EarthLink expands wireless services

EarthLink has enhanced its wireless service with the launch of Internet services for Palm- and Pocket PC-based handhelds, the company said Wednesday.

The EarthLink Wireless Email and Internet Service will run on Palm's Vx, m500 and m505 models, and on HandSpring's Visor Edge, Pro, Prism, Platinum and Neo devices for $39.95 per month. The service will work on most devices with a Palm operating system of 3.5 and higher, or OS 4 in the case of the m500 and m505.

EarthLink also plans to launch an interface for 2002 Pocket PC-based devices within a month, and now supports Pocket PC 2000 platform models, including Compaq Computer's iPaq H3600 series and Hewlett-Packard's Jornada 520 and 540 series devices.

The service uses the wireless technology EarthLink acquired with its purchase of OmniSky in January, and competes against similar offerings from Verizon Wireless, which recently enhanced its wireless services.

Features of EarthLink's service include a set of city guides, an instant messaging option and technology to improve sites not already formatted for wireless surfing.