The device, which will almost certainly still be made by Taipei, Taiwan-based original design manufacturer High Tech Computer Corp (HTC), is scheduled for introduction in time for Christmas this year.
Additionally, later this year mmO2 will start to offer wireless LAN (WLAN) hotspot access to its UK customers. About 1,000 sites around Europe are expected to form the backbone of mmO2’s hotspot service, concentrating on business locations such as hotels, airports and conference centers.
mmO2 said it will deploy a number of these sites itself. However, the majority are set to be offered through third-party site owners and wireless ISPs (WISPs). The operator plans to offer hotspot access through a single O2 interface, alongside GPRS wireless wide area network coverage. Both pre-pay and contract customers will be accommodated.
Intel Corp, with its Centrino WLAN chip brand, will co-market the service with mmO2. Billing services will be provided by Luxembourg-based authentication and payment platform provider, Excilan SA.
mmO2 will also boost its hotspot presence in Germany through partnerships with local site owners GlobalAirnet AG and Swisscom Eurospot-owned WLAN AG. O2 users in Germany will also have the option of using ICQ mobile instant messaging. The company plans to launch the service on its UK network in the autumn.
Source: Computerwire