Wireless Developer Network - Daily News

[ View Today's WirelessDeveloper NewsWire ]
Today's News | WirelessDevNet DevZones | Yesterday's News | Submit News | News-"wireless" Top Stories! | Classifieds | Around-The-Web | Wireless DevZones!

Fido's Fast Wireless Internet Access Goes International MONTREAL--July 17, 2003-- Customers can now roam with GPRS data services in the U.K., Hong Kong, Germany, Switzerland, and more of the U.S. Microcell Solutions is pleased to announce the launch of international GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) roaming for Fido(R) customers who want to access fast mobile Internet services while travelling abroad. With a GPRS world phone, travellers can now use data services to send and receive e-mail messages, check flight departures on-line, follow the latest news back home and download games in four important overseas destinations. "We have launched GPRS roaming with seven GSM operators covering four countries, but this is just the beginning," said Alain Rheaume, President and Chief Operating Officer of Microcell Solutions. "Customers can expect to see considerable growth in the number of GPRS roaming partners overseas in the coming year, and data roaming services will evolve in a manner similar to voice services." Business travellers with laptops can also use their handset as a wireless modem to avoid costly dial-up fees in hotels; and tourists can send e-mail messages from their phone or PDA without having to search for an Internet cafe. Depending on the host carrier and mobile device, data over GPRS reaches speeds equivalent to a traditional dial-up service-and is charged at C$0.04/KB on a pay-per-use basis. "Fido already provides seamless voice and text message roaming in over 135 countries around the globe," said Mr. Rheaume. "We are pleased to give Canadians one more way to stay in touch while staying mobile and look forward to providing a similar number of data roaming destinations to our customers in the future." In North America, Fido has also just added Cingular Wireless to its list of GPRS roaming partners, making fast wireless Internet accessible to its customers travelling in California, Washington State and Las Vegas. Combined with Fido's existing GPRS roaming partner, T-Mobile USA, Fido now offers GPRS roaming in over 6,000 cities in the U.S., providing the most extensive mobile Internet coverage in North America. About Microcell Solutions Inc. Microcell Solutions Inc. is a national provider of Personal Communications Services (PCS) under the Fido brand name. The Company offers a wide range of wireless voice and high-speed data communications products and services to over one million customers. Microcell Telecommunications Inc. is the parent company of Microcell Solutions. Microcell Telecommunications has been a public company since October 15, 1997, and is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol MT. For more information, visit www.fido.ca and www.microcell.ca.