Alltel Begins Selling BlackBerry 7250 Wireless Handhelds in Stores; Unlimited National Data Roaming Available in Coverage Area Similar to Voice Network.LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Alltel (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange : AT) is now selling the BlackBerry 7250 Wireless Handheld(TM) in the company's wireless retail stores. The wireless handheld, which has been available in the business channel for two months, allows customers to roam on Alltel's high-speed data network with national coverage that is similar to the company's voice network. The Java-based BlackBerry 7250(TM) combines support for phone, e-mail, text messaging Sending short messages to a smartphone, pager, PDA or other handheld device. Text messaging implies sending short messages generally no more than a couple of hundred characters in length. , organizer, Web and corporate data applications in a single device that also features Bluetooth(R) support for hands-free use with a headset or car kit. It also includes a bright, full-color screen and 32MB of flash memory. The BlackBerry 7250 is available in retail stores for $299.99 with a two-year contract and $359.99 for a one-year agreement. Alltel also is offering BlackBerry Internet Service The BlackBerry Internet Service, or BIS, allows BlackBerry users to access the Internet and POP3/IMAP email accounts without connecting through a BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES). (TM) to support this retail expansion. BlackBerry Internet Service is a hosted service for individuals and smaller companies that allows users to access up to 10 corporate and/or personal email accounts (including Microsoft Exchange Messaging and groupware software for Windows from Microsoft. Exchange Server is an Internet-compliant e-mail system that runs under Windows NT/2000 and Windows Server 2003. It can be accessed by Web browsers, the Exchange client, versions of Outlook and the earlier Windows Inbox. , IBM (International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY, www.ibm.com) The world's largest computer company. IBM's product lines include the S/390 mainframes (zSeries), AS/400 midrange business systems (iSeries), RS/6000 workstations and servers (pSeries), Intel-based servers (xSeries) , Lotus Domino, and many popular Internet service provider Internet service provider (ISP) Company that provides Internet connections and services to individuals and organizations. For a monthly fee, ISPs provide computer users with a connection to their site (see data transmission), as well as a log-in name and password. email accounts) from a single device. Customers who add a postpaid voice calling plan when purchasing the BlackBerry 7250 will receive unlimited data service for $44.99 per month. Customers who choose data-only service with the BlackBerry 7250 will pay $49.99 per month. Both plans include national data roaming at no extra charge when using this device. "The BlackBerry 7250 gives our customers a fast and easy voice and data connection when they travel," said Frank O'Mara, executive vice president of marketing for Alltel. "BlackBerry users will benefit from peak speeds of 144 kilobits per second (unit) kilobits per second - (kbps, kb/s) A unit of data rate where 1 kb/s = 1000 bits per second. This contrasts with units of storage where 1 Kb = 1024 bits (note upper case K). when browsing the Internet on their device." The BlackBerry 7250 initially will be available in 300 Alltel retail stores. In April, Alltel announced the availability of BlackBerry Enterprise Server BlackBerry Enterprise Server (BES) is the name of the middleware software package that is part of the BlackBerry wireless platform from Research In Motion. BES connects to messaging and collaboration software (Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Domino, Novell GroupWise) on enterprise (TM) for business customers. "We are pleased that the BlackBerry 7250 and BlackBerry Internet Service are now available to Alltel's retail customers," said Mark Guibert, vice president, corporate marketing at Research In Motion. "Our customers recognize and value the freedom of wireless connectivity in both work and personal settings and choose BlackBerry because they want the best combined voice and data experience." Alltel is a customer-focused communications company with more than 13 million customers and $8 billion in annual revenues. Alltel provides wireless, local telephone, long-distance and broadband services to residential and business customers in 27 states. Alltel, NYSE: AT www.alltel.com |
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