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9/14/99 - GLOBALSTAR CANADA SIGNS DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT WITH CELLSTAR
CARROLLTON, Texas, Sep 14, 1999 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- CellStar Corporation (Nasdaq:CLST ) today announced that it has completed an agreement to distribute wireless handsets, fixed terminals, and accessories for Globalstar Canada Satellite Co., the Globalstar satellite communications licensee that will serve Canada.
Under the three-year agreement, CellStar will also provide equipment acquisition, procurement, assembly, programming, fulfillment, packaging, sales of equipment to Globalstar Canada"s points of sale, and returns management services. As one of the world"s premier value-added telecommunications distributors, CellStar has the expertise to implement efficient and cost- effective processes. CellStar also plans to provide an activation data interface to track the growth of subscribers in the region.
CellStar will distribute Globalstar-compatible wireless phones manufactured by Qualcomm for Globalstar Canada, which is scheduled to launch commercial service in the fourth quarter of 1999.
The Globalstar system will provide high quality, affordable mobile satellite voice, fax, and data service via a small hand-held phone. The multi-mode phone will operate in traditional cellular modes (using the local cellular network), or satellite mode when beyond cellular coverage. When in satellite mode, the phone will communicate with one of 48 Globalstar satellites circling the earth which will relay the signal back down to the nearest earth station and inter-connect to the local telephone system (PSTN) or private networks.
Along with Globalstar Canada, CellStar has signed distribution agreements in the last six months with Globalstar founding service providers that are licensed to serve customers in the United States and the seven countries of Central America. The Company is actively pursuing similar agreements with Globalstar service providers in other major international markets.
Globalstar Canada is a partnership of Canadian Satellite Communications (CANCOM), Loral Space and Communications and Vodafone Airtouch Communications. Globalstar Canada will be supplying Globalstar services to Canadian and worldwide subscribers through earth station gateways located in Smiths Falls, Ontario and High River, Alberta. Globalstar Canada will begin providing phased service in the fourth quarter of 1999. For more information, visit Globalstar Canada"s web site at www.globalstar.ca.
Globalstar, led by founding partner Loral Space & Communications, is a partnership of the world"s leading telecommunications service providers and equipment manufacturers, including Alenia, China Telecom (HK), DACOM, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace, Elsacom (a Finmeccanica Company), Hyundai, Qualcomm Incorporated, TE.SA.M (a France Telecom/Alcatel company), Space Systems/Loral, and Vodafone AirTouch. For more information, visit Globalstar"s web site at globalstar.com www.globalstar.com.
CellStar Corporation is a global company focused on providing value-added services to wireless carriers and manufacturers in direct relationships. CellStar is one of the world"s largest non-carrier wholesale distributors of wireless handsets for major manufacturers, with operations in North America, the Asia-Pacific Region, Latin America and Europe. For the year ended November 30, 1998, the Company reported sales of approximately $2 billion. Additional information about CellStar may be found on its web site at www.cellstar.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. A variety of risk factors, including changes in foreign laws, regulations and tariffs, new technologies, system implementation difficulties, competition and other risk factors, are discussed in the Company"s Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which are on file with the SEC. Any combination of these could cause CellStar"s actual results to vary materially from anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the Company"s forward-looking statements. |