AOL yesterday announced two separate agreements for services that let e-mail be accessed wirelessly over Compaq and Casio Computer handheld computers.
AOL is developing software that will allow subscribers to send and receive their e-mail with the Compaq Aero palm-size PC and Casio's Cassiopeia line of palm-size PCs, the three companies say.
The software for accessing e-mail wirelessly over the handheld PCs should be available by the first quarter of this year. "Users can expect the software sooner rather than later," says Julie Mason, a spokeswoman for AOL.
The software will be free for download to AOL members, and users will not be charged extra fees for the wireless e-mail access, Mason says.
AOL is demonstrating the e-mail services over the handheld Compaq and Casio PCs at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
AOL has been aggressively developing wireless services for its subscribers. AOL last month announced its purchase of Tegic Communications, a company that produces text-entry software for most major mobile phone manufacturers. AOL has been working with Tegic to develop a wireless application protocol-enabled AOL Instant Messenger application for wireless devices.
Also in December, AOL purchased online mapping and navigation service provider MapQuest.com for $1.1 billion. AOL says it plans to accelerate the distribution of MapQuest's services to wireless non-PC devices, including smart phones and handheld computers.
AOL and Compaq have numerous past agreements, though this is the first agreement between AOL and Casio, Mason says.
AOL, in Dulles, Va., can be reached at 703-448-8700 or at www.aol.com. Compaq, in Houston, can be reached at 281-370-0670, or at www.compaq.com. Casio, in Dover, N.J., can be reached at 973-361-5400 or at http://www.casio.com.
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