Comments on: OmniSky wireless official launch

OmniSky has officially launched their wireless internet service for Palm V/Vx handhelds today. This concludes a 4 month public beta trial. Significant changes and enhancements have been made to the service based on user feedback. You can preorder the modem for $299 and unlimited access is $39.99/month. I will be working on a full review of the new features until then you can check out our review of the beta. Yesterday OmniSky announced a $75 million strategic funding round and a joint venture with News Corporation to explore global expansion of the OmniSky wireless service. They also have a clever TV commercial you can check out on their website.

 still too expensive

clark @ 5/3/2000 2:14:48 PM #

Omnisky still appears to be too expensive at $40/mo
for unlimited access. AT&T offers unlimited access for
$25 although you will have to pay a bit more for the
Minstrel wireless modem.

 RE: still too expensive

Ryan @ 5/3/2000 2:19:30 PM #

I just attended the OmniSky launch press conference and Barak hinted that the $299 modem cost may come down in a month or two. He stated that he didn't think $299 was a barrier to entry for the mobile professional. OmniSky is the exclusive reseller of the Minstrel V modem so you won't be able to get wireless service with it through another carrier.

 RE: still too expensive

rickrodgers @ 5/3/2000 4:51:05 PM #

The omnisky service is nationwide with no roaming. ATTs comparable plan is $59

 Tons o' Content

Ed @ 5/3/2000 4:23:05 PM #

In conjunction with the official release, OmniSky has announced independent agreements with more than 150 of the most popular web-based businesses to include optimized access to their sites through the OmniSky service, including Barnes & Noble.com, the CBS Marketwatch.com sites, CNET, eBay, eFax, E*TRADE, Fidelity Investments, FOX Sports, MapBlast!, Moviefone, Ticketmaster Online-CitySearch, Travelocity.com, Weather.com, and Yahoo!. In addition, OmniSky has teamed with iSyndicate and ScreamingMedia to include hundreds of content feeds in the OmniSky service from these leading wireless-web content aggregators.

http://secure.omnisky.com/pressroom/press_releases/press_050300_content.jhtml" CLASS=NEWS>http://secure.omnisky.com/pressroom/press_releases/press_050300_content.jhtml

 $40 bucks a month?....Ouch!

I.M. Anonymous @ 5/3/2000 4:50:39 PM #

Think i'll wait for a low price all you can eat special...such as $15 a month.:-)

 pass-thru for Palm Portable Keyboard

snak-pak @ 5/3/2000 5:47:55 PM #

Anyone know if this modem has a pass-through for the clip-on Palm Portable (folding) Keyboard?

This would make it the ultimate wireless email device (I use mine to write email in a coffee shop all the time). I checked the web site but it doesn't indicate, so I suspect not.

 RE: pass-thru for Palm Portable Keyboard

Ryan @ 5/3/2000 9:15:49 PM #

Unfortunately the Minstrel does not have a pass-through. You can check your mail, disconnect, write replies, and then reconnect and send them. That can get old after a little while.