TELECORP, LUCENT, TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND NOKIA COMPLETE FIRST
TWO-WAY SMS AND WIRELESS INTERNET TRIAL ON TDMA NETWORK
New Orleans - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Jan. 4, 2000
NOKIA SUGAR BOWL PROVIDES BACKDROP FOR BREAKTHROUGH DATA DEMO
TeleCorp PCS, Inc. (Nasdaq NM: TLCP), AT&T Wireless' largest affiliate, with Lucent
Technologies (NYSE: LU), Nokia (NYSE: NOK) and TeleCommunication Systems Inc., today
announced the successful completion of the first two-way transmission of short messaging service
(SMS) with internet application trial on a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network.
The trial included the following applications:
-- Composing and sending a short text message from a mobile
phone to another person's phone, and receiving a message delivery acknowledgement
-- Composing and sending an original manual reply or acknowledgment to a received message
-- Originating a mobile text command to enter the Florida State and Virginia Tech Internet Cafes and
receive team trivia and statistics
-- Composing and sending an e-mail message from the mobile phone to any e-mail address on the
Internet
"This successful trial is a significant step for all the players involved. It demonstrates the flexibility
and stability of our SunCom network here in New Orleans to deliver short messaging services and
internet applications; the sophistication of Lucent's infrastructure; the compatibility and advanced
capabilities of the Nokia handset; and the software and integration savvy of TeleCommunication
Systems. We all worked together as a team, and the results are exciting," said Gerald T. Vento,
chairman and CEO of TeleCorp PCS.
Data is being transported over TeleCorp's New Orleans TDMA network through a connection and
transmission made possible by a two-way Short Messaging Service Center (SMSC) and Wireless
Internet Gateway provided by Lucent and TeleCommunication Systems. Nokia provided the
specially provisioned 6100 Series handsets to send and receive two-way messaging services and
information and content updates. While the service will not be commercially available until later this
year, the trial represents an important development.
"Lucent is committed to delivering timely wireless data solutions to our customers," said Curtis
Holmes, vice president of intelligent networks at Lucent Technologies. "Working with
TeleCommunication Systems, along with the combination of smart terminals and our flexible IN
platform, we have been able to rapidly configure TeleCorp's network to handle data without
significant cost or time commitments."
The trial is coinciding with Nokia's hosting of the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. The game presents
an opportunity to highlight wireless data and the value of real time access to information. The
Internet Cafes are dedicated cyber sites where a user can dial up information about the two teams
playing for the national championship, including statistics, rosters, trivia, etc. The user is able to
access only the information he or she desires through a unique "pulling" capability.
"With the Sugar Bowl as a backdrop, we have a unique and fun way of demonstrating the power of
mobile data and two-way SMS," said Matt Wisk, Nokia's vice president for national marketing. "If
you want to know how many yards a running back gained during the season, no need to waste time
finding a news stand or locating a game program, just dial it up. It's that simple," said Wisk.
TeleCorp PCS, Inc. (Nasdaq NM: TLCP) has licenses to serve more than 16.5 million people, and
currently provides its SunCom digital wireless service in the following 24 markets: New Orleans,
Baton Rouge, Lafayette, New Iberia, Hammond, Houma and Thibodaux Louisiana; Memphis and
Jackson, Tennessee; Little Rock, Hot Springs, Fayetteville and Jonesboro, Arkansas; Concord,
Manchester, Nashua and Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Worcester, Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard
and Nantucket, Massachusetts; and San Juan, Ponce and Arecibo, Puerto Rico. TeleCorp is
headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. For more information about the company see
www.telecorppcs.com or for information on the SunCom service see www.suncom1.com.
Founded in 1987, TeleCommunication Systems, Inc., Annapolis, MD, is a wireless data company
which develops network application software and provides systems integration solutions for
telecommunications networks. TCS's flagship software products were among the first intelligent
network solutions for telecommunications carriers and other major technology-based customer
organizations. Currently, TCS's leading edge IN and Internet applications are deployed in networks
worldwide. In addition to their Wireless Messaging and Web Gateway under trial, other TCS
products include their Wireless Prepaid application, which supports prepayment authorization
without the need for a service bureau or routing off the switched network. TCS software specialists
use established system methodologies and industry standards to competitively deliver
network-optimized solutions. For more information, visit the TCS web site at www.telecomsys.com. |
