GoAmerica's ISP Opportunity

GoAmerica has been operating its wireless ISP services for some time. We describe the partnership program it calls the "ISP Opportunity."

by Alex Goldman ISP-Planet Associate Editor [October 6, 2000]

GoAmerica is looking for large ISPs and those with significant business accounts. Its wireless services might help distinguish your ISP services from the offerings of your competitors.

We first noticed GoAmerica in April (New Paradigm for Wireless 'Net). At that time, David Haskin wrote, "The wireless ISPs will encourage consumer acceptance of wireless devices by providing sane, flat-rate pricing. By contrast, many old-line wireless operators still insist on asinine per-minute pricing for Net access."

Matt Coffy, Director of Indirect Sales for GoAmerica, told us, "At current prices, we're selling to businesses and early adopters, but as soon as hardware and service prices drop — and they will — everyone will have wireless Internet access."

Open platform proprietary software
GoAmerica wireless services are accessible over Verizon's Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD) network (former Bell Atlantic Mobile), the Bell South Wireless Data (BSWD) network, and American Motient's Motient network.

The services use GoAmerica's proprietary GoWeb browser that allows access to actual web pages from mobile devices such as laptops, CE devices, RIM handhelds, and Palm Vs. The browser has security features and also optimizes data to fit on the device's screen.

Selling to the movers and shakers
The easiest sales so far are to businesses that employ many mobile workers, who could be salespeople on the road or DSL installers on the move within a single city.

If a business already uses web-based software, such as sales force automation software, then this wireless service allows those workers to access the company database while out of the office.

Your options
A large ISP, a CLEC, or a DLEC can contact GoAmerica directly and purchase, say 10,000 RIM devices and also resell calling plans. If the ISP were a CLEC it could add VoIP or other value-added services. For ISPs that already have large business customers, says Matt Coffy, "it's a slam-dunk to go in there and offer wireless services," by which he means it's an easy, instant sell.

Smaller ISPs would want to go through aggregators or resellers, such as ZipLink and US Online.

ZipLink is an Internet Access Provider that specializes in Virtual ISPs and wholesale services. It offers DSL, webhosting, and yooz.com tutorial services to ISPs. Its Go America services offer ISPs a commission of $20 or $60 for each one-year wireless plan they sell to their subscribers.

US Online is an ISP aggregator that provides growth and profitability services to independent Internet Service Providers. Pricing was not available at press time.

GoAmerica's future
Recently (Dell Wireless) we noted, "like notches on a belt, GoAmerica continues to collect wireless services partnerships with the heavy hitters of the computer industry." If the wireless web takes off, GoAmerica will reap the benefits.

We have quoted several authorities who believe that it's just a matter of price, and that falling prices are just a matter of time.

—End