Wireless services expanding business capabilities

It was only 10 years ago that wireless phone service became affordable. Now, cell phones are commonplace, and the companies that provide them offer even broader services.

When it comes to wireless phone services, Cingular, AT&T, Sprint, Alltel and Nextel cover the Springfield market.

According to Bill Bryan, regional marketing manager for Cingular, a joint venture of the wireless subsidiaries of Bell South Telephone and SBC Communications, wireless phone services are more diverse every day.

"Wireless came to Springfield 15 years ago and was simply a new way to connect two voices," he said. "A cell phone gives you more flexibility when you're out of the office or across town."

Bryan noted that fewer phone booths these days often makes it difficult to find a public phone, and a cell phone always facilitates contact when a businessperson is on the road. Cell phones can serve for data transmission or Internet access, he said, and new phones can allow calendar and alarm-clock functions, or even play types of video games.

"With competition we have seen the prices of phones and service drop to where almost anyone can afford it," Bryan said, adding that many companies are now offering a free phone with service packages. Cingular provides phones that have most of the new functions, he said.

Each company has its own twist on promotions to entice first-time cell phone users, from free night and weekend calling packages to Cingular's offer of free calls to any other Cingular service customer for the life of the individual account.

Nextel Communications recently introduced the i85s phone, which comes with several Java programming language functions such as specialized business calculators, a datebook, an expense pad and games. Because the applications are stored in the phone handset itself, they operate without wireless network coverage.

According to Southwestern Bell representative Debi Pfitzenmaier, updates to the phone's Java programs and networking software can be downloaded from Nextel's Web site at www.nextel.com.

Other "cutting edge" features, Pfitzenmaier said, include voice-activated dialing, voice memos and speakerphone. In addition, the phone's high frequency data packet routing features an always-on Internet connection.

Bryan said consumer dissatisfaction with text keypad functions has led to the new T-9 technology, also called "predictive text." Instead of having to repeatedly punch a number key to represent the keypad letter, a user can now single-punch the same number keys and the system displays a word that it "thinks" you want, based on your choices.

Bryan also said that the Ericsson company has created a chat board, which is a mini-keyboard that fits in a pocket and can be connected to a cell phone for typing text messages.

He acknowledged that there is a lot of talk about how dangerous cell phones are on the road, but added that there is no reason to use phones in a risky way. "Pull over and dial," he said. "A cell phone can also be a tool for safety on the road if used right."

Cingular doesn't offer wireless Internet service as such, but some phones such as the Nokia 7160 can serve as a wireless modem if the user already has a modem in his or her computer, Bryan said. The phone then can be hooked up to the computer to transmit data. Bryan said that this is slower than landline transmission, but added that when a person doesn't have access to a phone line but needs to receive or send e-mail, it's helpful to be able to do it through the phone.

"Wireless technology will keep developing to move more data at higher speeds," he said. "And I predict Palm Pilot application will eventually be integrated into your wireless phone. Then every businessperson is going to need one."

Travis Selsor, sales representative for Russell Cellular, said he sees the use of wireless service as vital for business. "We offer Alltel service and their local, regional or nationwide cellular plans. It's a very competitive market, and that makes it a boom area for cellular users. Competition drives prices way down, and the amount of minutes included in packages has gone way up," he said.

Selsor added that consumers currently prefer digital phones, which have better battery life and give better service all around, as well as providing the newest service options.

"A cell phone has become a business necessity," Selsor said. "In this place and day and age, you have to be always connected. A cell phone's not a want anymore. It's a need."