PocketPC gets connected with Earthlink

From...

By Matt Berger,
IDG News Service\San Francisco Bureau

(IDG) -- EarthLink is serving up its wireless e-mail and Internet services to users of certain handheld computers running the PocketPC 2002 operating platform, the service provider said Thursday.

The Atlanta company joined providers such as AT&T Wireless Services Inc. in offering wireless connections to handheld devices from Hewlett-Packard Co. (HP) Those devices include the Jornada handheld as well as the iPaq, which HP added to its product line through its recent acquisition of Compaq Computer Corp.

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EarthLink will make available its EarthLink Wireless E-mail and Internet Service to select models of the iPaq and Jornada using modem attachments. The service packages include access to up to 10 POP3 (Post Office Protocol version 3) and IMAP4 (Internet Message Access Protocol version 4) e-mail accounts. Subscribers can also surf the Internet and customized EarthLink Web content, the company said.

The new services for PocketPC users come months after EarthLink launched wireless service packages for users of handheld devices running the Palm OS.

EarthLink plans to roll out location-based services to PocketPC users enabling customers to search for businesses and addresses in major U.S. cities, as well as view maps and driving directions. Those services are expected out in the next few months. Similar services are already available to EarthLink subscribers using Palm OS handhelds from Palm Inc. and Handspring Inc.

For a limited time, EarthLink said it is offering promotions to customers in the U.S. who sign up for the service. Users of the Jornada 540 and 520 series devices who purchase a year's worth of service at $49.95 per month can receive a free modem from Novatel Wireless Inc. Users with iPaq's H3600, H3700 and H3800 series devices can receive $200 off their purchase of a Sierra Wireless Inc. Aircard modem attachment if they sign on to a year-long service contract at $59.95 per month.

Promotions for wireless service are also available to some Palm OS handheld users, EarthLink said Thursday.