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Excite@Home (Nasdaq: ATHM - news) and AT&T Wireless (NYSE: AWE) Thursday announced the launch of Excite Mobile, Excite's portal for mobile users, on the new AT&T Digital PocketNet(SM) service. Excite Mobile is the only branded portal on the PocketNet Service's mobile homepage as well as the first portal to distribute its full service on the carrier. AT&T's wireless packet data network is unique in that users pay a low, monthly flat rate for unlimited Internet access, removing a significant barrier to mobile Web use.

Excite@Home and AT&T Wireless also announced Thursday a joint distribution deal to co-market the mobile services of each company. AT&T Wireless will include Excite Mobile on its $14.99-per-month unlimited-access service, and Excite will market AT&T wireless services through the Excite Mobile portal at mobile.excite.com, where users can purchase the AT&T Digital PocketNet service or cell phones with the service. An extension of Excite@Home's broadband online service strategy, Excite Mobile provides mobile Web users with their customized portfolio of news, directions, weather and other personal and location-based information to deliver relevant information directly to users. With AT&T's packet data network, users will no longer pay by the minute to, for example, compose e-mail, manage calendar information or access driving directions.

"Through this relationship, we are providing AT&T wireless subscribers with the next generation of wireless Web services: a cost-effective service that anticipates users' needs and presents them with a personalized experience that represents their interests," said Rob Wilen, senior director and group manager for Wireless at Excite@Home. "The Excite Mobile and PocketNet services work together to eliminate the barriers of complexity and cost to wireless Web access."

"We are pleased to have the Excite Mobile portal as part of AT&T Digital PocketNet service," said Kendra VanderMeulen, senior vice president of Product Development and Strategy at AT&T Wireless Services. "What's different is that where users once paid $15 per month for a limited number of minutes, they now have an unlimited number of minutes plus a personalized, relevant mobile environment."

# posted by Medical Information : 2:45 AM