And until last week, Nextel was the only wireless service provider in the U.S. offering the service.
This is a very real problem with ramifications that will affect every American regardless of which wireless service provider they use.
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The reason that this was such an important decision becomes clear when you consider how hard it is to develop Apps for each different piece of mobile hardware and wireless service provider (WSPs).
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Amp'd Mobile is painting itself as the first wireless service provider to target young adults--and it's developing a sort of "CrackBerry" for kids, a cell phone-like device with a screen to provide all of their mobile entertainment needs.
For years push-to talk has been a function available from Nextel (nasdaq: NXTL - news - people ), the wireless-service provider best known for catering to businesses where instant communication is useful.
"Landline text messaging is a disruptive force that will transform both the wireless and wireline service provider businesses, " said David Diggs, vice president of Wireless Internet Development at CTIA - The Wireless Association.
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EarthLink announced a buyout of wireless data-service provider Omnisky (nasdaq: OMNY - news - people ).
According to prosecutors, use of the stingray was authorized under a court order that investigators used to procure real-time tracking information from Verizon Wireless, Rigmaiden's service provider.
"You can't separate markets anymore by service provider, Internet, wireless, cable, home--they will all transform together, " he says.
The other advantage: Customers can now use their cellphones to make calls and connect with their IM buddies even if they are in an area where their service provider does not have wireless coverage.
Atlanta-based EarthLink (nasdaq: ELNK - news - people ), the No. 3 Internet service provider in the U.S., is now offering wireless Internet service to not just Blackberry and Motorola (nyse: MOT - news - people ) pagers, but also to devices based on the Palm (nasdaq: PALM - news - people ) operating system and Microsoft 's (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) PocketPC platform.
At the end of March, Advanced Info Service signed an agreement with Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT) to become the first Asian wireless provider to offer the Windows-powered SmartPhone.
To improve technology access, Microsoft also announced the deployment of a pilot project with the Kenyan Ministry of Information and Communications and Kenyan Internet service provider Indigo Telecom Ltd. to deliver low-cost, high-speed, wireless broadband and create new opportunities for commerce, education, healthcare and delivery of government services across Kenya.
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