Motorola, Sprint to offer travel services over wireless phones

BANGALORE: Motorola Inc and Sprint PCS Group, each tied up with partners to

offer travel services over wireless phones. Motorola said it forged an agreement

with online travel reservation system WORLDSPAN, while Sprint PCS separately

said it linked with GetThere.com, formerly known as Internet Travel Network.

Both agreements allow the companies to offer travel information on wireless

phones that have Internet access. Starting in the first quarter of 2000,

Motorola said people using its phones will be able to check airline flight

availability, buy airline tickets and change itineraries through WORLDSPAN, the

Atlanta-based travel reservations system.

A spokeswoman for Motorola said it would be up to each carrier to determine

how much to charge for the service. Under the Sprint PCS deal, Wireless' Web

customers can track flight departures and arrivals and other travel-based

information from a mini-browser on their Internet-ready phones, Sprint PCS said.

Sprint PCS said the service would be available immediately, and there was no

extra cost for wireless Web subscribers. Wireless Web prices start at $9.99 per

month, a spokeswoman said.