Nextel Begins Rollout of Nationwide Direct Connect; Phase One Launches; Coast-To-Coast Capability to be Available By Third Quarter 2003
Business Wire - January 13, 2003 08:30
RESTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 13, 2003--Demonstrating its leadership in push-to-talk technology, Nextel Communications Inc. (NASDAQ:NXTL) today announced the availability of the first phase of its Nationwide Direct Connect(TM) service in a number of major markets.
This innovation, the first of its kind to be available on any wireless network, allows Nextel customers to travel with Direct Connect(TM), giving them the ability to use the long-range digital walkie-talkie feature in the area to which they have traveled.
Now available in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Southern California, Southern Nevada, Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia, Florida, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, Phase One of the Nationwide Direct Connect rollout offers business travelers an added convenience when they leave their home market.
Nextel users traveling between any of the hundreds of cities within these markets will be able to communicate instantly using Direct Connect with people who reside in the market to which they have traveled. Additionally, Nextel subscribers will be able to use the Direct Connect feature with other Nextel subscribers who have traveled with them.
"Nationwide Direct Connect is revolutionizing the way people communicate. It's instant and it's truly long-range," said Barry West, executive vice president and chief technology officer at Nextel. "Phase One essentially gives you local Direct Connect capability wherever you travel. Currently this is available in about half of Nextel's Direct Connect service areas, and all Nextel markets will be provisioned for this by the second quarter of this year."
Phase Two of the Nationwide Direct Connect rollout will be available by the third quarter of this year. At that time, Nextel customers will be able to use the Direct Connect feature to instantly connect with anyone on Nextel's national network, regardless of the sender's or receiver's location.
"Together, Motorola and Nextel are expanding the experience and dramatically improving the reach of the wireless phone via the launch of Nationwide Direct Connect," said Peter Aloumanis, vice president and general manager of US markets division iDEN(R) Subscriber Group at Motorola. "Nationwide Direct Connect will enable iDEN users to connect with home and office regardless of location, taking wireless communication to a new level."
Nextel's 4-in-1 offering is supported by Motorola's iDEN (integrated digital enhanced network) technology. This unique offering of digital cellular voice service, Nextel Direct Connect(R)--the incredibly powerful long-range digital walkie-talkie feature, Nextel Online(R) wireless data and messaging services provides an unmatched set of services for the enterprise.
Motorola's iDEN technology allows business users to benefit from advanced wireless technologies with one pocket-sized digital handset.
About Nextel
Nextel Communications, a Fortune 300 company based in Reston, Va., is a leading provider of fully integrated wireless communications services and has built the largest guaranteed all-digital wireless network in the country covering thousands of communities across the United States. Nextel and Nextel Partners, Inc., currently serve 197 of the top 200 U.S. markets.
Through recent market launches, Nextel and Nextel Partners service is available today in areas of the U.S. where approximately 240 million people live or work.
About Motorola and iDEN
Motorola, Inc. (NYSE:MOT) is a global leader in providing integrated communications and embedded electronic solutions. Sales in 2001 were $30 billion.
iDEN handsets combine the capabilities of a digital wireless phone with "always on" Internet access, text pager, and two-way radio to enable users to instantly communicate with one or hundreds of individuals at the push of a button. For further information on iDEN handsets, visit www.motorola.com/iden.
"Safe Harbor"' Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. A number of the matters and subject areas discussed in this press release that are not historical or current facts deal with potential future circumstances and developments.
The discussion of such matters and subject areas is qualified by the inherent risks and uncertainties surrounding future expectations generally, and also may materially differ from actual future experience involving any one or more of such matters and subject areas.
We have attempted to identify, in context, certain of the factors that we currently believe may cause actual future experience and results to differ from current expectations regarding the relevant matter or subject area.
Such risks and uncertainties include the successful performance of these new technologies, timely development and delivery of these new technologies, economic conditions in currently existing and targeted markets, competitive conditions, market acceptance of these services, access to sufficient capital to meet operating and financing needs and those that are described from time to time in reports filed with the SEC by Nextel and Motorola, including each of their 2001 annual reports on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports. |
