Ramsey and all,
U S WEST Launches Nation's First Digital Wireless Service That Works Just Like a Customers' Regular Phone and Pager -- All Rolled Into One
U S WEST Advanced PCS Introduces First-Ever Mobile Dial Tone and Paging/Data/E-mail Sent Directly to Wireless Handset, with Convenience of Using Same Number as Home or Office Phone
MINNEAPOLIS, July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time, phone customers in the Twin Cities, St. Cloud and Rochester will have access to a breakthrough new digital wireless phone that literally gives them all the benefits and convenience of their home or office phones -- combined with their pager service -- ''to-go.''
The new service, U S WEST(R) Advanced PCS:
Lets customers avoid the hassle of managing multiple phone numbers by allowing people on-the-go to accept calls coming into their home or office phone numbers right on their mobile handsets;
Includes the first mass availability of mobile dial tone, a new feature that lets customers know instantly that their mobile phone is ready to make or receive phone calls;
Allows customers to receive text or numeric messages right on their mobile handsets, eliminating the need to carry a separate pager. Also lets customers receive text messages of up to 100 characters sent through the Internet, e-mail, messaging software or operator services right to their handsets.
''This remarkable digital wireless service is the only one in the country that offers so many time-saving features, all rolled into one convenient package,'' said Solomon D. Trujillo, president and CEO, U S WEST.
''No more juggling multiple numbers for your home, office and mobile phone. No more hassling with separate pagers and dial-in numbers for computers. Now, with our new PCS service, people need to remember just one number -- the one they're already using -- to stay connected. And now, with dial tone available right on the handset, people can have all the convenience and familiarity of their home or office phone, with added power and freedom of a mobile phone.''
U S WEST Advanced PCS digital coverage is available starting today throughout the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area, and also St. Cloud, Rochester and highway corridors into the Twin Cities. Toll-free in-state calling is available anywhere in the U S WEST Advanced PCS coverage area. The new Advanced PCS features are also available now in Denver and surrounding Colorado communities, Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz., and in the greater Portland, Ore. market.
By the end of 1998, U S WEST plans to deploy the service in more than 20 cities in its 14 states and currently has roaming agreements in more than 700 cities nationwide. In 1999 and beyond, the service will be launched in other markets including Salt Lake City, where U S WEST is the official provider of wireless PCS services for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.
U S WEST Advanced PCS Product Features
As of today, U S WEST Advanced PCS offers the following new features to customers:
Dial Tone -- Much like a cordless phone, by pushing the ''talk'' or ''send'' button before dialing the number, customers will hear a dial tone, which instantly tells them they are in an area where service is available. Once a customer finishes entering a number, it is dialed automatically, just like a regular telephone. Customers also will hear a distinct dial tone to alert them if they are placing a call from an area where roaming is required. The dial tone feature is free and optional to all subscribers.
Data Mail Services -- This feature allows subscribers to send or receive text messages in a manner similar to that of alphanumeric pagers, but now directly on their PCS phone. People also can send text messages of up to 100 characters directly to the handset through the Internet, e-mail or messaging software. Those without access to a computer may call an operator service to dictate messages which in turn are transmitted directly to the handset. Numeric pages can be sent directly to the handset, much like they do today with conventional pagers.
Other features available with U S WEST Advanced PCS:
-- Same Number For All Calls -- When customers choose this service, they can answer calls coming into their home or office phone numbers ''on-the-go,'' ensuring they never miss an important call. By ensuring that calls coming into their home or office are routed directly to their Advanced PCS phone, customers no longer need to provide multiple telephone numbers to family, friends or associates to stay in touch. One number does it all.
To activate the feature, the customer simply turns on the Advanced PCS phone, and home or office calls are automatically re-routed. With on-screen Caller ID, the customer can choose to take the call, or let it roll into voice mail, which can be the same as the home or office voice mail system. The ''same number'' feature is especially helpful for people wanting to maximize the reach of a business number already publicized in a yellow page listing. Also, young children find it easier to remember a single phone number when trying to reach parents in an emergency.
New PCS Phone Number -- Customers also can choose a number that rings exclusively on their Advanced PCS phone and still receive the benefits of a service designed to work like -- and with -- their home and business phone features.
One Voice Mailbox -- Instead of giving customers yet another voice mailbox to check for their mobile phone, U S WEST Advanced PCS can route all messages into the existing voice mailbox people already use at work or at home. U S WEST Advanced PCS's voice mailbox service provides instant notification, via a flashing indicator light on the handset, of all incoming voice mail messages to home or work phones. This lets customers respond to messages immediately, even though they may be out of the house or away from work. If customers prefer, a separate voice mailbox can be dedicated specifically for PCS calls only.
One Bill -- U S WEST is the first telecommunications company in the nation to offer fully integrated, consolidated billing that combines all wireless and local phone service charges on a single monthly statement. Billing for U S WEST Advanced PCS customers will be incorporated into the monthly U S WEST statement customers already receive, allowing people to review all phone-related charges via a single bill. The service also provides customers with one point-of-contact to resolve any billing discrepancies -- for wireless and/or local telephone service.
Familiar Touch and Feel -- U S WEST Advanced PCS customers don't have to learn complicated new steps that differ from their home or office phones. Steps used to access features such as Three-Way Calling, Call Blocking, Voice Mailbox Access, Call Waiting and Caller ID can be common to both Advanced PCS phones and home or office phones.
Integrated Customer Care -- U S WEST customer care consultants have been specifically trained to provide full wireless support. Because of this, U S WEST Advanced PCS customers will be able to receive assistance from the same U S WEST support staff with which they are familiar. This gives customers one point-of-contact and saves time by providing rapid answers to any PCS or other U S WEST-related questions. Advanced PCS customers also may dial *611 on their handset to connect with a 90-person customer-care center, dedicated to serving customers seven-days-a-week, 24-hours-a-day.
Customers interested in U S WEST Advanced PCS service can call 800-222-3772 to sign up. Customers also can purchase the service at any metro area Best Buy store or at a U S WEST retail locations.
As part of U S WEST Advanced PCS, U S WEST is offering dual-mode PCS handsets manufactured by QUALCOMM(R), which will work on compatible digital PCS and analog cellular systems, enabling customers to use their phones when traveling to major cities across the nation.
Brian H. |
