NEXTEL RECEIVES WIRELESS CARRIER EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR 1998
PR Wire
January 20, 1999, 8:46 a.m. ET
In Western Pennsylvania Region
PITTSBURGH, Jan. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Nextel Communications, Inc.
(Nasdaq: NXTL) announced that it has received Wireless Week's 1998 Special
Recognition Carrier Excellence Award. Nextel's selection for carving out a
special niche in the wireless industry, was made from nominations submitted by
Wireless Week's reporters and editors based on the following criteria: 1998
financial performance, leadership role in the industry, subscriber growth,
innovation in marketing or advertising and technological savvy.
"Nextel is honored to receive such a prestigious award from Wireless
Week," said (Mr.) Pat Slowey, district manager, Western Pennsylvania, Nextel.
"Just two years ago, we were an afterthought in the wireless
telecommunications industry. Since then, we have made tremendous strides and
some very significant achievements during this time, and now are considered a
leading provider of wireless business communications solutions in western
Pennsylvania."
Some of Nextel's 1998 accomplishments include: achieving operating cash
flow positive status for its domestic operations in third quarter 1998 and
ending the September 30, 1998 quarter with more than 2.4 million domestic
digital subscribers in service. Also in 1998, Nextel received a silver EFFIE
award from the American Marketing Association for the development of one of
the most effective telecommunications marketing campaigns in the past year.
The company also launched nine new domestic markets and six international
markets in 1998. Additionally, Nextel launched two new products, Nextel
Business Networks(sm) and Nextel Long Distance(sm) service in 1998.
"The awards criteria shifted this year," said Judith Lockwood, Wireless
Week editor in recognizing Nextel. "...Recognizing the much more advanced
state of competition and digital network buildout this year, we switched to
emphasize financial performance. ...With more pricing and operating margin
pressures than ever before, wireless service providers must look closely at
return on investments they have made in costly government spectrum licenses
and network equipment. Some providers are especially notable for the strides
they have made..."
Nextel's western Pennsylvania operations are based in Pittsburgh. Nextel
Communications is based in McLean, Va., is the leading provider of fully
integrated wireless communications and has built the largest guaranteed all-
digital wireless network in the United States. The Nextel National Network
offers a fully integrated wireless communications tool with digital cellular,
paging capabilities and Nextel Direct Connect -- a digital two-way radio
feature. Nextel International, Inc. has wireless operations and investments
in Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, the Philippines, Peru, Japan and
Shanghai, China. Please visit our website at nextel.com.
SOURCE Nextel Communications, Inc.
-0- 01/20/99
/NOTE TO EDITORS: Nextel, the logo, Nextel Business Networks and Nextel
Long Distance are trademarks and/or servicemarks of Nextel Communications,
Inc./
/CONTACT: Media, Chris Grandis at Nextel Communications, 248-213-3179;
or Jeanne Nicol at Caponigro Public Relations, 248-355-3200/
/Web site: nextel.com
(NXTL)
CO: Nextel Communications, Inc.
ST: Pennsylvania
IN: TLS
SU:
-0- Jan/20/1999 8:31
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-0- (PRN) Jan/20/1999 8:46
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