A Year Ago: AOL continues its wireless mission

AOL inks six wireless deals as part of its 'AOL Anywhere' strategy, which aims to provide consumers with near-constant access to the company and its products

America Online, which recently announced plans for a new wireless division, Monday said it had signed deals with six telephone and wireless companies.

The deals are part of the company's "AOL Anywhere" strategy, which aims to provide consumers with near-constant access to the company and its products. "Today's wireless announcements are a major step forward for the AOL Anywhere strategy -- allowing consumers to be connected anywhere any time with the ease that they have become accustomed to with the AOL service on a PC," AOL CEO Steve Case said in a release. "There's no question that we're on the eve of an explosion in consumers' move to wireless and how they use interactive devices."

Motorola will make AOL's recently launched Mobile Messenger product, which incorporates the company's email and Instant Messenger services, available to customers through wireless devices. Research in Motion will also make the service available through a customised, AOL-branded two-way handheld device. And Arch Communications Group will offer the Mobile Messenger service to consumers using devices enabled with Arch's messaging capabilities.

AOL's Mobile Messenger will use BellSouth's network, and AOL plans to offer AOL email and its Instant Messenger product to BellSouth wireless users.

Also Monday, AOL said Sprint PCS will offer "AOL Wireless" content and services to consumers via Sprint PCS Internet-ready phones. And Nokia will develop a version of Instant Messenger for users of its wireless products. Financial terms of the deals were not released.

Separately, AOL said Monday that it will make content and services from its Digital City city guide service available to wireless consumers in 60 cities next month.

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