Industry News

Frontier Cellular's Offers Wireless Local Loop Service

New service gives users fixed or portable phone access without landline connections

UTICA, NY Jan., 27, 1999 -- Frontier Cellular is offering a technology that replaces the need for traditional copper phone lines for voice communications. Known as wireless local loop service, the system looks and acts like a traditional phone, but transmits via digital wireless signals.

Unlike traditional landlines that may require installation fees and waiting periods, the wireless local loop system simply plugs into an electrical outlet and is immediately ready for use. In addition to having many features of a traditional phone, such as call waiting and three-way calling, the system also gives customers increased mobility.

"When you move, the phone moves with you," said Joseph Cufari, director of advanced technologies at Frontier Cellular. "This technology enables businesses, such as construction companies, to avoid the hassle of constantly having to activate a new phone line when they move to a new location."

Applications for residential customers include a phone line for a vacation home, a second line for a teenager, or a line for a rural residence without access to a landline, Cufari said.

Analysts predict the popularity or wireless local loop service will explode among both residential and business customers. According to Allied Business Intelligence, Inc., and Oyster Bay, NY-based research firm, the worldwide market for wireless local loop services will expand more than 50 times over the next eight years to more than 100 million customers.

Frontier Cellular is now offering wireless local loop service in the Utica/Rome area. Calling plans start at $19.95 per month.

Frontier Cellular, which covers more than 34,000 square miles and provides wireless service to customers in Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse, Binghamton, Utica/Rome, Watertown, Elmira and the Adirondacks, is a joint venture between Frontier Corporation and Bell Atlantic Mobile. For more information, visit the Frontier Cellular website at www.frontiercellular.com.

United States Welcomes EC Statement of Support for ITU Process on Setting New Mobile Telecommunications Standards

In a letter from Commissioner Martin Bangemann to the United States' top foreign policy, trade and telecommunication official, the European Commission reaffirmed its support for the outcome of an important, industry-lead, multilateral negotiation in the Internal Telecommunication Union (ITU). The ITU's goal is to produce standards for the next generation of mobile telecommunications equipment. The United States had sought reassurances that European industrial policy would not inhibit efforts to use any standards in the European market that emerge from the ITU's industry-lead talks. The European response fell short, however, of addressing several specific U.S. concerns regarding Europe's acceptance of all standards that are adopted by the ITU.

The European position was conveyed in a January 15, 1999 response, by European Commissioner for Telecommunications Martin Bangemann, to an earlier letter from Secretary of State Madeline Albright, United States Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky, Secretary of Commerce William Daley and Federal Communications Commission Chairman William Kennard.

"I welcome Commissioner Bangemann's indication that forthcoming ITU recommendations will be used as the basis for European standardization of third generation (3G) wireless services, pursuant to European Community (EC) and Member States' international commitments," said Ambassador Barshefsky. "It is critical that Europe's commitment to the ITU process endures for as long as it takes to reach a consensus," she said.

Commissioner Bangemann's letter attempted to allay concerns within U.S. industry that it is Europe's intention to continue its prior practice of promoting the use of a single mandatory wireless standard within Europe. Commissioner Bangemann maintains that the European Community's recently adopted Common Position to mandate introduction of Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS) is designed to promote Europe-wide service rather than to prevent competition from other 3G systems. "I am concerned that the Common Position could give UMTS an unfair head start on other types of 3G systems, if EC Member States go ahead without awaiting the results of ITU deliberations," said Secretary Daley.

In that regard, the United States remains concerned that the European Common Position does not adequately reflect the advent of competition under the World Trade Organization (WTO) Basic Telecommunications Agreement. "Policies that reflected Europe's former monopolistic environment, such as mandating single standards, may have anti-competitive effects in Europe's newly liberalized telecommunications environment," said Chairman Kennard. "While the stated intention of Europe's recent action may be to assure a minimum level of inter-operability in Europe, the fact remains that the Common Position confers regulatory certainty and therefore a market advantage upon only one type of technology." Ambassador Barshefsky noted that, "There are numerous potential service providers with many 3G technologies to offer. In accordance with Europe's WTO commitments, EC Member States should now license and assign radio spectrum of the maximum number of service providers without regard to technology, base on the standards that emerge from the ITU negotiations."

Commissioner Bangemann indicated that the process for standardization of UMTS will operate in parallel with the ITU process, which aims for a decision by March 31, 1999 on key radio characteristics of 3G standards. The ITU has a deadline of December 31, 1999 for the final standardization recommendations. "I welcome Commissioner Bangemann's assurance that European standardization will proceed in concert with the ITU process, recognizing that some key European and American industry participant unfortunately hold differing opinions regarding intellectual property rights," said Secretary Daley. "We would therefore expect that EC Member States will ensure that their 3G licensing processes accommodate, on a equally timely basis, any newly converged standard(s) and all others agreed by industry and recommended by the ITU."

Some United States, European and Asian mobile services operators have been working intensively to resolve the current U.S.-European industry impasse and lower the cost of building 3G networks. "We share commissioner Bangemann's view that a primary goal of the ITU process must be to enable the evolution of current second generation infrastructures without excessive cost burdens to consumers for upgrading infrastructure," said Chairman Kennard. "In the United States, without mandating standards or national coverage, we have nationwide coverage by networks in place, or under construction, that use four different second generation technologies. The result is that some carriers offer local and long distance wireless service at rates that are competitive with wireline service prices. If the costs of upgrading existing second generation infrastructure can be successfully minimized in the United States, Japan and the Americas, and if Europe and others license multiple technologies and competitors, we can achieve by 2010 a worldwide mobile telecommunications subscribership that will exceed traditional fixed wireline customers."

Sprint PCS and Iridium North America Sign Agreement to Offer Global Voice Services

Sprint PCS Customers Will Keep Their Sprint PCS Phone Number When Using Iridium Service Across the World

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Jan. 20, 1999 -- Sprint PCS today announced that it has entered into a Service Provider agreement with Iridium North America to be the exclusive service provider among PCS and cellular network operators in the Sprint PCS service area for the direct sale of Iridium satellite service through their national account team. Consumers will be able to obtain the full range of Iridium products and services through participating Sprint PCS nationwide distribution channels and Sprint PCS retail stores. Sprint PCS is the nation's largest 100 percent digital, 100 percent PCS nationwide wireless network in the United States, already serving the majority of the nation's metropolitan areas.

With the Iridium system, Sprint PCS now offers customers who travel outside the United States a simple, convenient way to stay connected worldwide. And Sprint PCS customers who purchase the Iridium World Roaming Service and Iridium handset will keep their Sprint PCS phone number while traveling internationally. The Iridium World Roaming Service will link incompatible wireless networks and separate charges into a simple solution by registering subscribers on the local wireless network with their regular wireless telephone number. In addition, calls made and received by Sprint PCS customers on Iridium phones will appear on the customer's Sprint PCS bill.

"Sprint PCS already serves more than 260 metropolitan markets across the country with our all-digital, nationwide PCS network," said Ronald Sanders, president of business sales for Sprint PCS. "And now we can deliver a system that offers our customers service in the rest of the world. This agreement brings together the two companies which are changing the shape of wireless coverage, Sprint PCS and Iridium, driving both the first uniform national wireless technology platform and the first worldwide satellite platform."

Jim Walz, President of Iridium North America said, "This agreement with Sprint PCS is critical for customers who want an integrated global communications solution. Through this relationship consumers will have the ability to communicate seamlessly on a worldwide basis."

The Iridium system is a natural extension of the Sprint PCS nationwide wireless network that allows the company to effectively expand its coverage territory beyond the United States to the entire planet. In the near future, the agreement also provides international travelers the ability to roam onto the Sprint PCS network when visiting the United States. Worldwide wireless subscribers are expected to more than double in the next decade, but current communications networks cover only 10% of the Earth.

With the introduction of the Iridium system, consumers will have global functionality for the first time ever -- through the first truly global, hand-held wireless voice and paging service.

The Iridium System is a breakthrough solution that will route previously incompatible calls through land-based telephone systems when customers are within range of terrestrial wireless network coverage. When no wireless coverage is available, the phones will communicate directly with the 66 low-Earth orbiting satellites, which function as wireless phone antennas in the sky. Consumers can now maintain communications in any city around the world with their own wireless phone and phone number.

In addition to agreements with wireless network operators, Iridium North America also has partnerships with service providers in the maritime, broadcast, transportation, oil and gas, and government sectors.

Sprint PCS Offers CDMA Service in Chicago

CHICAGO, Jan. 15, 1999 -- The nation's fastest-growing wireless communications operator, Sprint PCS, ushered in a new era of wireless communication in Chicagoland today.

Sprint PCS, the country's first and largest 100 percent digital, 100 percent PCS nationwide wireless network, opened its doors for business in the Chicago market providing seamless coverage to Milwaukee, Wis., to the north, Rockford, Ill., to the northwest, Joliet, Ill., to the southwest and Gary, Ind., to the southeast.

"Our Chicagoland customers can now join more than 1.75 million customers in more than 4,000 cities and communities across the country who are enjoying our digital wireless service," said Rus Zitny, Sprint PCS area vice president.

"While other wireless companies offer partial digital service, Sprint PCS is the first to build an all-digital network from the ground up -- and our customers across the country are enjoying the difference in terms of better connections, better service and better value."

Sprint PCS offers consumers and businesses affordable, feature-rich service packages:

-Sprint PCS national pricing plans include free long distance calls from anywhere on its nationwide network to anywhere in the U.S.
-Sprint PCS 100 percent digital, 100 percent PCS nationwide wireless network offers superior clarity comparable to your home or office phone.
-Sprint PCS offers simple, affordable plans for every budget -- value-packed plans for consumer and business customers.
-Unlike traditional cellular service, Sprint PCS calls are virtually secure from eavesdropping and cloning.
-Sprint PCS phones have longer battery life than traditional cellular.
-Sprint PCS does not require a long-term signed contract.

Many of the Sprint PCS service packages include at no additional charge:

-first incoming minute free
-voicemail
-caller ID
-call waiting
-text messaging
-three-way calling
-detailed billing and more.

In addition, there is no service activation fee or separate interconnection charges.

"For the first time, as part of an established all-digital nationwide PCS network, Chicagoland customers will be able to enjoy the clarity and convenience of all-digital communications virtually anywhere they travel in the United States," said Phillip Maxwell, district director of direct sales. "For business people and consumers alike, the benefits of national pricing and service will fundamentally change how Chicagoland customers communicate. "

"Sprint PCS offers customers service on the nation's largest 100 percent digital, 100 percent PCS nationwide wireless network and we are proud to offer the Chicagoland area many retail outlets where Sprint PCS can be purchased," said Michael Dickson, district director of indirect sales.

Sprint PCS operates the largest 100 percent digital, 100 percent PCS nationwide wireless network in the United States, already serving the majority of the nation's metropolitan areas including more than 4,000 cities and communities across the country. Sprint PCS has licensed PCS coverage of nearly 270 million people in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Leap Wireless International Moves to Implement Innovative Wireless Local Area Mobile Service Acquires Chase Telecommunications in Tennessee as Initial Market

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 4, 1999 -- Wireless communications carrier Leap Wireless International, Inc. today announced that it has agreed to acquire substantially all of the assets of Chase Telecommunications Holdings, Inc. (ChaseTel), the owner of a Wireless service provider and related licenses in Tennessee. Leap currently holds a 7.2% ownership in ChaseTel. The acquisition will allow Leap to move forward to implement its unique U.S. strategy targeting the mass consumer market with a flat-rate wireless local area service that offers customers the freedom of mobility at affordable prices. Leap will request that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) transfer the ChaseTel 15 MHz C-Block licenses to Leap, allowing it to offer service to approximately 6.3 million potential customers (POPs) in Tennessee, including Chattanooga, Nashville, Memphis and Knoxville metropolitan areas, as well as contiguous portions of six adjacent states. ChaseTel initiated PCS service in Chattanooga in September 1998.

"We believe that Tennessee represents an excellent market to initiate Leap's U.S. wireless strategy. Building on the infrastructure and accomplishments of ChaseTel will allow us to accelerate our introduction of this service," said Harvey P. White, chairman and CEO of Leap Wireless. "We think customers will be very excited about our plans for an affordable service combining local area mobility with fixed wireless service. We will soon announce the specifics of our plan to launch our unique service concept in Chattanooga in February."

"Leap has developed an excellent understanding of the Tennessee market that will enable it to implement its strategy," said Anthony Chase, CEO of ChaseTel. "We are delighted that Leap's acquisition will take our business to the next level and realize the enormous potential of this market. In working with Leap, we have found them to be an excellent partner and look forward to this expanded relationship."

Vendor News

QUALCOMM Delivers 30 Million MSM Chips; Chipset Demand Fueled By Dramatic Increase in Use of CDMA Systems Worldwide

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 27, 1999 -- QUALCOMM Incorporated, pioneer and world leader of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) digital wireless technology, today announced it had reached an important milestone with the shipment of more than 30 million Mobile Station Modem (MSM™) chips to customers worldwide.

The production milestone for these highly integrated CDMA handset semiconductors was reached as the dramatic global growth continues for cdmaOne™ (Code Division Multiple Access IS-95) digital wireless technology. In total, the Company has shipped more than 100 million QUALCOMM-designed semiconductor chips, used in the operation of CDMA handsets, making QUALCOMM's ASIC Products easily the largest provider worldwide of semiconductors for CDMA wireless systems.

QUALCOMM ASIC Products Division has played a significant role in helping drive QUALCOMM's vision for the future of wireless technology. The QUALCOMM ASIC Products Division has led the industry in providing MSM chips and Cell Site Modem (CSM™) chips to telecommunications manufacturers worldwide. The use of CDMA-based wireless systems has expanded dramatically-from the initial development of chipsets in 1989 to volume shipments in 1996 to today's expanded customer base of more than 18 million subscribers in more than 30 countries that include major consumer markets in Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Mexico and the United States.

"We have seen the initial interest in CDMA technology develop into a substantial commercial business in just three years," noted Dale Ford of Dataquest. "End users, network operators and handset and infrastructure manufacturers are recognizing the significant benefits of the technology, and we anticipate this growth can only continue."

"We are indeed pleased to reach this milestone at a time when CDMA wireless technology is being recognized worldwide by consumers as the best platform for wireless networks," commented Don Schrock, president of QUALCOMM's ASIC Products Division. "QUALCOMM's ASIC Products Division continues to provide on-time delivery for an overwhelming majority of the chips for handsets and infrastructure equipment used on these networks. We will continue to ensure we maintain a leadership position through our commitment to provide customers leading-edge, highly-integrated, high quality and cost effective proven solutions."

CDMA technology provides superior voice quality, greater coverage and extended talk times due to lower power consumption. CDMA technology significantly increases system capacity, virtually eliminating most busy signals, dropped calls and cross talk that result from system overcrowding. In addition, CDMA's digital control channel enables users to access a wide range of new services including caller identification, as well as data and facsimile transmission. Simultaneous voice and data transmission is also possible.

Recently introduced QUALCOMM ASIC products include:

* MSM3000™ Chip-The fifth-generation, single-chip Mobile Station Modem (MSM). This low-power baseband chip and software solution enables design of small-form factor handsets with very long stand-by times and much higher data-rate services. It interfaces directly to QUALCOMM's Intermediate Frequency (IF) chips, the IFT3000™ and IFR3000™, which perform all transmit and receive signal processing required between digital baseband and Radio Frequency (RF). This solution provides substantially lower power consumption, 200 hours of standby time and enables data rates up to 86.4 kbps.

* IFT3000 and IFR3000 Chips-A complete solution incorporating IF functionality for CDMA handsets offering an area reduction of 45
percent over previous IF solutions. Together QUALCOMM's IFT3000 and IFR3000 chips, MSM3000 chip and RF front end comprise the system hardware necessary for an IS-95A or IS-95B CDMA handset.

* CSM2000™ Chip-A multiple-channel CDMA digital baseband modem capable of supporting up to eight forward link channels and eight reverse link channels. CDMA infrastructure manufacturers will benefit from a significant cost reduction per channel, a significant reduction in the circuit board space required, as well as lower power consumption per channel.

* CDMA Designer™ -- A toolkit that provides a complete development environment for the creation of applications with QUALCOMM's CDMA chipsets. The CDMA Designer toolkit provides greater freedom for manufacturers shortening the time required for new product development and creating unique end-product designs.

QUALCOMM Begins Production Shipping of Industry-Leading Fifth-Generation CDMA Chipset and System Software to Major Handset Manufacturers

Twenty-one Manufacturers Commit to Volume Purchases

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 27, 1999 -- QUALCOMM Incorporated, pioneer and world leader of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) digital wireless technology, today announced it has begun production shipping, on schedule, of its highly integrated fifth-generation CDMA chipset and system software for use in CDMA technology wireless handsets. The December shipment to Japanese, Korean and U.S. CDMA handset manufacturers represents a first in the wireless industry: The delivery of a chipset and system software solution providing wireless data rates of as high as 86.4 kilobits per second (kbps).

Twenty-one of the leading CDMA handset manufacturers have agreed to purchase the MSM3000™ Mobile Station Modem (MSM™) chipset and/or system software. Eight manufacturers from Japan, eleven from Korea, one from Taiwan and one from the United States are actively designing phones with several already receiving production quantities.

With this latest generation of chipset from QUALCOMM, the company confirms its position as the wireless industry's leading semiconductor and software developer and provider. With data rates up to 86.4 kbps, the MSM3000 paves the way for the development of many new applications in wireless telecommunications. Handheld wireless devices using the chipset will have even faster speeds than personal computers equipped with standard modems, enabling the Internet and data services to be efficiently delivered to today's mobile customer.

"In 1999, the arrival of our new chipset solution will give consumers the opportunity to use wireless devices with features far beyond simple telephony," said Don Schrock, president of QUALCOMM's ASIC Products. "We've received a significant acceptance of the MSM3000 from a large number of manufacturers. This commitment to our fifth-generation chipset gives us the opportunity to price it very competitively and supports our intention to remain the leader in the development of semiconductor-software solutions for the wireless industry."

QUALCOMM's complete CDMA chipset solution includes the industry-leading MSM3000 chipset and system software, and the IFT3000™ and IFR3000™ fully integrated Intermediate Frequency (IF) chipset for CDMA handsets. QUALCOMM's ASIC division introduced the MSM3000, the fifth-generation, single-chip MSM, in early 1998 and delivered samples to prospective customers in July. The low-power chip and system software enables design of small form factor handsets with very long stand-by times and much higher data-rate services. An estimated 200 hours of stand-by time is expected using an 800 mAh battery in CDMA mode and an approximate two time improvement of AMPS stand-by time. It is the first single-chip baseband solution for any cellular or Personal Communications Service (PCS) standard to enable data speeds up to 86.4 kbps.

The IFT3000 and IFR3000 are the first chips incorporating the complete IF functionality for a CDMA handset, from digital baseband converters to Automatic Gain Control (AGC), offering an area reduction of 45 percent over previous IF solutions and substantially lower power consumption.

Together QUALCOMM's MSM3000 chip, IFT3000 and IFR3000 chipset, and Radio Frequency (RF) front end constitute the system hardware necessary for an IS-95A or IS-95B CDMA compliant handset.

"The entire MSM3000 feature set has been carefully developed in close interaction with customers in worldwide markets throughout the design and development process," said Johan Lodenius, vice president of marketing for QUALCOMM's ASIC Products. "Our integrated chip and system software solution enables manufacturers to reduce development time, creates a broad range of products and facilitates design for local market adaptation."

QUALCOMM ASIC Products Division is the leading developer and supplier of CDMA chipsets, hardware and software solutions and tools with more than 30 million MSM chips shipped worldwide. The ASIC Products Division supplies chipsets to the world's leading CDMA handset and infrastructure manufacturers including: ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.; CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.; DENSO CORPORATION; FUJITSU LIMITED; Hitachi, Ltd.; LG Information and Communications, Ltd.; Samsung Electronics Ltd.; SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.; and Toshiba Corporation, among others.

NEC DO BRASIL is deploying 2 million CDMA cellular digital lines in Brazil

SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL, Jan. 26, 1999 -- NEC takes mobile communications into a new era of greater capacity and quality with its CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) System. NEC DO BRASIL has signed contracts to supply more than 2 million CDMA cellular digital lines in the most important Brazilian States: São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Bahia.

In São Paulo, NEC DO BRASIL has signed contracts to deploy CDMA cellular digital networks for TELESP Celular. The second phase of TELESP's project will be concluded in February '99 with 224 radio base stations with a capacity of 500,000 users. The third phase will be concluded in March '99 with 318 radio base stations that will accommodate 1,000,000 users.

São Paulo, with 17 million people, is considered one of most complex cities of the world in which to deploy a cellular network because of its population density, geographic conditions and concentrated traffic. NEC's CDMA Cellular Mobile Systems provide several advantages to operators and users:
Larger capacity Sigma Switch
A complete family of Base Transceiver Stations (Macro, Mini, Micro and Pico ­ outdoor and indoor configurations ) that accommodate different traffic and coverage needs
Centralized operation, administration and maintenance ­ providing greater operational and cost efficiencies
Enhanced reliability with a centralized HLR
Excellent voice quality and inherent privacy

TELESP Celular was acquired by Portugal Telecom in July '98 during the Brazilian privatization process. It serves more than 2 million customers in the 433 districts of the state of São Paulo. TELESP Celular has a cellular network with 1,400 radio base stations for both analog and digital lines.

In Rio de Janeiro, NEC DO BRASIL signed a contract to deploy a CDMA cellular digital network for Telefônica Celular. NEC DO BRASIL concluded the second phase of this project in December '98 with 196 radio base stations. Currently Telefônica Celular has 240,000 live customers. The next phase will be concluded in March '99 with 290 radio base stations which will have a capacity of 660,000 users.

In Bahia, NEC DO BRASIL and TELEBAHIA Celular signed the first contract for a CDMA cellular mobile system in Brazil. NEC's CDMA network accommodates 40,000 lines in Salvador. TELEBAHIA has already activated 20,000 cellular digital users. Today TELEBAHIA has 168 analog radio base stations and 57 digital ones serving 230,000 customers. It will invest US$ 80 million to expand its digital cellular network's capacity to 500,000 customers in 1999.

In 1996 Telefônica acquired CRT (Companhia Riograndense de Telecomunicações). After Telebrás' privatization it become the largest Brazilian operator controlling Telesp Participações (Telesp and CTBC) and Tele Sudeste Celular (Telerj Celular and Telest Celular). In addition, it has ownership in Telesp Celular and it is associated with Iberdrola Bank in controlling Tele Leste Celular (Telebahia Celular and Telergipe Celular). They are managing about 7 million fixed lines and 1.3 million cellular lines, numbers that have increased since August '98.

QUALCOMM Introduces Its New CDMA Digital Thin Phone

Industry's First Ultra-Thin CDMA Data-Ready Phones Feature Internal Battery And Advanced QUALCOMM Chip Technology for Greater Talk and Standby Times

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 25, 1999 -- QUALCOMM Incorporated, pioneer and world leader of Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) digital wireless technology, today announced the new QUALCOMM Thin Phone, its fourth generation of CDMA digital wireless phones. The QUALCOMM Thin Phone features an ultra-thin design with an internal battery and hot-swappable external battery options. The sleek, new phone incorporates QUALCOMM's latest integrated CDMA Mobile Station Modem (MSM™) chipset that provides talk times of up to 10 hours in digital mode and supports standby times of up to 8 days with external battery options. The QUALCOMM Thin Phone is so thin and light-weighing in at just over 4 ounces-that it is as comfortable in your hand as it is in your pocket.

The two new QUALCOMM Thin Phone models are the QCP-860™, an 800 MHz dual-mode CDMA digital and analog cellular phone, and the QCP-1960™, a 1900 MHz single-mode digital PCS phone. Both models support state-of-the-art phone, pager, voice-mail and data transfer features and will offer a number of innovative metallic color options in addition to black. The QUALCOMM Thin Phone is expected to begin shipping in the first half of 1999.

"'Thin is in' for consumer electronics in 1999, and QUALCOMM has the phone that brings 'thin' to the wireless consumer," said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, president of QUALCOMM Consumer Products. "Our new QUALCOMM Thin Phone combines a slim design profile with long battery life, allowing users to take this phone with them anywhere. The phone is designed for ease of use with the new wireless user in mind and includes advanced features for even the most sophisticated user. The sleek new phone offers a choice of several elegant color options to meet consumers' individual styles."

The new QUALCOMM Thin Phone features a five-line, backlit LCD display and has two smart keys just below the display that enable easy navigation through the user interface menu options, including a customizable phone book with 99 memory storage locations. The phone also includes 8 kbps and 13 kbps vocoders, as well as the new Enhanced Variable Rate Vocoders (EVRC) which support increased network capacity for the carrier while maintaining maximum voice quality for their customers.

The QUALCOMM Thin Phone is designed with an internal battery that supports extended talk and standby times. External, hot-swappable slim and extended-life battery options further increase these times and can be added to the phone to supplement the internal battery without interrupting conversations or data transfer. Improved talk and standby times from such a thin, lightweight phone are possible because the phone incorporates the latest QUALCOMM MSM3000™ single chip Mobile Station Modem. With very low-power-requirement microprocessor architecture, the MSM3000 reduces talk and standby power consumption and is supported by full-featured software that can handle rapid data transfer.

Data connectivity to a PC is available through an optional data cable, which allows users to download phone book information from their PC, or any device connected to it, including a variety of personal digital assistants (PDAs), to the QUALCOMM Thin Phone's internal phone book memory. The QUALCOMM Thin Phone will also support the new generation of wireless microbrowsers for Internet access.

A new line of accessories will become available for the QUALCOMM Thin Phone, including a data connectivity kit, desktop charger, travel charger, leather case, car power adapter, data cable, three headset options and transportable hands-free car kit.

The new Thin Phones complement QUALCOMM's entire family of advanced CDMA digital phones, including the Q™ phone series and the QCT™ series of cellular and PCS fixed wireless phones. The hallmarks of every QUALCOMM CDMA digital phone include crystal clear voice quality, enhanced privacy and fewer dropped calls.

SignalSoft Corp. Introduces the local.info™ Content Alliance Program Packages Internet Content and Localized Information with Company's local.info Product

BOULDER, Colo. Jan. 20, 1999 -- SignalSoft Corp., a leading international software developer of Wireless Location Services™, announced today the introduction of the local.info™ Content Alliance, its content provider program designed to enable the delivery of geo-coded information and Internet content to wireless subscribers.

SignalSoft's local.info™ Content Alliance supports the Company's recently launched local.info™ product by bringing end-to-end solutions to wireless carriers. Local.info™ brings subscribers personalized, localized information instantly via their wireless phone. As one of several products in SignalSoft's suite of Wireless Location Services™, local.info™ is commercially available directly from the Company or through its service bureau partners.

The local.info™ Content Alliance combines SignalSoft's location-based software with a range of localized information provided by the Alliance members. These pre-packaged services allow cellular and PCS network operators to provide a variety of services to their subscribers. Based on their location and specific requests, wireless users can be routed to the nearest business or access a broad range of geo-coded information and Internet content including: directory assistance, traffic information, emergency roadside services and lifestyle data such as weather, local news, travel, restaurants, entertainment, etc.

Charter members of SignalSoft's local.info™ Content Alliance include: Cross Country Automotive Services, of Boston providing emergency roadside assistance and concierge services; Denver-based InfoNow, a provider of location-based business reference and information services over the Internet; Redmond, Wash.-based InfoSpace.com which provides Internet directories via their the Ultimate Directory product; Stamford, Conn.-based Intelligent Information Incorporated (III), a provider of personalized information services including news, weather, sports and e-commerce and SmartRoute of Boston, which offers real-time traffic information. Content providers and wireless network operators interested in learning more about the local.info Content Alliance can visit SignalSoft's web site at http://www.signalsoftcorp.com.

"SignalSoft's local.info™ Content Alliance benefits wireless subscribers and network operators as well as content providers. Wireless users are looking for more features from their phones, and this program gives network operators an easy way to offer many kinds of localized information, such as Internet content, to their subscribers. Wireless subscribers will be able to use their phones to access location-based content categories with an ease-of-use similar to book-marking sites on the Internet," stated David Hose, SignalSoft President.

"For content providers, the local.info™ Content Alliance opens doors to SignalSoft's wireless customers and partners and offers them exposure to the nearly 350 million wireless subscribers worldwide ­ more than three times the number of people currently using the Internet," concluded Hose.

Michael Johnson, President and CEO, of publicly-held InfoNow, the first member of SignalSoft's local.info™ Content Alliance, said: "We are excited about working with SignalSoft because it enhances our current product offering as well as provides access to SignalSoft's wireless sales channels. This new alliance with SignalSoft marks InfoNow's entrée into the wireless arena, and we are pleased to work with the Company to deliver customized information to subscribers."

Steven G. Maloney, President of III, added: "III's membership in the local.info™ Content Alliance adds a localized dimension to our personalized information products and provides wireless carriers with a simplified path to delivering location-specific content and commerce services."

WirelessKnowledge Unveils Premier Wireless Data Access Service, Revolv New Joint Venture Company of Microsoft and QUALCOMM Will Provide Mobile Professionals Wireless Access to Critical Information With Any Mobile Device From Any Location

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 19, 1999 -- WirelessKnowledge LLC, a joint venture company between Microsoft Corp. and QUALCOMM Inc., today announced at Showcase '99 their first service offering, named Revolv(SM).

Revolv services are the first in a series of services to be offered by the company, whose formation was first announced on Nov. 10, 1998. Revolv is a valuable service that will provide mobile professionals with secure access to important information and Microsoft Exchange groupware using a variety of wireless or mobile devices from anywhere they travel.

The company expects wireless carriers to deliver Revolv services to their customers in early 1999, providing them with 100 percent mobile connectivity, regardless of technology or device preference.

"WirelessKnowledge's charter is to bring true convergence to the computing and wireless communications industries," said John Major, president and chief executive officer of WirelessKnowledge. "Revolv services are the first step in demonstrating our commitment to making true convergence a reality for the mobile professional."

Revolv services will be provided across a wide spectrum of wireless or mobile device types, such as Windows CE(R) devices, palm-size PCs, browser-equipped phones, pagers, Web access terminals, other HTML-enabled PDAs and laptop computers running the Windows CE, Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows NT(R) operating systems.

This will allow mobile professionals access to their e-mail, contacts, calendar and other data residing on either a hosted server or on their corporate Microsoft Exchange servers. Revolv will save users time by allowing them to take action or make changes to data from anywhere and eliminate the hassle of synchronizing the data upon returning to the office.

Revolv features include access to the following:

--Electronic mail. This allows customers to use their existing e-mail clients and provides value-added e-mail applications for certain key devices. E-mail formatting is optimized for each device and includes integration with alerts.

--Calendaring. This feature allows one to access the calendar in Microsoft Exchange as it is on a corporate server.

--Contacts. This feature allows one to access contacts in Microsoft Exchange as it is on a corporate server.

--Content. Information content is provided in two ways: first, using generic Internet access to all supported device configurations and second, providing device-tailored start pages for each device class.

--Hosted access. This feature allows individual and small business customers to sign up for accounts where the Exchange server is hosted on their behalf without the extra complexity of setting up their own network and servers.

--Corporate access. Larger companies can utilize a combination of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and new firewall access methods to enable corporate access to mobile users.

Revolv services are built on an end-to-end architecture based on industry-standard technologies including the Microsoft BackOffice(R) family and Microsoft Commercial Internet System (MCIS). Revolv will be accessible over all digital wireless wide area networks, including those based on CDMA technology, GSM, TDMA, CDPD and Mobitex.

WirelessKnowledge has working relationships with a portfolio of leading wireless carriers and is currently forming other strategic partnerships with computing, software and telecommunications companies. The wireless carrier charter partners include: AirTouch Communications, AT & T Wireless Services, Bell Atlantic Mobile, Bell Mobility (Canada), BellSouth, GTE Wireless, Leap Wireless International, Sprint PCS and US West Wireless.

Availability

Revolv is available now on an OEM basis to carriers. Commercial end-user availability from the first carrier partners is expected in early 1999. The service will include data services to maintain messaging, e-mail, calendaring, contact list and basic information services through the Internet, plus access to Exchange-based corporate networks. Additional features and services will be added over time.

Lucent Technologies and Spain's Telefonica, S.A. Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Strengthen Strategic Relationship

MADRID, Spain, Jan. 13, 1999 -- Telefonica, one of the world's top telecommunications services providers, and Lucent Technologies, a leading global supplier of communications networking systems and software, today signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that strengthens their relationship by recognizing Lucent as a preferred global supplier of telecommunications systems to Telefonica.

Lucent will offer solutions to Telefonica in such key areas as next-generation data networks, high-capacity optical networks, intelligent networks, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) and Global System for Mobile (GSM) wireless networks. The companies' collaboration will encompass all of the areas where Telefonica is or will operate, including Spain, Latin America, and the Mediterranean region.

Telefonica and Lucent will also share information on developing targeted services, products and marketing initiatives, and identifying further areas for co-operation that will mutually benefit both companies.

"We require the best suppliers, such as Lucent, to help us compete around the globe as we enter into newly deregulated telecommunications markets," said Juan Villalonga, president of Telefonica. "Together we can provide the right solutions to meet our customers' demands for state-of-the-art technology and services."

Motorola Unveils New Entry-Level CDMA Digital Handset

Company Moves To Serve Digital Consumers With CDMA Phone Model In Brand New Size and Shape

LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7, 1999 -- Today, Motorola announced plans to commercially introduce a new entry-level Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) phone model - the SC3160 (800 CDMA/AMPS) phone. This handset was developed specifically to serve Motorola's customers immediate needs - a strategy that is consistent with the company's intention to be a premier total solutions provider.

In an effort to provide consumers a broader range of digital phone options, Motorola has developed an entirely new consumer look and feel for its digital handsets. The comfortable form factor incorporates many key Motorola attributes familiar to customers such as SMS*, Caller ID*, Authentication, VibraCall(R) Alert, 99 memory locations, 99 Speed Dial memories, and a headset jack, in a compact handset. Commercial availability in the Americas for the SC3160 phone model is slated for first quarter, 1999.

"We've recognized the rapid growth of the digital marketplace and the desirability of expanding our digital phone portfolio," said Fred Kuznik, Executive Vice President of Motorola. Inc. and President of Motorola's Personal Communications Sector. "The result will be new products and services that meet the precise needs of customers in terms of quality, performance and time to market that are covered by a traditional Motorola limited warranty and serviced directly by Motorola for our consumers."

The dual mode CDMA SC3160 phone weighs as little as 5.5 ounces, with a digital mode talk time up to 280 minutes or a digital mode standby time up to 120 hours**. The SC-3160 phone features a four line alphanumeric LCD display with an additional icon line and operates with either an 8 kbps, EVRC or 13 kbps vocoder.

This lightweight CDMA phone has been designed as an affordable, easy-to-use digital phone that consumers will find fits comfortably in a wide variety of lifestyles. The stylish design, coupled with a full set of digital phone features, provide reliable communications, in a small lightweight and attractive package.

Motorola Expands CDMA Users' Digital Roaming Capabilities Via Service Option Negotiation

Digital Cellular Operators Can Offer More Flexible Service to Customer Of Enhanced Variable Rate Coder Networks

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill., Jan. 6, 1999 -- Motorola, Inc.'s Network Solutions Sector (NSS) announced today it is offering its CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) operators the ability to expand their customers' digital cellular roaming capabilities with the introduction of enhanced system software.

With Motorola NSS' Service Option Negotiation solution, customers who currently enjoy the benefits of state-of-the-art 8K EVRC (Enhanced Variable Rate Coder) call quality can now take their digital features with them when they roam throughout Motorola NSS-based networks. Operators with CDMA equipment supplied by Motorola NSS, or by a combination of Motorola and other vendors, can take advantage of this solution to provide their EVRC customers seamless digital coverage throughout all of their markets. To date, Motorola NSS is the only cellular network vendor to offer Service Option Negotiation to address the EVRC roaming issue.

Service Option Negotiation, an industry standard protocol, sets up the commands by which a cellular base station communicates with the cellular handsets throughout a system. When a caller enters into a network's coverage area, the cellular handset must "speak the same language" as the network in question.

In the cellular industry, the most recent advance in digital voice encoder technology is EVRC, a feature which provides landline-quality voice transmission, superior capacity gains and compete background noise suppression. But until now, customers on EVRC networks have been unable to take advantage of these features when roaming outside of their home system and into incompatible digital networks - networks which do not incorporate EVRC vocoders. Lack of Service Option Negotiation causes EVRC digital calls to be converted to analog systems or dropped entirely because the handsets do not speak the same language as the non-EVRC network.

Motorola NSS' solution requires no hardware upgrades to the CDMA network or software upgrades to customers' digital cellular handsets. Additionally, it provides a graceful migration path both to future vocoder technologies and to next generation digital standards. The solution is commercially available today. Operators can receive the Service Option Negotiation with Motorola NSS' standard CDMA software offering.

"As the leader in value-based software development, we strive to provides cellular operators and service providers with software the increases their revenue base by augmenting their customers' minutes-of-use," said John Cipolla, vice president and general manager of Motorola NSS' CDMA Systems Division. "We are enthusiastic about our interoperability solutions, such as Service Option Negotiation, and hope other infrastructure vendors will take a similar approach."

In a report issued last month by the Cahners In-Stat Group, a leading wireless industry research and consulting firm, Motorola NSS was cited as the leading international provider of commercial CDMA digital cellular networks. The analysis of cellular, PCS and wireless local loop markets shows Motorola NSS with a total of 31 commercial system awards internationally. Others include Lucent with 17 awards; Qualcomm, 16; Nortel, 10; and Samsung, four.

Brazil's Telesp Celular Signs Contracts For US$340 Million With Lucent Technologies To Build CDMA Wireless Networks

SAO PAULO, BRAZIL, Tuesday, Jan. 5, 1999 -- Lucent Technologies today announced that it has signed contracts totaling US$340 million with Telesp Celular, which is owned by Portugal Telecom, to build wireless networks based on code division multiple access (CDMA) in the state of São Paulo. One phase of the project was completed in a record 40 days in the Osasco region, where some 150,000 customers have signed up for the digital services.

In all, the contracts call for the installation of wireless CDMA networks to support more than 1.5 million subscribers in Greater São Paulo and select areas in the interior of the sate, the largest wireless market in Brazil. The metropolitan São Paulo area alone is being equipped with more than 400 cell sites, a buildout expected to be completed by June of 1999.

"We are putting the weight of all our resources behind these important projects," said Virgillo Freire, president of Lucent Technologies Brazil. "Our recently inaugurated manufacturing facility will be working at full capacity, and we rely on an excellent local and region-wide network of engineers to support the installation of wireless networks around Brazil."

Under the terms of these contracts, Lucent Technologies is providing its flagship 5ESS® AnyMedia™ switching platform, and Autoplex® System 1000 Series II cell sites, as well as technical expertise and support services. The digital cell sites for this project will be manufactured at the Lucent manufacturing facility in Campinas, Brazil.

As part of a separate agreement, Telesp Celular also is installing two million voice messaging mailboxes in metropolitan São Paulo with Lucent's advanced IMA-CA (Intelligent Messaging Architecture-Caller Applications) voice messaging platform. IMA-CA offers service providers a full feature set including voice paging support, fax networking and multiples greetings.

Lucent's 5ESS® AnyMedia™ Switch is a large-scale, software-based digital switching system that delivers any media from one platform. This capability allows service providers to offer any service -- local, long distance, voice, data, or video. The SESS Switch currently serves more than 104 million lines and 48 million trunks from four thousands host switches in more than 50 countries worldwide.

The Autoplex System 1000 Series II cell sites will be equipped with digital radios using the cdmaOne technology. This wireless technology, based on the IS-95 CDMA standard, provides increased call capacity and enhanced call quality that is comparable to landline service. CDMA reduces the static and cross-talk sometimes heard on analog systems, and provides a "soft hand-off" capability that makes call hand-offs between cell sites and mobile switching centers (MSCs) virtually unnoticeable to customers.

Israel's Pele-Phone Announces Nationwide Launch of Motorola Digital Wireless Network

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill Jan. 4, 1999 -- Motorola, Inc.'s Network Solutions Sector (NSS) announced today that Israel's Pele-Phone Communications, Ltd. has launched commercially a new Motorola NSS-built CDMA digital cellular network. The CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) system is the first of its kind in Israel and provides the entire country with coverage. The new feature-rich network is designed to run parallel to Pele-Phone's other national cellular network, an analog version known as Narrowband Advanced Mobile Phone Service or NAMPS, which Motorola NSS installed in 1994. Prior to that Pele-Phone had relied on another Motorola NSS analog system dating back to 1986. "Cellular phone users throughout Israel are quite demanding in today's world of wireless telecommunications due to their unusually heavy use of the technology," said Yigal Bar-Yossef, Pele-Phone's CEO. "They require the very best technology,and using both NAMPS and CDMA technologies allows us to give them what they want," he said. Motorola NSS was awarded the $260 million contract to build a new CDMA network in December 1997. The new network allows Pele-Phone to offer its customers Short Message Service (SMS), which Motorola NSS has installed on all of its commercial CDMA deployments. SMS enables subscribers to receive voice mail notification, English and Hebrew digital pages, text messages, message time stamps, an urgent message indicator, plus voice mail message count and informational services such as stock quotes, sports scores, weather and traffic.

"Pele-Phone Communications, Ltd. is a fine example of a cellular provider that has intensified its customer focus and marketplace competitiveness by tapping the best technology available to meet its current and future needs," said Adrian Nemcek, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Motorola NSS Customer Solutions Group. At the heart of Pele-Phone's new CDMA network are Motorola NSS's SC™4812 base transceivers, the most efficient and economical with regard to footprint and modular growth, and the EMX® 5000 Mobile Switch, the system's open architectural mainstay. The new network provides for the "soft handoff" of calls, a feature that virtually eliminates dropped calls. Soft handoffs help secure the connection of a caller's signal to a new cell before disconnecting the caller from the old cell they are about to leave.

Pele-Phone Communications Ltd., the largest cellular telephone operator in Israel, was established in 1986. The company is jointly owned by Bezeq, Israel's Telecommunications Corporation, and Motorola. Pele-Phone offers customers national coverage with a wide variety of advanced cellular services. Their main offices are in Tel Aviv, with an additional 14 service centers throughout the country to serve customers in their local areas. Pele-Phone has approximately 950 employees, the majority of which are engineers, technicians and customer service personnel.