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After disappointing consumer uptake of WAP based services, the talk Unstrung is hearing these days from inside companies like Sprint and AT&T is less about which great new game or m-commerce app they can roll out, and more about business. This is especially true at AT&T and Sprint.
AT&T Wireless is reportedly looking for a new ad firm to re-brand their services as business friendly, rather than sheep (or consumer) friendly. Sprint just announced a deal with Everypath, all in an attempt to make carriers the trusted partner in the data of business, or the business of data — depending on how you look at it.
Nextel, on the other hand, never made a big consumer push, and has already been working with startups like Wireless Services and ViAir to take a run at the enterprise, potentially giving them the upper hand against larger competitors.
The move away from trying to drive consumer uptake is also bringing a renewed effort at carriers to flesh out coverage areas in the long forgotten innards of buildings. “It’s hard for a carrier to go and pitch a corporation on wireless data, when you can’t use your cell phone inside the office,” explains one wireless data exec.
Nextel is ahead of the pack on this front, as well, having signed on with startup RadioFrame. While it’s still an early market, the opportunity is prompting seed funding of new competition.
It’s not a sexy topic. There’s no Internet-style “oohs and ahhs” when you start talking about radio frequency and smart antennas, but with the glut of applications companies still waiting to be sorted out, smart VC money is headed towards companies that use carriers as customers, not as partners.
Companies like startup Spotwave Wireless Inc., which recently announced $3 million in funding to continue the development of technology that will allow cellular service providers to offer "always on" wireless service in buildings and vehicles. Spotwave will go head to head with companies like RadioFrame.
They’ve developed a "plug and play" solution, requiring no engineering or specialized testing equipment. The company has already inked beta deals at unnamed U.S. and Canadian carriers for this summer.
"This company started with a simple premise: to solve the frustrating and challenging everyday problem of cell phone coverage by improving coverage in places where cell phones don't currently work very well," said Spotwave President and CEO Shane Young. "Problems still exist, especially when using cell phones in buildings and in vehicles.
This may be the least of the carrier’s problems, but the fact that they are fixing it is a sign that they are finally starting to see the big picture in wireless data.
Josh Newman is editor of Unstrung and is remaining consistent with his strategy.
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