Ushering in a new era in portable communications competition, mobile telecom service provider Far EasTone Telecommunications Co (
In a few weeks, Taiwanese consumers will be able to buy mobile phone handsets to access Far EasTone's Chinese-language Internet services, which includes e-mail, stock market news updates, on-line book shopping, ticket sales, entertainment information and horoscopes, Far EasTone President Joseph O'Konek said.
Far EasTone will begin operating the new Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) service Dec. 16th, using hardware provided by multinational partners Cisco, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard and IBM.
PHOTO: CHEN CHENG-CHANG, TAIPEI TIMES
Konek said owners of a WAP handset will be able to dial up a financial portal featuring updated stock and currency information provided by local Internet service firm Systex. In addition, users of the WAP service will also have access to Bookland Internet Bookstore, news, weather and mobile ticketing services offered by Era Info Services Ltd.
The WAPnet will also include activities announcements and horoscopes provided by Yam Digital Technology, while advertising space will be sold by Internet advertising agency 24/7 Media.
The WAP service is targeted at wealthier consumers and may appeal to convenience-lovers, as all Internet, phone and other fees are presented in a single bill.
Far EasTone's product announcement yesterday follows the launch in October of a mobile banking joint venture with Far Eastern International Bank (
Far EasTone's announcement follows a worldwide trend towards unifying communications, networking and portable phone technology. One drawback of the new handset technologies is that they have yet to be proven -- service subscribers may suffer sudden connection breaks or system shutdowns familiar to both mobile and PC users.
The Chinese-language handsets will be on sale starting later this month, beginning with Nokia's launch of its 7110 model.
Far EasTone's handset partner in the WAP launch, Swedish mobile firm Ericsson Ltd, will be importing rigorously-tested Chinese-language R320 handsets early in the New Year, Ericsson Taiwan Ltd, President Jan Signell said.
"These past few months of tests of the WAP system have been solely spent on testing the handset, so any glitches will be ironed out before the handsets come on sale," he said.
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