Wireless Services

Operators with new 1900 MHz personal communications services networks need add-on services that are meaningful revenue generators and offer something customers repeatedly need, says one such service provider. “The cost of acquiring a subscriber can be as low as $300 …

WASHINGTON-Future auctions conducted by the Federal Communications Commission will be run by a standard laundry list of rules instead of a new set of rules formulated auction by auction. The FCC last Thursday adopted competitive bidding rules. The panel also …

Ora Electronics Inc. announced its Signal Plus antenna performance kit, which the company said is designed to improve the performance of portable cellular telephones. Using a connector cable, users can connect the kit antenna directly to the antenna output of …

Telephone and Data Systems Inc. elected George W. Off to its board of directors. He replaces Robert J. Collins who retired Jan. 7. Off will become chairman of the company’s stock option compensation committee and its audit committee. Off is …

SAN JOSE, Calif.-AT&T Wireless Services Inc.’s Wireless Data Division teamed with Infinite Technologies to provide users with remote access to local area network-based e-mail. Using Infinite’s InterChange remote e-mail server software and AT&T’s PocketNet service, customers can manage their e-mail …

NEW YORK-Four wireless industry heavyweights and three universities announced Feb. 17 they had formed the Global Wireless Education Consortium to “attract and educate new technicians and engineers to the booming wireless industry.” Thousands of new wireless technicians and engineers will …

If demand for dual-band handsets can be measured by vendor contracts, carriers must only now be finalizing plans for multi-frequency roaming. The industry’s most prolific terminal manufacturers have yet to announce volume contracts for these expensive new phones, although some …

Vanguard Cellular Systems Inc. reported the first profitable year in the company’s 11-year history last week, although the victory was accompanied by a fourth-quarter net loss due to investments in two subsidiaries. Net income for 1996 was $6.4 million, or …

SAN FRANCISCO-Canadian Satellite Communications Inc., AirTouch Satellite Services and Loral Space & Communications formed a joint venture to provide fixed and mobile wireless services throughout Canada using the Globalstar L.P. communications system. Canadian Satellite will own the majority interest in …

The idea of using laminated wood poles instead of steel for antenna towers made salesman Don Simon say, “Why didn’t I think of that?” “When the zoning people reject the steel, you bring out the wood,” said Simon of Mountain …

Wireless segments post strong growth FRAMINGHAM, Mass.-The cellular, personal communications services and paging industries had strong growth in 1996, according to a study conducted by IDC/Link Resources. Cellular growth was higher than in most sectors. However, the company said there …

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.-“Until a few weeks ago, I was under the impression that the outlook for TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) was quite different than it is today,” said investment banker Brad Peery at last week’s TDMA Global Summit …

KIRKLAND, Wash.-AT&T Wireless Services Inc.’s Wireless Data Division introduced its PocketNet service to give businesses access to the Internet and corporate intranets. Using PocketNet, business users will be able to read and respond to e-mail messages, forward documents to a …

AT&T Wireless Services Inc. has now signed its second franchise-like agreement with a wireless player whose holdings can fill in missing links in AT&T’s nationwide footprint. Indus Inc. holds the C-block license for Milwaukee, Wis. The Indus group is comprised …

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.-Indus Inc., a new personal communications services company based in Milwaukee, announced Feb. 11 a vendor financing agreement with Hughes Network Systems Inc. and a roaming agreement with AT&T Wireless Services Inc. Indus is the first winner …

Since the passage of the telecom act, telecommunications providers have taken significant steps toward offering bundled services on one bill. Nearly a year ago, regional Bell operating companies’ cellular divisions began offering cellular long-distance service to their cellular customers and …

NEW YORK-The continued expansion of commercially available new wireless services is extremely important to the future success in public capital raising for the entire sector, said Norman C. Frost, Jr., managing director of Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., New York. …

E.F. Johnson Co. last Friday spun off its E.F. Johnson Services wireless construction unit into a separate subsidiary in order to better court non-traditional customers. The services unit, in operation for 11 months, has been contracted for project management, engineering …

NEW YORK-Lucent Technologies Inc. introduced Feb. 5 a new switch software package the company said will permit upgrades throughout the year, in contrast to the traditional industry practice of annual software releases. The purpose of this new upgrading flexibility is …

WALTHAM, Mass.-Lightbridge Inc. said it will use its Customer Acquisition System to streamline the customer acquisition process for eight of the 10 largest A- and B-block personal communications services license holders. Carriers that have signed contracts with Lightbridge include Aerial …

WASHINGTON-House telecommunications subcommittee Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-La.) said he will sponsor legislation to expand legal privacy protection for wireless communications and outlaw all modifications of radio scanners that enable electronic eavesdropping. At the same time, lawmakers at last Wednesday’s hearing …

Vodafone Group plc agreed to purchase Data Bank of Greece S.A. through its subsidiary Vodafone Europe Holdings Ltd. Vodafone said the principal asset of Data Bank is a 10 percent share in Panafon S.A., one of two Global System for …

WASHINGTON-“The Telecom Act was an act of Congress and not an act of God, so it will not be immediately perfect,” commented AT&T’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert Allen on the first anniversary last week of the landmark piece …

WASHINGTON-Now that some of the dust has settled following the Federal Communications Commission’s Dec. 23 adoption of a memorandum opinion and order regarding private-radio refarming, the Industrial Telecommunications Association has sent Wireless Telecommunications Bureau chief Michele Farquhar a technical blueprint …

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.- DCN Wireless, a California-based wireless services reseller, will begin providing GTE Mobilnet Inc. service in the San Francisco area and Northern California. “Our decision to offer the service of both AT&T Wireless Services Inc. and GTE Mobilnet …