August 1995

Sprint Telecommunications Venture-which plans to operate next-generation mobile phone service across much of the nation-is keeping to its cable roots by selecting Code Division Multiple Access technology as the foundation for its network. The Sprint-cable TV consortium last month announced …

BellSouth Wireless Inc. unveiled a new cellular technology application called Cellemetry, which makes it possible to send short data messages over existing cellular networks. Currently undergoing system trials, applications for the patent-pending technology include remote utility meter reading, alarm, copier …

Marking the first phase in licensing personal communications services in Canada, 18 consortia said they are interested in offering next-generation wireless services. Parties that wanted to participate in the licensing process were required to file expressions of interest with Industry …

SAN DIEGO-The National Dispatch Center Inc. said it will provide international call routing for GlobalRoam, the international cellular roaming service scheduled to be introduced by GTE Mobilnet Inc. in the third quarter of this year. GlobalRoam will allow traveling Europeans …

CommNet Cellular Inc. said it has successfully concluded its call for redemption of its 6.75 percent convertible subordinated debentures. Of $74.7 million aggregate principal amount of the debentures outstanding, $41.9 million were redeemed and the balance of $32.9 million was …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission and Omnipoint Corp. appeared to be close to negotiating a deal late last week on how to prevent big companies from taking illegal control of bidders who win personal communications services licenses at the upcoming entrepreneur …

AT&T Corp. took another giant step into wireless competition with the confidence of an experienced player holding a royal flush-primed with a fat distribution channel, a database brimming with customer contacts and the ability to dominate the market from which …

Editor’s Note: The RCR research and editorial departments have compiled this list of mobile satellite carriers based on survey responses and interviews with industry contacts. The chart is arranged alphabetically because most of the companies are not yet offering service. …

NASHVILLE, Tenn.-Network USA Paging Corp. signed a letter of intent to buy Page East Inc. of North Carolina for $10.9 million. The agreement includes the right to acquire the paging assets of Coastal Carolina Communications Inc. Together, the two companies …

As major service providers work to gain position for the coming pocket-phone revolution, Sprint Corp. is letting loose of its cellular holdings in order to concentrate on its personal communications services licenses. Sprint has announced it intends to pursue a …

Convergence shows its colors as cable TV provider Cox Communications Inc. charts its course into next-generation wireless telephony, underscored by its announcement last month of plans to use Code Division Multiple Access technology on its personal communications services networks. The …

CINCINNATI-Despite soaring revenue and subscriber growth, USA Mobile Communications Inc. reported a sharp decline in net income for the second quarter, ended June 30, because of increases in depreciation and amortization costs associated with assets gained in recent acquisitions. Net …

MINNEAPOLIS-Motorola Inc.’s Land Mobile Products Sector has introduced a wireless communicator for industrial and public safety use. The Forte Wireless CommPad is a rugged, handheld computer designed to operate on Motorola’s private two-way radio communications networks, the company said. It …

DALLAS-Northern Telecom Ltd. will provide Star Digitel with a Time Division Multiple Access digital cellular phone system valued at $24 million under the terms of a three-year supply agreement. Star Digitel is a wholly owned subsidiary of Star Paging (International …

JACKSON, Miss.-MobileComm is introducing CityLink Now&Then, designed to meet the needs of infrequent travelers. Customers who are going outside of their local coverage area can activate the service via the telephone. Using a touch-tone phone, paging coverage can be forwarded …

A new company led by industry veteran Allen Salmasi is poised to bid in the entrepreneurial auction for personal communications services licenses, with plans to build a network based on Code Division Multiple Access technology. NextWave Telecom Inc. is headed …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission is considering abandoning the 220-222 MHz test-bed for narrowband technology in favor of a flexible licensing scheme that would permit alternative technologies for services other than dispatch such as paging, data and fixed wireless. The July …

WASHINGTON-MCI Communications Corp. turned itself into a national wireless powerhouse last week by signing cellular resale agreements with AT&T Corp., GTE Corp., BellSouth Corp., Frontier Corp. and the AirTouch Communications Inc.-Cellular Communications Inc. partnership known as New Par. The resale …

WASHINGTON-Commercial wireless carriers last week fought off a challenge by two Virginia congressmen and local government officials to kill the antenna siting amendment in the House telecommunications reform bill. The legislation, significantly revised at the request of House Speaker Newt …

SAN FRANCISCO-AirTouch Communications Inc. and GTE Mobilnet Inc. announced plans to participate in a new company formed to provide cellular service in Hokkaido, Japan. Both companies will own a 4.5 percent interest in Digital TU-KA Hokkaido Co. Ltd., based in …

AT&T Corp. and Saudi Arabian company A.S. Bugshan & Bros. won a contract to expand the Global System for Mobile communications cellular network of the Saudi Ministry of Post, Telegraph and Telephone. An additional 300,000 subscribers can be added. The …

MCI Communications Corp. is going to resell cellular service from arch competitor AT&T Corp? What is the world coming to? Chaos, I say. There is no orderly development in this brave new world of wireless telecommunications. Perhaps chaos is a …

A joint venture is underway to deliver “last mile”-or in this case last 20 miles-digital wireless connections for wireline phones in regions worldwide where phone service is costly, inadequate or nonexistent. Together, Granger Telecom, Loral Communications Systems and Unisys Corp. …

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.-Interim Standard-634, an open network interface standard, has been approved by the engineering committee of the Telecommunications Industry Association. The standard provides an open interface between the mobile switching center and the radio base station subsystem in a …

DALLAS-The number of players in the paging industry continues to shrink with Paging Network Inc.’s latest series of acquisitions. PageNet recently paid $6 million for the transmission network and operating paging assets of Page Florida, operated by Chicago Communications Service …