AT&T Wireless Alliances with Microsoft & HP to Launch Siemens SX56 Pocket PC Smartphone in US By Amy | Reporter Date: 05/29/2003 Delivering on the strategic alliance formed between AT&T Wireless and Microsoft last year, AT&T Wireless launched the Siemens SX56, a Windows Powered Pocket PC, which doubles as a phone under a new Microsoft Mobile Workplace solution called AT&T Wireless Workware -- a suite of business solutions designed to provide seamless, wireless access to company e-mail, information and other applications behind corporate firewalls. In addition, the companies announced that HP Services will serve as the preferred systems integrator for this solution and they introduced the new Siemens SX56, a Windows Powered Pocket PC with integrated GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications)/GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) voice and data calling capabilities, that is customized to support applications on AT&T Wireless' high-speed data network. The Siemens SX56 is equipped with integrated GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications)/GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) voice and data calling capabilities, along with a bright color screen, stylish form factor, a host of Microsoft applications, Web browser and digital media support.

"We worked very closely with AT&T Wireless and Microsoft to pre-install all the necessary software on the Siemens SX56 Pocket PC Phone so that consumers can immediately begin using it with minimal setup time required," said Bernt Klein, senior vice president and general manager of the Mobile Phones unit within Siemens Information and Communication Mobile LLC. "The Siemens SX56 combines all the features and functionality of a Pocket PC with the ability to place a phone call from North America, Europe or Asia. The elegance of this solution is that it can provide customers with global mobility as well as access to their private, corporate information right out of the box."

Business customers can select from a variety of packages that include the Microsoft Mobile Information Server 2002, GPRS data service plans, and all of the necessary hardware and software to implement the wireless Pocket PC solution across their enterprise. Depending on the corporate customer's preferences, the various packages allow customers to trial the services or begin large-scale implementations.

In a separate but related offer, AT&T Wireless will sell the Siemens SX56 Pocket PC phone to consumers and small businesses through AT&T Wireless stores and select national retail outlets in the coming weeks. The device will come preloaded with AT&T Wireless Office Online productivity software and will retail for US$549.99.





More to Come

As demonstrated at an industry trade show last month, AT&T Wireless plans to be the first wireless carrier to offer new enterprise-grade Microsoft .NET location-based services for mobile users on both laptops and Pocket PCs, using MapPoint .NET and the .NET Compact Framework. In the near future, the new services will allow workgroups to map and locate co-workers on select buddy lists, and find nearby customer office locations, restaurants, and more. AT&T Wireless also plans to offer phones running Microsoft Smartphone platform.

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