CONXUS' Portable Answering Machine Becomes Talk Of The Town In First Two Markets
Interest Grows In Washington, D.C. Metro Area And South Florida; Six New Major Markets To Offer Service By End of March
GREENVILLE, S.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 17, 1998-- Pocketalk(tm) Soon To Be Joined By Pocketext(tm) Text Messaging
In light of the strong, positive response the Pocketalk(tm) portable answering machine has received from consumers in the areas where it was launched in mid-November, CONXUS Communications will be introducing the user-friendly device to six new markets during the next two months.
More than 6,000 customers in the Washington, D.C./Baltimore and South Florida markets already have purchased Pocketalk from the more than 300 distribution points where the unit is currently being offered. For perspective, it took six years for alphanumeric paging to reach the same sales pace Pocketalk has achieved in its first quarter.
To continue building on the positive response it has received thus far, CONXUS plans to introduce the unit to an additional 35 million potential users in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Tampa/St. Petersburg, Orlando, Los Angeles and Chicago markets by end of first quarter 1998.
''In the first 90 days, consumer demand for this product has surpassed our expectations. But, more importantly, customers are pleased with Pocketalk and the quality and reliability of the system,'' stated Bill deKay, President, CONXUS. ''With 80 percent of U.S. households using answering machines, it's no secret why Pocketalk is an appealing communications solution for a broad range of consumers. And with an estimated 50 million current users of one-way paging, it's not surprising to see people rapidly adopting this dramatic new technology.''
Beta testing for a second service offering, Pocketext(tm) wireless data messaging, will begin in March utilizing CONXUS' existing narrowband PCS network. Use of this new technology enables Pocketext to offer guaranteed message delivery and substantially longer message lengths than currently offered by traditional alphanumeric paging technology. ''Our current build-out schedule will deliver both Pocketalk and Pocketext to 90 million people by late summer,'' said deKay.
In addition, Jim Marion, President, Wireless Messaging Group, Glenayre Technologies, noted, ''Both the Pocketalk and Pocketext offerings will benefit from two important network features: the frequency reuse 'cellularized' design and additional spectrum capacity CONXUS acquired in the SMR band. In addition, there's the obvious benefit to CONXUS in being able to offer wireless transmission of both voice and data via a single narrowband PCS network.''
Ideal for people on the go, Pocketalk receives complete private messages in the caller's own voice -- eliminating the need to find a phone to call back and check messages. Moreover, this portability makes Pocketalk ideal for every situation, where communications are important -- whether for personal or business use.
''It's a convenient, go-anywhere communications tool that is ideal for consumers because it offers the familiar features of a fully functioning answering machine,'' according to Jay Chung, Vice President and General Manager, North American Paging Subscriber Division, Motorola. ''This message needs to be continually reinforced as the product is introduced to customers in new markets, and Motorola will help fuel that awareness through an aggressive marketing program.''
The systems for Pocketalk and Pocketext utilize technology and equipment supplied by Motorola (NYSE: MOT - news) and Glenayre Technologies (NASDAQ: GEMS - news), which allow high-speed transmission of voice and data messages and translate to reliable -- and assured -- message delivery.
''A stable, top-quality network is an essential component to the success of our distribution efforts,'' said Cecil Duffie, CEO of CONXUS. ''We have been exercising the same care in our upcoming launch cities as we did in South Florida and Washington, D.C. Prior to the start of service in every new market, our engineering team continues to conduct rigorous tests to ensure customers receive the same degree of consistent, high quality coverage they've come to expect from traditional pager services.''
Service for Pocketalk will be offered by CONXUS through its telecom industry distribution partners and local resellers. ''The response we've received for our broad network of distribution partners has been one of enthusiasm,'' noted Steve Cook, COO of CONXUS. ''Pocketalk is being looked upon as a product that will open the door to a whole new market.''
CONXUS(tm) Communications, Inc., headquartered in Greenville, S.C., is developing a nationwide narrowband PCS network. The company launched its first service, Pocketalk(tm) pocket answering machine, in 1997, which will be followed by Pocketext(tm) portable email.
For more information about Pocketalk, visit the CONXUS website at www.pocketalk.com.
Glenayre Technologies Inc. is a worldwide provider of telecommunications infrastructure products and two-way pagers via Wireless Access systems serving the paging, cellular, PCS, telco, voice processing and point-to-point wireless service provider markets. Glenayre's net sales exceeded $390 million in 1996 and the company employs approximately 2,400 people worldwide.
Motorola is one of the world's leading providers of wireless communications, semiconductors and advanced electronic systems, components and services. Major equipment businesses include paging and data communications, cellular telephone, two-way radio, personal communications, automotive, defense and space electronics and computers. Motorola semiconductors power communication devices, computers and millions of other products. Motorola's 1996 sales were $28 billion.
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