12/03 14:15 NEXTEL LAUNCHES NEW-GENERATION DIGITAL CELLULAR IN FRESNO; NEW
MARKET EXPANDS NO
( BW)(NEXTEL-COMM)(NXTL) Nextel Launches New-Generation Digital Cellular In Fresno; New Market Expands Northern California and Northern Nevada Coverage
Business Editors and High-Tech Writers
OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 3, 1997--Nextel Communications (Nasdaq:NXTL) will roll out its enhanced all-digital wireless network in the greater Fresno area with the launch of its new-generation digital cellular service on Dec. 4, 1997.
The enhanced Nextel all-digital network will help subscribers save money and improve productivity in ways that traditional cellular phones and other wireless products cannot.
The new-generation digital cellular service operates on iDEN (Integrated Digital Enhanced Network) technology developed by Motorola, and is now available throughout a coverage area that includes metropolitan Fresno, plus the Greater Bay Area, Sacramento, Stockton, Modesto and Merced.
"Our new premium digital cellular service makes Nextel an even greater value for our existing wireless customers, and offers a simple, integrated solution for businesses who now juggle a myriad of cellular phones, two-way radios and pagers," said Bill Jarvis, Nextel president for Northern California and Northern Nevada operations.
"Subscribers will be able to use Nextel to access multiple wireless services, including superior digital cellular and our unique Nextel Direct Connect service, that will help them maximize their productivity as well as personal security and convenience."
Dana Means from Modesto Tallow reports that his company has been a Nextel customer since 1995, and upgraded to Nextel i370 phones last March to take advantage of the enhanced digital cellular service. Serving customers throughout Northern California, Modesto Tallow has operations in the Central Valley and the Bay Area, and the company depends heavily upon Nextel's integrated services.
"Nextel gives us access to the quality digital cellular service we need to keep in touch with our customers. And we continue to expand our use of Nextel Direct Connect because we've experienced tremendous cost-savings by using this service for all of our intra-company communications. We've reduced our wireless communications costs by nearly 60 percent by using Nextel," said Means.
Nextel Integrated Wireless Services
Through digital phones manufactured by Motorola, Nextel provides these wireless services:
-- Digital Cellular Service: High-quality digital voice
communications, featuring call waiting, hold, forwarding,
last number redial, 100-member phone list, multiple call
timers, and voice mail. Nextel voice mail includes a
special feature which instantly alerts the subscriber to new
voice mail messages.
-- Nextel Direct Connect: This unique push-to-talk wireless
service, similar to two-way radio, is available in Northern
California and Northern Nevada only through Nextel and
provides users with voice communications at a fraction of the
cost of conventional cellular. With the push of a button,
users can instantly connect with work groups, co-workers or
field personnel, or talk privately with an individual.
-- Messaging Services: Nextel's Messaging Service can receive
and store up to 16 text/numeric messages on a four-line,
140-character display. An additional display line provides
icons that indicate continuous signal and battery strength,
new mail messages, audio and voice volume, and more. This
service also includes an instant notification feature, which
alerts the subscriber to new messages, plus a unique
one-touch call back feature, which allows users to command
the phone to instantly dial phone numbers embedded in text or
numeric messages.
Nextel offers a line of digital portable and mobile phone models, with prices beginning at $169, and offers an array of unit-based and account-based monthly service plans starting at $32 a month.
The Nextel National Network
Nextel's system serving Northern California and Northern Nevada is part of the Nextel National Network, which currently covers more than 350 cities in the United States and 72 of the Top 100 markets. The Nextel National Network rounds all digital cellular calls to the nearest second after the first minute, and does not charge roaming fees. In addition to the digital cellular service and home rates, messaging services and voice mail "follow" subscribers nationally as well.
The Company
Nextel Communications, 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. To learn more about Nextel, visit the Web site at nextel.com . To order Nextel service, call 800/NEXTEL9. -0-
NOTE: Nextel digital phones are available for media demonstrations within the Nextel iDEN coverage area. Call Gail Joerger, 510/208-7531, or Sue Cawdrey, 415/435-3079, to schedule a demonstration.
Nextel and Nextel Direct Connect are trademarks and/or service marks of Nextel Communications Inc. Motorola and iDEN are trademarks of Motorola Inc.
CONTACT: Nextel Communications, Oakland
Gail Joerger, 510/208-7531 |
