IP: AT&T hangs up on PersonaLink (most of us did early in it's

[Dave Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

AT&T HANGS UP PROPRIETARY MESSAGING SYSTEM
Citing competition from the Internet, AT&T has folded its PersonaLink online
service that enabled users to shop and send messages via hand-held wireless
"personal communicators" made by Motorola and Sony.  The company had poured
some $100 million into the venture, which used its own proprietary software.
In its place, AT&T will launch a new cellular-phone Internet access service
called PocketNet Phone, that uses a hybrid cell-data phone made by
Mitsubishi Wireless Communications and Cirrus Logic.  Software for the new
venture is made by Unwired Planet Inc., a startup company in which AT&T
holds an unspecified stake.  (Wall Street Journal 12 July 96 B3)