Dick Tracy would like this phone
They’re not quite as small as a wristwatch, but new phones being offered by Sprint PSC may let the user access far more information than comic-book private investigator Dick Tracy ever dreamed of.
Starting later this month, Sprint PCS customers will be able to access the World Wide Web with certain phones, and will be able to use the phone as a more capable communications tool in general, says Jay Inks, director and general, manager for Sprint PCS in Milwaukee.
The access is coming in the form of three separate offerings:
— Wireless Web browser, using phones equipped with a Phone.com microbrowser. The user will be able to access Internet-based content such as weather, news, and travel information.
— Wireless Web updates from Yahoo! This service will allow the user to receive automatic updates from Yahoo! directly on their phones. The user can personalize the selection of data to be received. The service is part of the Sprint PCS Short Messaging Service.
— Wireless Web Connection. The phone serves as a 14kbs modem, enabling users to download Internet-based data to a laptop, palmtop or other personal digital assistant. The connection speed is expected to be significantly increased next year. The connection to the laptop or other device is made through a data cable.
The services are intended for the downloading of text data, not images. “If you’re looking for large graphics or large databases, we’re not there yet,” Inks said.
“We see a real use for this by the salesperson in the airport or elsewhere on the road, who needs to access data from back at the office or from another source,” he added.
Costs of the service range from $9.99 per month to $179.99 per month. A compatible phone is necessary.
