them the information and services they want, when they want, directly to their handset."
The MyVoiceStream.com portal is accessible directly (www.myvoicestream.com) or through VoiceStream's company website (www.voicestream.com). In addition to accessing news and information services, the tightly integrated portal offers the ability to send and receive email to and from a wireless device and allows customers to filter, forward and reply to home or office email addresses. Additionally, customers can select from over 175 downloadable ringtones to distinguish their service; purchase custom face plates and accessories; manage their personal phone directory; send group text messages via the website simultaneously to multiple users; and view and pay their bill online.
VoiceStream Wireless is the largest wireless service provider in the country operating on the GSM technology platform. GSM is the globally dominant wireless standard, which offers a strong, competitive advantage in the speed at which VoiceStream can bring wireless internet and data services to the marketplace.
"The inherent strength of the GSM platform will allow VoiceStream to offer `category killer' wireless internet services as we expand our services over the next 12 months," said John Stanton, chairman and CEO of VoiceStream. "VoiceStream's strong combination of high-speed packet data, internet content and high quality wireless service will allow us to become the industry leader in wireless data and internet services," Stanton said.
VoiceStream will expand their wireless data and internet services in two additional phases adding e-commerce functionality to the personal portal and deploying high-speed packet network data using GPRS.
VoiceStream's implementation of wireless internet services is being supported by a group of partners providing high-speed network equipment, wireless devices and internet content. Key suppliers include Nokia, Nortel Networks and Ericcson. New, high-speed wireless data devices including phones and data cards are being developed by SAGEM, Mitsubishi Wireless and Novatel Wireless respectively.
VoiceStream will partner with key content providers, including InfoSpace, Ticket Master and others, to add co-branded e-commerce services and information later this year focused on entertainment, shopping and travel services. VoiceStream will begin selling affordable phones with web browsers, including support of HTML based browsers as well.
VoiceStream's high-speed packet network using GPRS will launch this fall in several key regions of the country. High-speed internet browsing will be available in all VoiceStream markets by the middle of next year and GPRS handsets from both Mitsubishi Wireless and SAGEM are currently being tested on VoiceStream networks. Additionally, PCMCIA data cards from Novatel Wireless capable of supporting throughput up to 56 KBPS will be available.
"By combining two way messaging and packet data, VoiceStream is better positioned for consumer growth and acceptance of wireless data services than other wireless providers in the marketplace," said Bob Stapleton. "100% of our customer base currently has messaging capable phones, and we process over one million text messages a day on our networks."
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