Hold-ups for new SMS e-mail service in Australia - News - Business

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This story was printed from ZDNet Australia.
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Hold-ups for new SMS e-mail service in Australia

By James Pearce, ZDNet Australia
June 05, 2002
URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/business/soa/Hold-ups-for-new-SMS-e-mail-service-in-Australia/0,139023166,120265771,00.htm

A deal between Mobileway and MSN to deliver Hotmail and Messenger Service via SMS in the Asia region is having trouble getting a green light in Australia.

Mobileway announced in April that together with MSN it will deliver the capability for mobile carriers in the Asia Pacific, including Australia, to offer MSN Hotmail Web-based e-mail via two-way SMS by June 2002. However, enquiries as to the launch date of the service have been met with the response that the deal is -still under negotiation".

Both companies are refusing to say what the hold-up as been in finalising the deal.

-It's been a regional agreement, and we are still in negotiations in regards to Australia," country manager for Mobileway Australia Scott Hannan told ZDNet Australia. -Because of my position in those negotiations I can't comment on them."

Samantha Herron, a spokesperson for ninemsn Australia, refused to either confirm or deny the release of the service in Australia. -We don't disclose any of the commercial dealings we have with carriers," she said.

-I suggest you look at the Asian market first because they'll bring something out way before we do."