Genie hopes to get lucky in fixed wireless alliance with Seven

Genie, BT's mobile internet division, is shifting its focus to enterprise networking by offering new wireless access solutions through an alliance with the first global infrastructure provider to guarantee a safe passage for customer data.

The move is a boost for wireless data services as businesses have traditionally avoided the technology for fears of security holes. Genie will use Seven's global network platform for the service because it gives security guarantees between the wireless network and the office. This includes access across all wireless devices and existing and emerging 2.5G and 3G networks. Bill Nguyen, Seven's founder and president, claimed the service will attract business users that do not want the cost of setting up dedicated wireless links. He said: "The platform enables carriers to deliver solutions such as messaging, sales force automation and data access while allowing those enterprises to avoid risky and expensive one-off wireless investments." Henry Harrison, an analyst with telecoms specialist Schema, believes enterprises will be very interested, calling it a "dead cert" as it will provide all the business benefits once enjoyed at work outside the office. "Wireless access was previously very integrated and complicated, however this now provides a one-stop shop," he said. Harrison also said it is interesting that BT have targeted its traditional customer brand 'Genie', which suggests there are surprising changes within BT. The role of Genie is becoming better defined, he said, whereas before one wasn't quite sure where it fitted in. Seven has integrated Microsoft's mobile information server into its global network. Talking about the collaboration, Paul Goss, senior vice president of the Mobility Group at Microsoft, said: "Our work together will make wireless data access cost effective for the enterprise and create a new business opportunity for the wireless network operators by delivering value-added services and products." Genie currently has web portals in Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK, with more than 2.8 million registrations in total. BT Cellnet has 10.24 million customers using its voice services, with over a million of these using internet enabled mobile phones.