In Brief: B of A Calif. Customers Get Wireless Banking

Bank of America is providing wireless banking services to its Internet banking customers in California.

To use the service unveiled on Monday, customers will need a Palm VII wireless, hand-held organizer from Palm Computing Inc., a 3Com Corp. affiliate.

The Palm VII uses Web technology to access account information from the bank. The technology, called Web clipping, extracts specific information from a Web site through special query forms residing on the Palm VII. Bank of America's on-line customers in New York were the first to test the wireless Internet connection through Palm VII in May.

Bank of America is also working with Toronto's 724 Solutions Inc. to let it provide banking services through other wireless devices, including mobile and smart phones. A pilot for banking with these devices is scheduled for next year.

Bank of Montreal and its U.S. subsidiary, Harris Bank of Chicago, also plan to deliver wireless Internet banking through palm pilots and mobile phones. Five hundred Bank of Montreal volunteers are testing a system that allows access to banking, investment, and related account information through wireless devices.

Users can also track their portfolios and get stock quotes and alerts, news, horoscopes, and lottery information. A U.S. rollout is scheduled for next year.

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