OmniSky Corporation (Nasdaq:OMNY), the award-winning provider of branded wireless e-mail and Internet services for users of mobile devices, and News Corporation (NYSE:NWS), one of the world's most successful media companies, announced today that their joint venture, OmniSky International, has launched the first integrated wireless e-mail and Internet service on mobile devices in Europe. The three-month beta program, which initially will be deployed in the United Kingdom, is the first milestone in OmniSky's plan to make its wireless service throughout Europe.
"Demand for wireless e-mail and Internet services is a global phenomenon--Europe has long been at the forefront of the wireless revolution," said Patrick McVeigh, OmniSky's chairman and CEO. "We see enormous near-term opportunities in Europe, where it is estimated that 50 percent of wireless revenues in 2010 will be from non-voice applications."
Gartner Dataquest forecasts that PDAs in Western Europe will increase from over 2.5 million units in 2001 to over 6.5 million units in 2004, representing a 47 percent yearly growth rate. JP Morgan estimates that the European market for wireless data will be $82.4 billion by 2010. And revenues for wireless e-mail applications in Europe are expected to reach $7 billion by 2004, according to Arthur Andersen.
OmniSky International will initially focus on the UK market, with a three-month beta program. It will announce its European service roll out plans, plus details of support for other devices and handheld operating systems, in the coming months. The company's full e-mail and Internet service -- including content from world-renowned names such as The Economist and The Financial Times -- will be offered with a Handspring Visor Platinum or Visor Prism, a data-enabled Handspring VisorPhone and airtime from BT Cellnet.
BT Cellnet will connect OmniSky customers via its nationwide GSM 900 network. The company's extensive European roaming agreements allow customers to remain connected to vital email and Web-based information across the continent.
OmniSky International's management team is led by:
-- Neville Street, CEO, formerly responsible for international
operations at Palm Computing and achieving the number one
position in market share for Europe and all of Palm's
international markets.
-- Anne-Marie Bourcier, vice president of international
marketing, formerly marketing director for Palm Computing
International.
-- Vince Tallent, chief financial officer, formerly international
development director at British Telecom responsible for
securing 3G mobile licenses.
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