(PR NEWSWIRE) Platforms Wireless Reports on Brazil Progress
Platforms Wireless Reports on Brazil Progress
LOS ANGELES, July 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Platforms Wireless International
Corporation, (OTC: PLFM), the developer of the revolutionary Airborne Relay
Communications "ARC System" for wireless voice and data communications,
announced today that the Company continues to move forward with its plans for
finalizing the commercial TDMA ARC System for installation, integration, and
demonstration tests in Brazil, as an integral component of the Americel
cellular telecommunications network.
As of March 6, 2001, the Company, working in conjunction with Composite
Optics, Inc. (COI), brought to fruition the mission-critical objective of its
research and development efforts: the completion and successful demonstration
of the ARC System airborne wireless telecommunications TDMA payload.
The completion and successful testing of the ARC System Payload marks the
achievement of an important milestone for Platforms: the commercial packaging
of the Company's airborne wireless communications technology into a
deliverable, service-ready ARC System. The ARC System payload is the
Company's cornerstone proprietary communications technology, representing the
major component of the System package presently being marketed to
telecommunications service providers at an introductory price of approximately
US$30 million per System. The completed ARC System payload is currently
undergoing final preparations for tests in Americel's cellular
telecommunications network in Brazil.
(PR NEWSWIRE) Platforms Wireless Reports on Brazil Progress
Platforms Wireless Reports on Brazil Progress
LOS ANGELES, July 11 /PRNewswire/ -- Platforms Wireless International
Corporation, (OTC: PLFM), the developer of the revolutionary Airborne Relay
Communications "ARC System" for wireless voice and data communications,
announced today that the Company continues to move forward with its plans for
finalizing the commercial TDMA ARC System for installation, integration, and
demonstration tests in Brazil, as an integral component of the Americel
cellular telecommunications network.
As of March 6, 2001, the Company, working in conjunction with Composite
Optics, Inc. (COI), brought to fruition the mission-critical objective of its
research and development efforts: the completion and successful demonstration
of the ARC System airborne wireless telecommunications TDMA payload.
The completion and successful testing of the ARC System Payload marks the
achievement of an important milestone for Platforms: the commercial packaging
of the Company's airborne wireless communications technology into a
deliverable, service-ready ARC System. The ARC System payload is the
Company's cornerstone proprietary communications technology, representing the
major component of the System package presently being marketed to
telecommunications service providers at an introductory price of approximately
US$30 million per System. The completed ARC System payload is currently
undergoing final preparations for tests in Americel's cellular
telecommunications network in Brazil.
Business Development Highlights
1. By mutual Agreement, Platforms and Americel have decided to re-
schedule the Brazilian launch of the ARC System for later this year.
The re-scheduling was necessary to allow sufficient time to complete
the ARC System ground infrastructure preparations, as well as to
complete the Aerostat financing arrangements and its construction.
2. Kristina Draper, Platforms ARC System Project Manager, stated: "Site
selection for the ARC System ground base station has been completed.
Americel is proceeding to acquire a 250m x 250m parcel of flat land,
approximately 10km. south of Goias Velho, Brazil, and is proceeding to
order the required ground base station equipment. The Company's Plans
are also under way for the construction of the: (i) aerostat mooring
station foundation; (ii) housing facilities for the aerostat command
and control ground station; and (iii) telecommunications ground-link
facilities."
Kristina Draper continued: "The first phase of the 'in-country'
project will be to deliver, the ARC System Communications Payload to
be tested as an integral component of the Americel cellular
telecommunications network, prior to the arrival of the Aerostat. We
expect the ARC System payload to be tested in Brazil in the third
quarter of 2001."
3. Francois Draper, Executive Vice President, COO & CTO of Platforms
Wireless stated: "At this time, pending the completion of some minor
ground tests, the ARC System cellular telecommunications Payload is
ready to go. The next critical System component is the airborne
delivery vehicle: the Aerostat Infrastructure Platform. The Aerostat
design and performance specifications have been completed, and we'll
be reporting on the Aerostat completion and delivery schedules
shortly."
4. Meetings between Platforms Vice President of Latin American Marketing
and Sales, Victor Ziller, and His Excellency, Marconi Ferreira
Perillo, the Governor of the State of Goias, the Vice Mayor of
Anicuns, and the Secretary of Industry and Commerce for the State of
Goias have proven very productive. Governor Perillo and his cabinet
members officially welcomed Platforms to the state of Goias and
offered the full support of the Governor's office.
Governor Perillo stated: "I welcome Platforms to Brazil and to the
State of Goias. We are very pleased to have been selected as the
international pilot site for the ARC System, and we look forward to
the deployment of this important telecommunications technology
throughout Brazil." (Coverage of meetings with Governor Perillo is
available on the PLFM Web site at www.plfm.net )
5. Victor Ziller and Marcio Nunes, Americel's Director of Cellular
Telecommunications Technology, recently met with The Honorable Pimenta
da Veiga, the Brazilian Minister of Communications, to discuss the ARC
System project, and the status of the System's proposed delivery and
implementation schedules. Victor Ziller reported that the Honorable
Pimenta da Veiga was very pleased with the progress of the ARC System
in Brazil and was looking forward to the installation of the System.
Mr. Ziller also stated that the Minister believes the ARC System
technology holds great promise for the advancement of
telecommunications in Brazil, and the Minister plans to make the first
ARC System wireless phone call during the ARC System inaugural
ceremony.
Mr. Ziller also reported that Americel was moving forward with plans
for the development of the ground infrastructure facilities in Goias
to accommodate the testing of the ARC System as an integral part of
the Americel cellular network. If the ARC System commercial
demonstration in Brazil is as successful as preliminary tests
indicate, the System will establish itself before a large
international industry audience as one of the most advanced and cost-
effective infrastructures for competitively expanding wireless
communications services into smaller cities and rural areas.
6. Mr. Ziller reported he will depart for South America shortly to
provide prospective ARC System customers in Colombia, Venezuela, and
Brazil with updated ARC System License Proposals, reflecting
technology advancements from an airborne infrastructure platform
originally based on three fixed-wing, manned aircraft per site, to a
single, unmanned Aerostat infrastructure platform per site. The
replacement of the fixed-wing aircraft approach, which included
multiple aircraft and pilot crews, costly aircraft fuel consumption,
and the complicated operating logistics of a 24/7, 3-shift operating
environment, with a single, unmanned Aerostat, has produced
significant cost/performance economies for the ARC System. This new
approach materially reduces the System's maintenance and operating
costs, while enhancing the service carrier's projected profitability.
7. On June 28, 2001, COI issued an official Product Certificate of
Conformance for the Airborne Relay Communications "ARC" System. The
Certificate confirms and certifies the functional and technical
compliance of the ARC System with the product engineering design
specifications of Americel's TDMA cellular telecommunications network
requirements.
8. On the international marketing front, the Platforms marketing and
sales organization continues to make progress, developing ARC System
potential business in South and Central America, the Caribbean, Asia,
and Africa.
William C. Martin, Chairman & CEO stated: "Platforms wishes to apprise
its shareholders that the Company, like most other U.S. technology companies,
was impacted by the adverse market conditions of the past year. The general
business slowdown caused opportunity losses and postponements, as telecom
carriers around the world, tightened their belts and reduced capital
expenditure budgets. In the venture capital arena, the availability of
investment capital reached record lows, and the Company experienced some
setbacks in its ability to move forward with its operational and marketing
programs, within the timeframes and schedules previously anticipated.
"The Platforms management team, however, is comprised of proven, seasoned
professionals, familiar with the challenges of adversity and accustomed to
operating under difficult circumstances. Our Company responded to the market
challenges by tightening its own belt and focusing on business and capital
development activities. As a result, important new business and
capitalization opportunities are currently in development. Although we have
experienced some delays in the execution timeline of our strategic corporate
plan, our operational infrastructure remains strong, and our management team
remains focused on the achievement of our strategic corporate objectives.
"Our management team is committed to the success of the Company, and we
continue to press forward, educating telecom carriers on the unique and timely
advantages of the ARC System, developing new business and capital resources,
and pursuing opportunities to deploy the ARC System in international markets.
"Our conviction in the ARC System's worldwide potential is what fuels our
confidence and determination, as well as that of our potential clients,
stockholders, investors, employees, suppliers, and associates, who stay the
course and help us every day to advance closer to our goal: to deliver on the
promise of a unique and revolutionary wireless communications technology. The
ARC System has the potential to become a strategic imperative for solving the
explosive service demands and profitability problems of the telecommunications
industry -- as well as a powerful catalyst for global progress, by providing
a powerful, yet economical, wireless communications infrastructure platform
for rural areas and the under-served, emerging nations of the world."
The Company expects to be able to provide further updates on the status of
operating schedules, marketing operations, corporate financing, financial
reporting, and SEC compliance in the forthcoming weeks.
About Platforms Wireless International Corporation
Platforms Wireless International Corporation (OTC: PLFM), headquartered in
Los Angeles, California, is the developer and marketer of the revolutionary
wireless communications technology known as the Airborne Relay Communications
"ARC" System, and its Airborne, LTA host infrastructure, the ZerOGravity
AeroStructure. Management believes these significant advances in the field of
Airborne wireless communications technology, together with continuing
technology improvements and new developments, will provide an efficient,
cost-effective, broadband, voice and data communications alternative for
augmenting, replacing, and supplementing terrestrial wireline and cellular
telecommunications infrastructures, as well as high and low-earth orbiting
satellites -- at significant savings in both cost and deployment time, as
compared to conventional systems. Platforms has already announced its first
ARC System Conditional Contract with Americel, S.A., one of the leading
cellular telecommunications service providers in Brazil. Platforms can be
found on the Web, at: www.plfm.net .
Safe Harbor Act Disclaimer
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS -- The statements contained in this Press
Release, which are not historical facts, are "forward-looking statements,"
within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933, and Rule 3b-6
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and as defined in the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and such statements qualify for the
Safe Harbor protection afforded under such Acts. Forward-looking statements
can be identified by the use of forward-looking words, such as "believes,"
"expects," "may," "will," "should," "anticipates," or the negative thereof, or
other variations thereof, or comparable words, or by statements related to
future plans, strategies, or other business development activities that
involve risks and uncertainties. Management cautions the reader that
"forward-looking statements" including, without limitation, statements
regarding Platforms technology, products, marketing plans and strategies,
markets for its products and services, and expected, projected results of
operations, are all predictions, expectations, and anticipations. No
assurances can be given that such predictions, expectations, and anticipations
will prove accurate and correct, or that anticipated, projected future results
will be achieved. Numerous risk factors can cause actual results to vary
materially from the future results indicated, expressed, or implied in
forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not |
