No More Juggling Devices
Rogers AT&T Wireless offers Pocket PC Phone, Smartphone in Canada
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Imagine this: You're out of the office and need to call an important customer to schedule a meeting. But before you pull out your cell phone, you need to check your calendar in Outlook® to determine your availability and check a spreadsheet created in Excel to confirm some sales figures. Out comes your PDA and the balancing act begins.
Now imagine that all of this information and functionality is available in one simple device. For millions of Rogers AT&T Wireless customers the juggling may soon be over thanks to an agreement with Microsoft Canada to provide businesses in Canada with the first truly mobile office.
The companies have announced that customers will soon be able to access key business applications such as e-mail in Outlook, web access, MSN® Messenger or Short Message Service (SMS) on a single personalized wireless device.
And Canadians are ready. Wireless phones are among the fastest growing products in history. Toronto-based technology research firm International Data Corp. (Canada) Ltd., predicts that by year-end 2003, more than 16 million Canadians will be mobile phone customers and that nearly 50 per cent of households in Canada currently have access to a cell phone.
Microsoft understands that there is no one 'right' device for all these users. Today's wireless customers want and need a multi-functional device that meets their specific requirements and provides them with increased flexibility and simplicity. Microsoft's Windows® operating system helps make this a reality.
Some users are data driven and require the power and functionality of a PDA with the added benefits of a phone. Others are more voice-centric and prefer to use a device similar to their cell phone. To meet all these needs, Microsoft and Rogers AT&T Wireless will be offering two types of phones - a Pocket PC Phone and a Windows-based Smartphone. Both devices will operate on the Rogers GSM/GPRS network, Canada's largest, integrated digital voice and data wireless network.
The Pocket PC Phone Edition is designed with the enterprise customer in mind. The phone offers full wireless Internet access and integration with Microsoft Office, allowing users to synchronize their calendar, e-mail and contacts and send and receive files created in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint®. It isn't all about work though. Browsing the Internet, playing your MP3s and downloading and playing video are all options. Canada's first Pocket PC Phone - Siemens SX56 - will be available through Rogers AT&T Wireless in the next few weeks.
Whereas the Pocket PC Phone is very similar to a PDA, the Smartphone is primarily a phone with some of the added functionality of Microsoft Office. Users can move beyond standard voice and text applications to use Outlook to manage contacts, calendar and tasks. Similar to a standard cell phone, the Smartphone allows for personalization including ring tones, colour schemes and home screens.
This is an exciting time for the wireless market in Canada. Companies like Rogers AT&T Wireless have invested heavily in their high-speed networks and software is playing an increasingly crucial role, providing the functionality that customers need to be truly mobile.
© 2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, MSN, Outlook, PowerPoint and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
