Technology briefs for February 12, 2001

Monday, Feb. 12, 2001 | 11:19 a.m.

EarthLink, Sprint amend alliance

ATLANTA -- EarthLink Inc. and Sprint Corp. said Friday they have liberalized their three-year-old marketing and branding alliance to give each company more flexibility to pursue deals with other partners.

The revised alliance ends exclusivity terms and allows Sprint and EarthLink to drop each other's name from Internet products.

Sprint, which owns 27 percent of Atlanta-based EarthLink, also relinquished two seats on the Internet service provider's board and its right to buy EarthLink this year. Sprint retained the right to bid against any competing offer for the company.

Sprint, based in Kansas City, Mo., said it will continue marketing EarthLink-Sprint service to dial-up Internet customers for now, but anticipates buying wholesale EarthLink access and selling it as Sprint service in the future.

All EarthLink services now will be sold only with the EarthLink name.

Firm upgrading interactive network

ATLANTA -- Atlanta-based Cingular Wireless has announced plans to spend $50 million during the next three years to improve its interactive network.

The plan is aimed at increasing the network's capacity as well as extending its coverage into more nooks and crannies in major metropolitan areas, said William Hogg, chief technical officer for Cingular's interactive unit, the former BellSouth Interactive Data. "We want our customers and partners to have an excellent network experience."

No wave of hiring is expected as part of the plan, according to the company.

Cingular, formed last fall as a wireless alliance of BellSouth and SBC Communications, is the nation's second-largest wireless carrier. The company has about 20 million subscribers, including former Nevada Bell wireless customers.