MSN Wireless Services Come to Canada

[Toronto, CANADA] MSN.CA launched MSN Mobile in Canada, using Internet enabled cellular telephones and wireless devices to bring its online services to Canadians. This roll out is a key component of the Microsoft .NET strategy.

Bell Mobility, Clearnet and Rogers AT&T Wireless will make the wireless communication and information service available to their customers this quarter. These alliances will bring MSN.CA’s services to users when they are away from their PCs, reaching the majority of Canadian Web-enabled mobile phones, pagers and other hand-held devices.

According to the Canadian Wireless Telecommunication Association (CWTA), wireless phones are the fastest growing consumer products in history. Canadians currently have access to 7 million wireless phones, a number that is likely to increase between 20 to 30 percent over the next 12 months, and reach 50 percent penetration levels by 2005.

MSN Mobile delivers customizable services including: breaking news headlines from Canadian and U.S. sources, sports scores, stock information from MoneyCentral, and the ability to track, and refer to travel plans through Expedia.ca. It delivers wireless access to MSN Hotmail web-based e-mail service, giving Canadian MSN Hotmail account holders the ability to read and send email, and access their personal address book wherever they are.

The Bell Mobility Inc. family of companies provides wireless communications solutions, cellular, paging, data, PCS and airline passenger communications services, to 2.7 million Canadian customers. Clearnet serves approximately 700,000 clients across Canada. Rogers AT&T Wireless is Canada’s largest wireless communications service provider, with over 2.7 million customers.

More InternetNews.com coverage can be found at:

Bell Offers Wireless Access to MSN Hotmail, September 20, 2000.

TELUS, Clearnet to Become Canada’s Largest Wireless Co., August 21, 2000.

Bell Mobility, JTEL Target Wireless Internet Services, March 14, 2000.