AT&T Offers PocketNet Service

Device Streamlines Email and Internet Access in a Small Device

Business users will now have access to a specialized version AT&T’s PocketNet service, offering a number of interesting applications for corporate customers, both large and small. Users access the service using a PocketNet-compatible cellular phone, including AT&T’s PocketNet Phone, Mitsubishi’s MobileAccess Phone, or Samsung’s Duett.

“While similar in concept to some of the new two-way paging services, the PocketNet phone and service offers additional capabilities.”

The service aims to be both easy-to-use and useful for companies looking to give employees access to corporate information, including email, independent of where the person is working at any given time. In addition, it’s likely that one of the most popular initial applications of the PocketNet service will be information dispatch, allowing companies to efficiently send time-critical information to all, or any subset, of mobile workers.

While similar in concept to some of the new two-way paging services, the PocketNet phone and service offers additional capabilities. For example, users can receive both voice and data from a single device. And while a PocketNet phone is no replacement for a palmtop or PDA, it may provide enough functionality for users who require basic email and other Internet functions in an small and simple to operate device.

In addition to reading and responding to email, PocketNet users can also receive specialized information via the Internet. Received documents can be forwarded to a fax machine if a hard copy is required. The PocketNet service is available for $40 per month. Included with the service is a PocketNet email account, 500 KB of data transactions, and 20 faxes per month.