BellSouth and IBM Team for Trial of Consumer Web Access Solution; Personal Internet Device Designed to Make At-Home Access Faster and Easier.Business/Technology Editors & Telecommunications Writers SOMERS, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 27, 2000 BellSouth and 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) (R) announced today that they are working together on a market trial of customized Internet solutions for BellSouth customers who want quick and easy access to the Internet and network-based services. The trial program will target families with children who want a simple, no-hassle means for connecting to the web for specific tasks, including e-mail, shopping, surfing and research. The BellSouth solution will couple IBM's NetVista(R) Personal Internet Device, software and services with BellSouth's network-based service platform, to provide customers with an end-to-end, quick-access Web solution. The trial program is scheduled to begin in July and will take place in Atlanta, Memphis, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale (lô`dərdāl), residential, commercial, and resort city (1990 pop. 149,377), seat of Broward co., SE Fla., on the Atlantic coast; settled around a fort built (c.1837) in the Seminole War, inc. 1911. . It will center on providing a select group of BellSouth customers with the IBM NetVista The IBM NetVista name has been used for several different products. Software Suite Introduced in April 1996 as a client-server software suite, with the server software running on OS/2, and the client software on Windows 3.1 and Windows 95. Personal Internet Device; testing its overall effectiveness with consumers; and gaining specific feedback on the customer experience. This type of information will allow both companies to fine tune the solution, in anticipation of a BellSouth service deployment in October. The IBM NetVista Personal Internet Device, available later this year, consists of two basic components: a 10-inch color flat panel monitor See flat panel display. and a lightweight keyboard. It is easy to use, with its compact, ergonomic design, and has built-in broadband capabilities, for fast, one-button access to the Web. The Internet Device can be easily transported to anywhere in the home and is customized with corporate branding Corporate branding is the practice of using a company's name as a product brand name. It is an attempt to leverage corporate brand equity to create product brand recognition. It is a type of family branding or umbrella brand. , on-screen on·screen or on-screen adj. & adv. 1. As shown on a movie, television, or display screen. 2. Within public view; in public. branding and Website links. The IBM-BellSouth trial program will provide consumers with an end-to-end solution (jargon) end-to-end solution - (E2ES) A term that suggests that the supplier of an application program or system will provide all the hardware and/or software components and resouces to meet the customer's requirement and no other supplier need be involved. Compare: turn-key solution. , providing BellSouth services such as messaging; online bill review and payment; and The Real Yellow Pages(TM) online, as well as access to news and information about the user's community. As part of the solution, IBM will use elements of the IBM Websphere Everyplace eve·ry·place adv. Informal Everywhere. Usage Note: The forms everyplace (or every place), anyplace (or any place), someplace (or some place), and no place (R) Suite, including Tivoli's TPSM TPSM Troop Program Sequence Number TPSM Tivoli Personal Services Manager TPSM Tivoli Personalized Services Manager device management software to manage the Personal Internet Devices for a reliable and secure Web solution. IBM service and support are also part of the BellSouth solution, providing help desk support and a customized user interface. "BellSouth is dedicated to creating solutions for our customers, using new tools, like Internet Appliances, that enable them to easily connect to their family, friends and community," said Alice McCall, vice president, Consumer Strategy and Marketing for BellSouth. "We look forward to the learnings from this trial to ensure that we are providing customers with the types of new services they want in a user-friendly format." "IBM is creating Web access that is truly personal and effortless," said Brian Connors, Vice President, Net Device Computing, IBM Personal Systems Group. "We made it our mission to design the NetVista Personal Internet Device as a no-nonsense, physical portal for application deployment, as well as communications. IBM is working with companies, such as BellSouth, to provide customers with a rewarding Internet experience - - without all of the headaches." BellSouth is a $25 billion communications services company. It provides telecommunications services, Internet, data and e-commerce applications, wireless communications wireless communications System using radio-frequency, infrared, microwave, or other types of electromagnetic or acoustic waves in place of wires, cables, or fibre optics to transmit signals or data. , entertainment services, and online and directory advertising to nearly 39 million customers in 19 countries worldwide. IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses and consumers innovate. For more information on the IBM NetVista Personal Internet Device or other IBM PC products and solutions, go to: http://www.ibm.com/pc Editor's Note: IBM and BellSouth will be demonstrating their Web access solution at the IBM booth at PC Expo in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. on June 27, 28 and 29. (R) IBM, NetVista and WebSphere are registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation. Product and service specifications and availability information are subject to change without notice. |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion