First Union, the sixth largest bank in the US, is to offer interactive wireless services to its online customers during the first quarter of 2001.
The mobile service will use software supplied by w-Technologies. In the initial roll-out, customers will be able to access account information, transfer funds and view financial news and stock quotes as well as receive market alerts on two-way pagers and wireless PDAs. The service will be progressively extended to include funds transfer, bill payment, and access via mobile phones and handheld computers. The bank also plans to introduce additional wireless products to serve its corporate and small business customers.
Earlier this year, First Union began offering alerts on account balances to online customers via pagers and other wireless devices. The bank claims it has signed up "thousands" of users.