Ken Jongsma <73115.1041@compuserve.com> (05/03/91)
There is an interesting ad in the current issue of {Business Week},
placed by AT&T Network Systems. The ad states that AT&T will be
offering a new "smart" phone in 1992.
The picture shows something that looks like a beige Etch-a-Sketch with
a handset attached to one side. There is no dial pad. Instead, the
screen is apparently touch sensitive and programmable. One portion of
the screen shows a dial pad, with the remainder divided into soft key
menu selectors.
The ad copy states that the phone is programable such that one key
could be labeled "Friends." Pressing that key would bring up a sub-
menu with all your friends listed. Pressing a particular key would
dial that friend.
The copy goes on to say that the phone could be used for banking,
airline reservations and other services.
No details are given as to what type of service is required to support
this phone (ISDN, POTS?) Perhaps Randy Borow or one of the AT&T people
has more details.
Ken Jongsma ken@wybbs.mi.org
Smiths Industries 15.1041@compuserve.com
Grand Rapids, Michigan jongsma@benzie.si.com
[Moderator's Note: Based on some other messages coming into the Digest
queue at this very minute, I expect to be hearing from Randy Borow
very soon anyway ... maybe he will be able to answer this also. PAT]