REDMOND, Wash., Nov. 20, 2003 —
— AT & T Wireless and MSN® , the world’s most popular online destination, today announced a strategic alliance that will enable consumers to subscribe to MSN Mobile services delivered through their AT & T Wireless’ mMode (TM) -capable phones nationwide by the end of the year. The deal will give AT & T Wireless customers mobile access to MSN network content, their MSN Hotmail®
e-mail accounts, MSN Messenger and other offerings as a premium paid service.
The latest alliance between longtime collaborators Microsoft and AT & T Wireless extends MSN Hotmail, the world’s leading Web-based e-mail service with 130 million active users worldwide; MSN Messenger, the world’s leading free* instant messaging solution; and the entire suite of MSN Mobile services to AT & T Wireless’ large customer base. AT & T Wireless mMode customers will be able to add an MSN Mobile subscription to their service; customers with text-messaging phones can subscribe to MSN Mobile two-way text-messaging services.
“This new agreement significantly enhances Microsoft’s long-standing relationship with AT & T Wireless, and will provide our mutual customers with wireless access to familiar MSN services that offer a convenient way to stay in touch with the people and information that matter most,” said Brian Arbogast, a corporate vice president in the MSN and Personal Services Division at Microsoft Corp. “We’re setting the stage for MSN and AT & T Wireless to bring even more advanced services to customers, who are increasingly seeking access to a diverse range of data services on their phones and other devices.”
mMode brings together e-mail, Internet-based content, games and more, all in one place on the wireless phone. Unveiled earlier this week, a newly enhanced version of mMode features a more user-friendly design and interface, powerful personalization tools, exclusive navigation features, and a host of new applications for daily use in a mobile environment.
“Thanks to this new agreement with Microsoft, mMode customers will soon benefit from the richness of services provided by MSN,” said Sam Hall, vice president of mMode services at AT & T Wireless. “It’s clear to us that customers are looking for a simple way to access MSN services while on the go, and together with Microsoft, we’ll be delivering that capability across dozens of handsets in the weeks ahead.”
MSN Mobile provides users with wireless access to core MSN two-way communication applications and notifications on a range of mobile devices, from basic text-messaging phones to mMode-enabled phones. MSN Mobile services available to AT & T Wireless subscribers include the following:
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MSN Hotmail. Allows subscribers to read and reply to messages and receive mobile alerts when important e-mail arrives
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MSN Messenger. Allows users to chat wirelessly with family and friends virtually anywhere
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MSN Mobile Web. Enables a mobile device to browse MSN for weather, news, sports, horoscopes and other information — whenever and wherever users need it most
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MSN Calendar. Provides one-way mobile alerts for important dates such as birthdays and anniversaries
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MSN Alerts. Delivers customized alerts for weather, news, sports, stocks, traffic, horoscopes and more
More information about MSN Mobile can be found at http://mobile.msn.com/ .
About MSN
MSN attracts more than 350 million unique users worldwide per month. With localized versions available globally in 34 markets and 18 languages, MSN is a world leader in delivering Web services to consumers and ad sales to businesses worldwide. MSN 8 is the first Internet software product to have earned the trusted Good Housekeeping Seal. The most useful and innovative online service today, MSN brings consumers everything they need from the Web to make the most of their time online. MSN is located on the Web at http://www.msn.com/ . MSN worldwide sites are located at http://www.msn.com/worldwide.ashx .
About AT & T Wireless
AT & T Wireless (NYSE: AWE) is the second-largest wireless carrier, based on revenues, in the United States. With 21.855 million subscribers as of September 30, 2003, and revenues of more than $16.5 billion over the past four quarters, AT & T Wireless delivers advanced high-quality mobile wireless communications services, voice and data, to businesses and consumers, in the U.S. and internationally. For more information, please visit us at http://www.attwireless.com/ .
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.
* “Free” references access to MSN Messenger via a PC.
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” which are based on management’s beliefs as well as on a number of assumptions concerning future events made by management with information that is currently available to management. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, management’s expectations regarding: our future financial and operating performance and financial condition, including the company’s outlook for the fiscal year 2003 and subsequent periods; subscriber growth; industry conditions; the strength of our balance sheet; our liquidity and needs for additional financing; and our ability to generate positive free cash flow.
Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside AT & T Wireless’ control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. Without limitation these factors include: the risks associated with the implementation of our technology migration strategy, our ability to continue to reduce costs and increase the efficiency of our distribution channels, the potential competitive impacts of industry consolidation or alternative technologies, potential impacts on revenue and ARPU from competitive pricing and slowing penetration in the wireless industry, the effects of vigorous competition in the markets in which we operate, the risk of decreased consumer spending due to softening economic conditions, acts of terrorism, and consumer response to new service offerings.
For a more detailed description of the factors that could cause such a difference, please see AT & T Wireless’ filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the information under the heading “Additional Factors That May Affect Our Business, Future Operating Results and Financial Condition” and “Forward Looking Statements” in its quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed on November 14, 2003.
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