Tuesday January 4, 5:21 pm Eastern Time
Company Press Release
TeleCorp, Lucent, TeleCommunication Systems and Nokia Complete
First Two-way SMS and Wireless Internet Trial on TDMA Network
Nokia Sugar Bowl Provides Backdrop for Breakthrough Data Demo
NEW ORLEANS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 4, 2000-- TeleCorp PCS, Inc. (Nasdaq NM: TLCP - news), AT&T Wireless' largest affiliate, with Lucent
Technologies (NYSE: LU - news), Nokia (NYSE: NOK - news) 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 - news) 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.
Lucent Technologies designs, builds and delivers a wide range of public and private networks, communications systems and software, data networking
systems, business telephone systems and microelectronics components. Bell Laboratories is the research and development arm for the company. For more
information on Lucent Technologies, headquartered in Murray Hill, N.J., USA, visit its Web site at lucent.com.
Nokia is paving the way to the mobile information society with its innovative products and solutions. Nokia is the leading mobile phone supplier and a leading
supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks including related services. It also supplies multimedia terminals and computer displays. In 1998, net sales totaled
EUR 13.3 billion (USD 15.7 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the New York (NOK), Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Frankfurt and Paris
stock exchanges and employs more than 53, 000 people. For more information visit nokia.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.
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