Back in 1999, before 2 of my five children were born, I started a company called NomadIQ, together with Ari Gottesman, Ariel Kahan, Michael Kagan, and early involvement by Jon Medved as seed investor. Our goal was to develop best of breed wireless application service (yes, a WASP). In our time, we were quite successful, within a year I was one of the Unstrung 25 Top Wireless Executives, and we had made great progress in an array of applications ranging from wireless messaging, gaming, local search, and more. Each of those areas today has mutliple venture backed start-ups.
In early 2001, we were acquired by a then high-flying public company called Omnisky, who were the first to run a commercial wireless service on a souped up Palm V. The tale gets ugly soon after that, and I won't go into all the painful details. But of our big "wins" as Omnisky in 2001 was powering Verizon Wireless initial foray into email, focused back then on the Kyocera Palm phone. Those were early days for RIM/Blackberry, and if the stars had aligned correctly we could have given them a run for the their money. You see, we had actually had superior technology and service offering. But they (RIM) had focus, and complete control over the food chain (they made their own hardware, software, and controlled the network). We were a few steps removed.
Why do I bring all this history up? Because I cam across the following story (see below), about Verizon Wireless's "new" launch of mobile email, SIX YEARS after we launched it with them!! I guess they figure, besides me and a few thousand other people, noon will remember that launch...
But have they (Verizon) really made any progress? Note below that the service will still be limited to a finite number of handsets, and they don't say anything about some basic functionality, that we (and RIM) figured out years ago, like attachment handling, synching with folders, and other basic features.
What does all this mean? That something as boring and commodotized as email is still a new new thing for Verizon Wireless, and with all the hype surrounding RIM (and here in Aspen it seems like everyone has a blackberry...) the majority of the subscribers of carriers like Verizon still do not have easy access to email. Is there an opportunity there? Maybe. Six years ago I thought so...what I have learned is that timing is the most important skill in entrepreneurial life (after luck).
Verizon Wireless Launches Mobile E-Mail on Get It Now
Verizon Wireless Customers Can Stay Connected with E-mail from Yahoo!, AOL and Windows Live
BASKING RIDGE, N.J., July 5 -- Verizon Wireless customers can now get their e-mail on-the-go and stay connected to family and friends with the company's new Mobile E-mail application on select Get It Now-enabled phones. Mobile E-mail provides Verizon Wireless customers with easy access to the world's most popular e-mail services, including Yahoo Mail, AOL Mail, AIM Mail, Windows Live Hotmail, Verizon.net accounts and more on their mobile phones.
Mobile E-mail from Verizon Wireless, powered by OZ, works with major ISP (Internet Service Providers) and POP3 (Post Office Protocol) or IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) e-mail accounts. Verizon Wireless customers with select Get It Now-enabled phones can access up to 10 e-mail accounts. Each ISP e-mail account will have the same branded "look and feel" on the mobile phone screen as it does on the computer screen. Other features of Mobile E-mail include access and use of the contact list on the phone for all mailbox accounts and regular alert notification of new e-mails.
Mobile E-mail is available today in Verizon Wireless' Get It Now virtual store on the LG enV (LG VX9900) and the Motorola V3m for $5.00 monthly access, and the service is expected to be available on additional handsets in the coming weeks and months. Download charges for Get It Now applications vary and airtime charges apply when browsing, downloading and using certain applications. Customers need a Get It Now-enabled handset and Verizon Wireless digital service to access the Get It Now virtual store.
Verizon Wireless customers with America's Choice Premium calling plans can access Mobile E-mail for no additional charge or airtime charges; America's Choice Premium plans start at $79.99 for 450 minutes and Unlimited Messaging, V CAST, VZ Navigator(SM) and Mobile E-Mail.
For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to http://www.verizonwireless.com.
About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless operates the nation's most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 60.7 million customers. The largest US wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 66,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at http://www.verizonwireless.com. To preview and request broadcast-quality video footage and high-resolution stills of Verizon Wireless operations, log on to the Verizon Wireless Multimedia Library at http://www.verizonwireless.com/multimedia.
The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
SOURCE: Verizon Wireless
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