SecurFone America(OTC/BB: SFAI), Inc. Announces Strategic Alliance with MDI, Inc. and MDI de Mexico For Development and Delivery of Internet Telephony, Prepaid Communications and Wireless Engineering Services
August 21, 1998
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE) via NewsEdge
Corporation -- SecurFone America, Inc. (OTC/BB: SFAI)
today announced it has completed a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) for a strategic alliance and
distribution agreement with Microwave Designs
International, Inc. (MDI), a privately-held wireless
engineering firm headquartered in Richardson, Texas,
and its affiliate MDI de Mexico S.A. de C.V.,
headquartered in Monterrey, Mexico.
Under the terms of the MOU, both parties will work
together to develop and deploy new prepaid
communications and Internet telephony based services
and systems, and provide engineering and technical
support services, primarily in overseas markets. MDI will
also be established as a reseller for SecurFone's
expanding line of Internet telephony products and
services provided by SCIES, Inc., acquired by SecurFone
in June 1998. Other SecurFone products and services to
be offered include prepaid cellular network platforms,
network management and billing systems and both
handset and network-based debit card management and
support systems. MDI, established in 1973, has provided
turnkey wireless communication services including
conceptual design, engineering planning, installation,
testing, hardware and specialized support services for
major operators in the US and over 40 countries world
wide. Current representative MDI projects include
contracts for engineering and installation of wireless
local loop services for major competitive telephone
operators in the United States, wireless backbone
telephone network upgrades for a major operator in
Puerto Rico, fiber radio installation and testing for a
cellular carrier in Taiwan, and wireless engineering,
frequency measurement/ planning, and systems
installation for telephone operators and a public utility
company in Mexico.
SecurFone foresees strong demand for enhanced
communications service platforms integrating
innovative, cost-effective Internet telephony
technology, prepaid communications services and
wireless engineering and system integration services.
The new strategic alliance targets overseas operators,
including ISPs (Internet Service Providers), who are
seeking innovative turnkey network solutions to expand
their business base and create new revenue
opportunities by offering new PC-based voice services,
prepaid communications services and international
services rapidly deployed using low cost wireless local
loop technology.
"We continue our focus on forging new strategic
alliances to help us offer overseas operators new
alternatives to meet their respective customer needs.
Through the new MDI alliance, working with a highly
experienced and well-respected partner, we believe we
can provide real value helping overseas operators move
beyond basic commodity transport services to pursue
new high margin service opportunities using the latest
prepaid communications and Internet telephony
technology," said Paul B. Silverman, CEO of SecurFone.
Under the terms of the MOU, both parties may also elect
to participate directly as equity partners in selected
overseas operating entities where justified and permitted
by local operating authorities.
"As a leading provider of wireless engineering and
turnkey wireless networks to major operators throughout
the world for more than two decades, we also share the
view that overseas operators are seeking creative new
revenue sources and creative approaches for service
delivery. We look forward to working with SecurFone in
coming months to develop this global business
initiative," said Greg Long, President Microwave
Designs International, Inc. (MDI) and Director of MDI
de Mexico S.A. de C.V.
Separately, MDI announced today that Paul B.
Silverman, CEO of SecurFone America, Inc., has agreed
to serve on the MDI, Inc. and MDI de Mexico Board of
Directors effective August 20, 1998.
SecurFone America, Inc. founded in 1996, is a
telecommunications company specializing in prepaid
communications service. SecurFone markets its prepaid
services directly under the name Buy-the-Minute(tm).
Through its prepaid network product, SFA Network
Services, SecurFone offers its prepaid wireless platform
to other communications companies on a complete
turnkey or component basis. Though its SCIES, Inc.
division, SecurFone also provides proprietary Internet
telephony software and systems. SecurFone America is
an OTC/BB stock and trades under the symbol SFAI.
The company is based in San Diego, Calif.
Statements made in this press release, other than those
concerning historical information, should be considered
forward-looking and subject to various risks and
uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements are made
based on management's belief as well as assumptions
made by, and information currently available to,
management pursuant to the 'safe harbor' provisions of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Actual results may differ materially from the results
anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a
result of a variety of factors.
CONTACT: SecurFone America, Inc. | Derek Davis, Chief
Operating Officer | 619/677-5580
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