While some paging providers are spending a great deal of money for the prospect of providing two-way messaging services, a Minnesota company says it doesn’t need to purchase expensive spectrum or wait on future technology to provide two-way paging.
American Paging Inc. says it has completed a successful test of two-way paging by “hopping” on unlicensed frequencies in the ISM (industrial, science and medical) band using so-called frequency hopping multiple access technology developed by the Israeli military.
“We’re very excited about the possibilities,” said John R. Schaaf, American Paging president and chief executive officer.
The wireless service company has paired with Nexus Telecommunications Systems Ltd. of Tel Aviv, which develops communication and location networks and systems. Together, they are American Messaging Services Inc.
The companies are employing NexNet, a network that also provides machine-to-machine monitoring, security monitoring, remote meter reading and vehicle location.
NexNet is an example of military techniques being adapted for commercial use, said Rani Cohen, senior vice president of marketing and business development for Nexus. By using an unlicensed band-one for which no purchase price was paid-companies can keep subscriber costs low, while providing advanced, two-way communications.
“This should allow a very low-cost transition to new services by utilizing the existing paging infrastructure,” Cohen said. The test was conducted in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
“It showed that NexNet can effectively coexist with other ISM band users and that NexNet receivers work on a one-to-one basis with existing paging transmitters,” Cohen said.
The company’s goal is to build a test system for a wider coverage area, said spokesman Stuart Shwiff.