News>
t:
12/3/98 Daily Wireless Update
Date:
Thu, 3 Dec 1998 10:35:42 -0500 (EST)
From:
WirelessNOW_Update@commnow.com
To:
daily-list@mclean1.his.com
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This Daily Wireless Update was published on:
Thursday, December 3, 1998 at 10:36 AM
NEWS
1. New Palm VII Organizer Goes Wireless With Lucent Chips
2. Japan Gives OK to Wireless Signal Blocking
3. Digital Phone Sales Now Surpass Analog, Dataquest Says
4. Indian Agencies May Have to Pay for Spectrum
5. APCO Wants FCC to Reconsider 700 MHz Band Rules
6. Aussies Give Analog One More Year
7. Singapore Adopts New Licensing Process
8. Paging Channels Could Be Used for Interactive TV
9. U.S. Companies Predict Rosy Asian Paging Future
10. Class Action Suit Filed Against LA Cellular
11. Bellcore's AirBoss Runs Dispatch Software
12. Topp Telecom Offers Prepaid StarTac Program
13. Internet Media to Patent 3G Wireless Internet System
14. Omnipoint Offers Holiday Phone in a Box
15. Pay Phone Usage Suffering in Wireless Age, Report Says
16. BellSouth's Telcel Expects Record 1999 Sub Rates
17. AirTouch Opens Omaha One-Stop Shopping Store
DEALS
1. Lucent Supplies VT With Statewide E-911 System
2. P-Com Sell $2M in RF Gear to Taiwan
3. Arch/MobileMedia Deal Amended Again
4. SCC Wins TX E9-1-1 Contract
ANNOUNCEMENTS
1. No Announcements Today
CALENDAR
1. No Calendar Items Today
The following are copyrighted summaries of the wireless industry's top stories for today (see bottom for full copyright information). You can RETRIEVE THE FULL
TEXT OF ANY SUMMARIZED STORY WITHOUT CHARGE by going to the WirelessNOW Web site (email support@commnow.com for a password) or by
using RoboReply (instructions are at the bottom of this email).
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W I R E L E S S I N D U S T R Y N E W S
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1. New Palm VII Organizer Goes Wireless With Lucent Chips
10:10:50 AM 12/3/98 A Lucent Technologies chip is the driver behind the wireless communications capabilities now contained in the new 3Com Palm VII organizer.
The new unit was unveiled yesterday at the Palm Computing Platform Worldwide Developer Conference. Lucent's POMP-15 (what it calls the "Peace of Mind
Processor'') chip is one of the world's first DSPs to be used in a handheld organizer to provide wireless capabilities, the company says. Lucent's chip, which enables
the Palm VII organizer to communicate with the Mobitex-based BellSouth Intelligent Wireless Network(SM), can perform in numerous other wireless systems as
well. A number of applications were announced for the Palm VII following yesterday's announcement (see related stories). Actual delivery won't begin until later next
year. Further information available via RoboReply.
commnow.com
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2. Japan Gives OK to Wireless Signal Blocking
8:18:17 AM 12/3/98 Japan's Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications is accepting licenses for equipment capable of blocking cell phone signals. The MPT will
approve applications from places like theaters and concert halls, where ringing cellular phones are judged to cause a public nuisance. Once the appropriate
equipment is installed and switched on, wireless phones become useless because signals get jammed, making both incoming and outgoing calls impossible. Reported
by Newsbytes. Further information available via RoboReply.
commnow.com
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3. Digital Phone Sales Now Surpass Analog, Dataquest Says
8:05:25 AM 12/3/98 Domestic sales of digital wireless phones during the first three quarters of the year topped those of analog models by some 2 million units, says
a new report from Dataquest. More than 10 million digital models were sold, compared with 7.9 million analog units. Nokia now leads in U.S. market share,
doubling its hold to 40.3% of sales. This gain can be attributed directly to Nokia's ties to AT&T's Digital One Rate plan, introduced earlier this year. Motorola also
experienced a near-doubling of its market share, from 6.3% last year to 11.5% in 1998. Ericsson and Qualcomm were the losers during the three-quarter period.
Reported by Reuters. No further information available via RoboReply.
commnow.com
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4. Indian Agencies May Have to Pay for Spectrum
8:17:10 AM 12/3/98 Certain Indian government agencies, including the India Department of Telecommunications, the
Airports Authority of India and the India Defense Ministry, may have to pony up for their communications spectrum, which so far has been awarded for free. The
Wireless Planning and Coordination Wing of the government reportedly has begun moves toward such a payments-based system. Reported by India Telecom
Update. No further details available via RoboReply.
commnow.com
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5. APCO Wants FCC to Reconsider 700 MHz Band Rules
8:14:49 AM 12/3/98 Following a September FCC decision in WT Docket 96-86 to defer any action on digital standards for at least four years, the Association of
Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO) asked the commission to accept the existing TIA/Project 25 digital equipment standard for the new
700 MHz public-safety interoperability channels. APCO reminded the FCC that the Public Safety Wireless Advisory Committee concluded two years ago that
"unless immediate measures are taken to alleviate spectrum shortfalls and promote interoperability, public safety agencies will ...[be unable]...to protect life and
property in a safe, efficient and cost effective manner." This led Congress to require the FCC to "commence assignment" of 700 MHz band licenses to public safety
agencies by Sept. 30, 1998. Further information available via RoboReply.
commnow.com
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6. Aussies Give Analog One More Year
8:19:14 AM 12/3/98 Analog cellular users in Australia will be able to use their phones for an extra year, and then the base stations will be phased out. The original
stop date was supposed to be Dec. 31,1999, but that now has been pushed back by a year. Of the 400 AMPS base stations, 130 will close down on the original
date, another 135 on June 30, 2000, and the rest by December 31. The decision means analog services in metro areas will give way to digital GSM by the end of
next year, as planned, but it will linger on in country services until Telstra's new CDMA network cuts over. Reported by Newsbytes. Further information available
via RoboReply.
commnow.com
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7. Singapore Adopts New Licensing Process
9:37:20 AM 12/3/98 The Telecommunications Authority of Singapore (TAS) introduced a new licensing scheme for RF equipment that the authority hopes will
reduce the costs of providing private and public telecom network services in Singapore. Beginning January 1, rather than licensing each base station, TAS will apply
a single license fee for each network, removing the need for providers to apply for a new license as they expand. The new scheme will apply across the board, from
localized private networks to those providing cellular, paging and mobile data. Fees are dependent on the size of the network. Reported by Newsbytes. Further
information available via RoboReply.
commnow.com
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8. Paging Channels Could Be Used for Interactive TV
9:38:23 AM 12/3/98 Interactive TV provider Gemstar International may have found a way to eliminate the need for a separate line and modem for the service. The
company now suggests that 900 MHz paging frequencies can be used for the return channel. According to Gemstar, it now has a patent on using 900 MHz two-way
paging frequencies for an interactive TV system, allowing users to seamlessly execute purchase orders, receive confirmation or access additional customized
information while watching TV. Gemstar says that its patent includes technology needed for the integration of the two-way interactive system with an electronic
program guide. Reported by Newsbytes. Further information available via RoboReply.
commnow.com
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9. U.S. Companies Predict Rosy Asian Paging Future
9:42:29 AM 12/3/98 Motorola and Glenayre agree that Asia will be able to support healthy one-way and two-way paging growth. At the recent ReFLEX
Technology Symposium '98 organized by the two companies, attendees were reminded that, by the end of the year, The Strategis Group predicts that another 26
million pagers will be sold in China, India, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. The duo said the symposium gave them the opportunity to present technical and
business strategies Asia's paging operators can employ to offer advanced messaging services and applications. Reps from PageNet, SkyTel and PCIA also
forwarded advantages and benefits of advanced paging. Further information available via RoboReply.
commnow.com
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10. Class Action Suit Filed Against LA Cellular
9:44:48 AM 12/3/98 The law firm of Lieff, Cabraser, Heimann & Bernstein filed a class action complaint against LA Cellular and owners BellSouth Cellular Corp.
and AT&T Wireless Services alleging that the carrier falsely advertises the extent of its coverage in southern California. The attorneys say the carrier did not inform
current and prospective customers that there are "significant" gaps in LA Cellular's coverage area. Plaintiff Marcia Spielholz, a resident of Los Angeles County, was
the victim of a well-reported attempted car-jacking in which she was shot in the face by her assailants. Spielholz repeatedly attempted to reach 911 on her cellular
phone, but was unable to obtain emergency assistance because of a dead spot. Further information available via RoboReply.
commnow.com
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11. Bellcore's AirBoss Runs Dispatch Software
9:40:36 AM 12/3/98 Bellcore's AirBoss business will partner with Information Mechanics to provide a real-time wireless dispatch solution that will allow sales and
field service forces to receive e-mail, work orders and customer service requests wirelessly. Bellcore will demonstrate the new AirBoss microbrowser that supports
HDML at the Mobile and PDA conference in San Francisco this week. Information Mechanics' WebTek will be featured as the microbrowser's first commercial
application. The combined AirBoss Microbrowser and WebTek will allow dispatchers, field staff and customers to communicate new information quickly and
accurately from multiple locations. The first microbrowser implementation, developed for the RIM Inter@ctive Pager 950, allows access to HDML content via
Bellcore's patented AirBoss Wireless Web proxy server. Further information available via RoboReply.
commnow.com
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12. Topp Telecom Offers Prepaid StarTac Program
8:16:02 AM 12/3/98 Prepaid wireless provider Topp Telecom now is offering customers programs that include Motorola's StarTac, MicroTac 650 and Profile
phone models. The prepaid Motorola cellular phones are available at retail outlets nationwide. Topp's prepaid program allows retailers who have not participated in
the cellular industry to now sell Motorola prepaid handsets with a national footprint, thereby ensuring a local phone number in every market nationwide. Prices range
from $99 to $299, and programs do not require signed contracts, credit checks, monthly access fees, monthly bills or age barriers. Topp Telecom's Tracfone
handset-based, prepaid software has been available exclusively with the Uniden cellular handset for the last two years. Further information available via RoboReply.
commnow.com
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13. Internet Media to Patent 3G Wireless Internet System
8:10:50 AM 12/3/98 Plans are in the works by Internet Media Corp. to patent the third generation of its proprietary wireless Internet system. The system is claimed
by the company to cut operating costs of a particular system "to the customer level." Company officials say that while the second-generation system facilitated costs
savings in the installation and implementation of a particular system, its 3G Wireless Internet System permits quicker and less expensive customer installations. The
company also is offering its proprietary Wireless DataLink System, which it says is a less-maintenance-intensive alternative to traditional, dedicated hard-wire data
transmission systems. Reported by Newsbytes. Further information available via RoboReply.
commnow.com
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14. Omnipoint Offers Holiday Phone in a Box
8:06:20 AM 12/3/98 One of those boxes under the tree could contain a complete off-the-shelf wireless kit that can be activated at the receiver's convenience.
Following on a concept first developed by Sprint Spectrum, Omnipoint now is offering the boxed QuicKit, which contains an Ericsson mobile phone, a $50
Omnipoint service coupon, a phone battery and a charger. The QuicKit, priced at $99, is sold at all Omnipoint stores in New England. If for some reason the
recipient doesn't want to activate, the kit can be returned within 30 days. Further information available via RoboReply.
commnow.com
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15. Pay Phone Usage Suffering in Wireless Age, Report Says
8:09:58 AM 12/3/98 A new report published by Frost & Sullivan says that wireless usage is affecting the U.S. pay phone industry, and pay phone providers need to
provide more consumer information and education to stay viable. However, pay phone returns still are strong, with 1997 revenues totaling $5.7B. Driving forces
behind this figure, F&S says, are the deregulation of the pay phone industry, the emergence of new applications and consistent demand for pay phones. Raising pay
phone prices could bring in revenues from less price-sensitive users like tourists and business travelers, but such increases could increase optional costs and
discourage use by more cost-conscious and convenience-oriented end users. Reported by Newsbytes. Further information available via RoboReply.
commnow.com
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16. BellSouth's Telcel Expects Record 1999 Sub Rates
8:11:46 AM 12/3/98 BellSouth's Venezuelan cellular interest Telcel says subscribership should grow as much as 50% next year, despite the country's economic
situation. Telcel enjoys a 65% market share in the country, which serves some 1.6 million subscribers. Rival Movilnet also predicts a 30% growth spurt next year.
The government is expected to announce plans for a third cellular carrier within the next few weeks. Reported by Reuters. No further information available via
RoboReply.
commnow.com
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17. AirTouch Opens Omaha One-Stop Shopping Store
8:13:59 AM 12/3/98 AirTouch Cellular today will cut the ribbon on its first one-stop-shopping wireless retail store in Omaha, which also is the first such AirTouch
establishment in the Midwest. The store is the first of two proposed AirTouch-owned stores in Omaha that will open during the next three months. To celebrate the
store openings, AirTouch is offering a special service promotion of 600 digital minutes for $39.95 and an Audiovox 3000 cellular handset for $49, which includes a
car lighter adapter. Another in-store promotion features a free Motorola StarTac flip phone when signing up for the $24.95 calling plan that includes 60 anytime
minutes. Further information available via RoboReply.
commnow.com
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D E A L S
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1. Lucent Supplies VT With Statewide E-911 System
8:12:47 AM 12/3/98 According to Lucent Technologies, Vermont is the first state to deploy an all-digital, statewide network for public safety emergency response
calls. A joint effort between Lucent and Bell Atlantic installed eight Lucent digital systems costing $7.5M to handle E-911 calls. Each Lucent Palladium PSAP
workstation integrates voice and data information, and the stations also provide instant alerts and automatic location identifiers. The new E-911 system will decrease
call set-up times from about 10 seconds to less than two seconds, the companies say. Lucent and Bell Atlantic began installing the Vermont system in June, 1997; the
system was cut over Nov. 17, 1998; and some advanced features should be in use by February, 1999. Further information available via RoboReply.
commnow.com
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2. P-Com Sell $2M in RF Gear to Taiwan
9:41:38 AM 12/3/98 Once again, P-Com Inc. has signed a multimillion-dollar contract with unnamed offshore interests. This time, a $2M deal for radio systems was
inked with a group of Taiwanese service providers. The gear will be part of a nationwide network rollout for GSM 1800/900 services, including data, fax and voice,
to the nearly 23 million residents of Taiwan. Further information available via RoboReply.
commnow.com
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3. Arch/MobileMedia Deal Amended Again
8:07:32 AM 12/3/98 The merger agreement between paging providers MobileMedia Corp. and Arch Communications Group has been amended once again, the
second time since the original deal was struck August 18. Three items were changed this time. The two decided to fix the subscription price of the $217M Rights
Offering to MobileMedia's unsecured creditors at $2 per share of Arch common stock. They also will increase by 10 million the number of rights or, at their option,
warrants for Arch stockholders such that they would maintain a fully diluted equity interest of the combined company equal to 35.8%. Lastly, the aggregate number
of warrants issued to institutional investors as standby purchasers will be reduced. Further information available via RoboReply.
commnow.com
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4. SCC Wins TX E9-1-1 Contract
8:09:06 AM 12/3/98 SCC Communications Corp. signed a multiyear contract with Texas naming the company the designated provider of E-911 database
management services for public safety agencies and others in the state program. A pilot test period between SCC and the Greater Harris County 911 Emergency
Network in Houston will begin during 1Q99, testing SCC's delivery of a subscriber's 911 location information and local number portability issues as well as records
management from multiple telephone companies. If the test is successful, SCC will roll out the system on a broader scale. According to Texas public-safety officials,
this contract is the first time they have been allowed to contract for enhanced services outside of the local carrier. Further information available via RoboReply.
commnow.com
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A N N O U N C E M E N T S
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1. No Announcements Today
10:22:02 AM 12/3/98 No new items today.
commnow.com
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C A L E N D A R
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1. No Calendar Items Today
10:21:42 AM 12/3/98 No new items today.
commnow.com
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