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Technology Stocks : Qualcomm Moderated Thread - please read rules before posting -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: John Biddle who wrote (33070)	3/4/2003 6:11:32 AM
From: John Biddle	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 197303

Saipancell offers digital service, text messaging By Liberty Dones tribune.co.mp With the launching of its new digital service for wireless phones, Saipancell is also expanding its services to include international text messaging between the CNMI and the Philippines in two weeks. “We’re very happy to bring to the CNMI customers the full power of wireless communication with our new digital service. We knew that we needed to go digital as part of our commitment to bring to the CNMI the latest communications technology available,” said Saipancell Communications senior vice president and general manager Jay R. Shedd during a press conference yesterday morning. Shedd said that Saipancell has actually been working with Philippine-based major wireless companies Globe and Smart telecommunications for international text messaging service. He said the Globe service may likely be finalized sooner than Smart. “The Globe will work, I figured in a week or two. We just need some confirmation from their end. We’re working also with Smart,” he said, adding that “we’re working with a whole bunch of other countries.” Saipancell, he said, makes use of CDMA or Code Division Multiple Access, a digital wireless technology that separates communications by code, which guarantees increased security for calls made. “CDMA is the fastest growing digital service in the world,” he said, citing that over 58 million subscribers in the U.S. use CDMA, making it the number one wireless technology in the mainland U.S. He said CDMA is considered technologically superior and will provide the backbone of 3G or the third generation wireless services such as wireless Internet, e-commerce, and video streaming. With digital service, he said, Saipancell’s global roaming coverage includes more destinations such as the Philippines, Taiwan, Australia, and other key destinations. “We’re looking forward to having this by June this year,” he said. Right now, Saipancell offers roaming to the U.S., Hong Kong, South Korea, and Japan. “Korean and Japanese tourists, for example, can easily use their cell phones here. Their units are compatible with our system so they just need to come here [to our office],” he said. Shedd also announced that Saipancell will also add new cellular sites on Rota and Tinian to allow customers coverage when they travel to both islands. On Saipan, Saipancell maintains seven cell sites or high frequency transmitters. These are in Mt. Tapochao, Marpi, Lower Base, Gualo Rai, Garapan, and Finasisu. With digital service, customers will see a real difference in communication services, according to marketing administrator Joyce Lujan Kraus. Among others, she said digital service will mean greater system service, increased call privacy, increased clarity, and longer battery life. “Since call capacity on digital is more than tripled, more calls go through on the first try and because your true voice is heard, there will be no static in the background or breaks in your voice,” she said. Meanwhile, Shedd said that Saipancell’s text messaging charges to the Philippines would be 12-15 cents per message, which is cheaper than that of Guam. Customers will be charged for outgoing messages; incoming text messages are free. For on-island short messaging, Saipancell charges 6 cents per text message for plan subscribers and about 8 cents for prepaid users. There are 15 models of digital cell phones available at Saipancell to choose from. Kraus said people can also trade in their old cell phones with Saipancell’s digital phones. Prepaid phones can be purchased at $50. For plan subscribers, Saipancell offers packages from a low of $19.99 to a high of $149.99 a month. An additional $13 to $17 a month will be charged if customers avail themselves of unlimited weekend and weeknights service feature.