The number of wireless messages sent every month in the United States is just a tenth of the European monthly total, according to most surveys. Carriers are hoping that will change, and last year began another move to make it possible for cell phone users to send a wireless message to others, regardless of what carrier either person subscribes to. Before so-called "SMS Interoperability" deals were struck, an AT&T Wireless customer, for example, could only send and receive SMS (Short Messaging Service) from another AT&T Wireless customer.

On Friday, Nextel Communications became the latest carrier to open up its doors to messages to and from other subscribers, according to a Nextel spokeswoman, Although SMS plans vary widely, sending a message generally costs between 4 and 10 cents, and receiving one is usually free, However, some plans charge customers to receive both solicited and unsolicited messages, effectively chargingthem iphone xr sheer crystal - clear for spam, Slow march across palmsAOL's pace bringing its services onto wireless devices is a relative crawl compared with rivals Microsoft and Yahoo, whose instant message programs and other kinds of content have been available through most U.S, carriers for years..

"AOL has been taking a cautious approach versus its rivals," said Joe Laszlo, Jupiter Research wireless analyst. That could mean AOL is losing the race for wireless customers, he said. But AOL spokeswoman Jaymelina Esmele disagrees. She said AOL has been "pretty aggressive," adding its messaging and other content onto phones, starting with Sprint PCS more than a year ago. AOL's deal with Verizon Wireless also means AOL services will be sharing space on some cell phone decks or subscriber plans with rival Microsoft.

Verizon Wireless is now offering its wireless Web subscribers a new service called "VZW with MSN," which gives Verizon Wireless users access to MSN Messenger, Hotmail, Microsoft .Net alerts, iphone xr sheer crystal - clear a calendar and information such as news, stocks, sports, and weather, A Microsoft spokeswoman could not be reached Friday morning for comment, Verizon cell phones will carry America Online's content and instant message program, joining rival Microsoft on the devices, Verizon Wireless will offer AOL Instant Messenger (AIM) for an as-yet-undetermined monthly fee by the year's end, a Verizon Wireless spokesman said, Verizon Wireless, the nation?s largest wireless provider, also plans to add a link to AOL content starting now, This would put services like MapQuest and movie information from Moviefone--onto a cell phone's "deck," the initial list of menu choices that a cell phone user sees when firing up a cell phone..

CNET también está disponible en español. Don't show this again. ZDNet UK's Graeme Wearden reported from London. To read the full story, visit ZDNet UK. BT has launched its Wi-Fi service that gives laptop and PDA (personal digital assistant) users high-speed wireless Internet access in selected locations. BT announced in April that it was planning to set up public high-speed wireless LANs (local area networks) across the United Kingdom. Such Wi-Fi hot spots have been popular in the United States for some time, but in the United Kingdom, it has only just become legal to offer such commercial services. BT has been testing the service, called BT Openzone, since June.