Editor’s Note: RCR Wireless News goes all in for “Throwback Thursdays,” tapping into our archives to resuscitate the top headlines from the past. Fire up the time machine, put on the sepia-tinted shades, set the date for #TBT and enjoy the memories!
D.C.’s Cellular One suspends roaming in New York City
Cellular One in the Washington, D.C., area has suspended roaming services temporarily in New York City while the company tackles an enormous cellular cloning problem. Cellular fraud has been a major concern of the U.S. cellular industry for quite some time. The problem has mounted steadily and now costs the industry about $1 million a day, according to the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association. Cellular One in Washington, D.C.-Baltimore, a subsidiary of SBC Communications Inc., recently initiated a fraud management system to search for such suspicious use. New computer programs introduced this year helped operators analyze cellular calling signals for unusual usage patterns. … Read More
BAM’s newest wireless offering is personal pocket receptionist
A “hip-pocket receptionist” is how Bell Atlantic Mobile describes its new ContactLine II service, a personal communications cellular device that allows customers to receive calls however, whenever and wherever they choose. People calling a ContactLine II customer can dial one number that is routed to the customer through BAM’s new SmartReach Personal Access Service – using the company’s advanced intelligent network -whether at home, in the office or driving, using a landline or wireless phone. BAM conducted nearly two years of research in conjunction with Carnegie Mellon University that “shows that most consumers like the idea of ‘anytime, anywhere’ accessibility, but they want to be able to control it,” said Dennis Strigl, BAM president and chief executive officer. … Read More
RCR Person of the Year: Reed Hundt
After only a little more than a year as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, Reed Hundt has spearheaded some of the most dramatic changes ever for the wireless communications industry. He has, in effect, redesigned an industry by creating a commercial mobile radio service and crafting a platform from which small businesses, women and minorities might have an equal opportunity to participate in the spectrum auctions. It is, in fact, the auctions for which Hundt will be most noted: He will be known as the one who took the “air” out of the industry and put it on the “block.” Whether liked or disliked -and there are those on either side of the fence – he has impacted the wireless industry in 1994 more than any other person. He is RCR’s 1994 Person of the Year. … Read More
Customers will define the roles for PCS and data technologies
Bell Atlantic Mobile President Dennis Strigl predicts that wireless data will account for a greater proportion of system operators’ business in coming years, but cautioned industry against over reaching itself. “Frankly, I don’t think most people have any idea of what we have here and how quick this market will move,” said Strigl, the keynote speaker at the Wireless Datacomm conference held earlier this month in Washington, D.C. BAM, a subsidiary of Philadelphia-based Bell Atlantic Corp., is a leading proponent of cellular digital packet data, or CDPD, technology. … Read More
Globalstar initial offering expects to raise millions for LEO satellite system
Globalstar Telecommunications Ltd. has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission to make an initial public offering of 12 million shares of common stock, priced between $24 and $26 a share. Proceeds from the offering will be used to purchase a 25 percent general partnership interest in Globalstar L.P., a venture between New York based-Loral Corp. and Qualcomm Inc. of San Diego. Globalstar L.P. plans to build a $1.95 billion network of 48 low-earth-orbiting satellites scheduled to start operating in early 1998. Globalstar Telecommunications hopes to raise from $288 million to $312 million during the offering period, which is scheduled for early 1995. … Read More
Tektronix banks on 2 alliances to provide PCS test equipment
An Oregon test and measurement equipment company with international alliances is poised for what it hopes is a wave of demand from companies building personal communications services networks. “Test equipment is an integral part of installing a PCS system. And we think testing will be the key part of their decisions, based on cost,” said Thomas Brinkoetter, marketing manager of Beaverton, Ore.-based Tektronix Inc. Tektronix wants to be the dominant supplier of PCS test equipment for all PCS technologies evolving in the U.S. market. “We think there will be a winner and it likely will be the American (Global System for Mobile communications) standards. But no matter how the standard goes, we will have something,” Brinkeoetter said. … Read More
Becoming reseller is initiation into wireless for Time Warner
Time Warner Telecommunications announced it will begin offering cellular phone service in Rochester, N.Y.-the company’s largest cable television market-by reselling service from the city’s B-side carrier, Rochester Telephone Mobile Communications. This will be the company’s first move into the wireless market. Time Warner has conducted several personal communications services trials involving wireless, cable and Code Division Multiple Access technology, but did not apply to bid on PCS licenses in auctions beginning this week. “As new wireless licenses are issued by the Federal Communications Commission in the next two years, there may well be a surplus of network capacity in the market,” said Dennis Patrick, president and chief executive officer of Time Warner Telecommunications. … Read More
Firms taking aim at financials in the race to launch big LEOs
Sparks are flying weeks before public comments are due at the Federal Communications Commission on applications from six firms seeking licenses to operate global pocket-phone satellite systems. “I think that some of the competitive systems are basing their financial qualifications on highly speculative investments,” said John Windolph, spokesman for Iridium Inc. Iridium, financed by Motorola Inc. and various foreign firms, is one the companies in the hunt for low-earth-orbit satellite, or big LEO, licenses. The rest of field includes Loral-Qualcomm Satellite Services Inc., Mobile Communications Holdings Inc., TRW Inc., Constellation Communications Inc. and American Mobile Satellite Corp. … Read More
Reflection receives investment from Nintendo for game device
Nintendo, a name most familiar in exclusive circles-the young teens market-has made its first U.S. investment in a small company with an “expanding” technology. Waltham, Mass.-based Reflection Technology Inc. has designed the Virtual Boy game device for Nintendo Co. Ltd., using its patented Scanned Linear Array virtual display technology. Virtual display is a small 32-bit, RISC-based (reduced instruction set computing) device. Viewers place their eye up to a small window to see a 1-inch-square resolution photographic image. … Read More
Two companies hook up to test GSM PCS standard in Colorado
Engineers have completed a month-long test of the Global System for Mobile communications standard at 1.8 GHz as part of an assessment for the U.S. wireless industry entering the personal communications services market. Field tests took place at U S West Inc.’s Boulder Industry Test Bed facility in cooperation with the Joint Technical Committee. This is the first formal test for the JTC, a spin-off group of the Telecommunications Industry Association and Committee T1. “Each technology has been invited to use this facility to verify system characteristics. But we have not elected to do competitive evaluations at this time,” said JTC Co-chairman Charles Cook. … Read More
Check out RCR Wireless News’ Archives for more stories from the past.
