This is just one example of a distinct information service that can provide value to users without forcing them to proactively retrieve data. The combination of this type of service with handheld and wireless devices extends the useful range of information beyond desktop PCs and Web browsers. This is the essence of ubiquitous computing. While these ideas have been promoted for the last few years, the emergence of the previously mentioned technology options makes these dreams realizable. These services can be delivered within a useful business model that has the potential to combine the service delivery with a contract for long-term service.
Cell phones are already virtually free if a customer signs up for the service.
Avant Software's AvantGo provides access to Web resources as a wireless service to palmtop users. These relationships will determine the powerhouse companies of the e-services revolution. The merger of AOL with Time Warner underscores the need for content as the potential selling point of an e-services company. The combination of Time Warner's media power with AOL's mass market penetration presents an opportunity for the company to provide e-services from music delivery through news, weather and sports. This delivery, brought to the consumer marketplace through cable lines and interactive television, can revolutionize the nature of information access as well as provide an entry point for such companies to enter other markets with the consumer masses they aggregate.