Yahoo and SBC expand wireless services · 19 November 04

Yahoo and SBC Communications have expanded an existing agreement to move beyond dial-up and DSL to collaborate on the delivery of entertainment over a multimedia platform to a variety of devices, including wireless phones.

The two companies say they plan to expand the SBC Yahoo! customer service offering as a means of promoting the digital home.

SBC says the branded content soon will be available on Cingular wireless phones, SBC FreedomLink Wi-Fi, as well as home televisions, the PC, audio systems and SBC home networking equipment.

The expanded deal enables the companies to offer customers access to the Yahoo! portal via a host of devices.

Specifically in the wireless environment, the partnership will give Cingular Wireless customers who subscribe to SBC Yahoo! access to personalized Web-based content and integrated messages.

The SBC Yahoo! service also would be integrated into the SBC Wi-Fi service, the companies say.

“What you see on your SBC Yahoo Internet home page is coming to a TV set or wireless phone near you,” SBC Chairman and CEO Edward Whitacre Jr. said in a statement.

SBC says the extended partnership also will deliver a “one mailbox” service that will enable subscribers to access their e-mail, wireless and wireline voicemail and faxes from a central location.

Text-to-speech software enables all messages to be read over the phone. SBC first introduced this service, dubbed SBC Unified Communications, last month.

Further down the road, the companies hope to develop a consolidated address book as well that will be accessible by a wireless phone, landline phone, computer or television.

The first products are expected to make their debut next year.

Source: Wireless Week

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