Clearnet intros wireless communities: Industrynet offers two-way radios for businesses

Clearnet officials hope their company's new "wireless communities" will make having a Clearnet Mike iDEN phone essential. Industrynet allows businesses within a specific industry category to communicate with each other via Mike's Direct Connect two-way radios.

Industrynet extends the benefits of Direct Connect outside a user's company. "Companies that use it discover quickly they spend a lot less time doing voice mail tag and trading messages. They get access to a person," said Robert Blumenthal, director of product development for Clearnet.

Small to medium-sized business can benefit the most from Industrynet. "Usually their community of interest is outside of the company," Blumenthal said.

Clearnet hopes that at some point, having a Mike phone and being a member of an Industrynet community will be key to the success of certain businesses. For example, contractors and suppliers in the construction industry may begin to rely on Mike as an efficient way to conduct business. If nine out of 10 members of the construction industry used Mike phones, Blumenthal reasoned, those that didn't might lose business.

Clearnet has created seven Industrynet communities and likely won't ever designate more than 10 or 15, Blumenthal said. Each community can hold 65,000 members. Users contact others in the community via the push-to-talk radio by dialing a four-digit number.

Nextel has been offering what it calls Business Networks in the U.S. for more than a year, said a company spokesman. After creating the first one in Atlanta, Nextel has built them in all of its markets. Some regions have groups that cater to geographic needs. Seattle, for example, has a boaters' network.

Construction suppliers, contractors

Professional services lawyers, accountants, consultants

Health and social services hospitals, nursing homes, child care

Hospitality and travel services hotels, restaurants, resorts

Transportation and automotive dealers, towing, repairs

Media and entertainment press, film and TV production

Friends and family university students, social clubs, youth groups