It appears the next wave of paging is as diverse as its players. While SkyTel Corp. is only a short time away from launching its network, other large players systematically continue researching messaging technologies. Motorola Inc. has penetrated the new two-way market with its ReFLEX and InFLEXion protocols, while AT&T Corp.-which months ago promised to be a fierce technology competitor-still holds its cards close.
MobileMedia PCS Inc. has not yet established which protocol it will choose for its nationwide network.
“The manufacturers are well over-promised on what’s available,” stated Ann Marie Drozd, director of marketing services for MobileMedia. She noted the Richfield, N.J.-based company plans to offer voice services, acknowledgement paging and enhanced text messaging features for its customers.
Benbow PCS Ventures Inc., a partnership between Westlink Paging and California-based companies Cal Autofone and REPCO, won two regional licenses. June Walsh, president of Benbow (and the latter two companies) has not committed to a protocol or to equipment vendors. “The technical piece (protocol) is so fluid right now it’s hard to know where to jump in,” commented Walsh. She said Benbow’s asymmetrical 50/12.5 kHz licenses would benefit from using ReFLEX 25, which corresponds in its asymmetrical transmission speeds.
“Everything’s on track,” commented Scott Baradell, manager of corporate communications for Paging Network Inc., assessing the progress of Motorola’s InFLEXion protocol with PageNet’s VoiceNow product and network development. InFLEXion uses stored digital voice technology and is capable of transmitting data at speeds up to 112,000 bits per second.
Beta testing is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter this year in Dallas, New York City and San Francisco. VoiceNow system trials will begin with employees, said Baradell, and follow with consumers after which service rollout will continue on rapidly.
From the start, PageNet will “offer service on a nationwide basis,” he said, meaning once consumers receive VoiceNow service in their market, that service is accessible in all other markets where commercial operation has begun.
PageMart pushed back its schedule and expects to begin beta testing its VoiceMart product second quarter next year, said Katarina Oppel, PageMart’s manager of public relations, and begin service in the fourth quarter 1996. VoiceMart will use InFLEXion technology as well.
PageMart faces a delay in service launch as a result of a six-month exclusivity agreement between PageNet and Motorola for PageNet’s use of InFLEXion technology.
“We feel they’ll just be paving the road,” remarked Oppel of the waiting period. She also noted the timing of service launch is contingent on Motorola having the technology ready. Oppel expects PageMart to begin beta testing second quarter 1996 and to begin service in the fourth quarter.
SkyTel Corp., the Jackson, Miss.-based paging subsidiary of pioneer’s preference winner Mobile Telecommunication Technologies Corp., plans to launch its SkyTel 2-Way service this year, hoping to be in 300 markets by year-end 1995. SkyTel is using Motorola’s ReFLEX 50 protocol, said Jennifer O’Mahoney, SkyTel’s public relations manager.
Microsoft Corp. is an investor in Mtel and has “worked closely with the company for many months,” O’Mahoney confirmed.’
Ameritech Cellular Services and Motorola’s Advanced Messaging Division signed agreements early last month to perform engineering studies and testing of ReFLEX 25. Motorola said Ameritech agreed to evaluate Motorola’s infrastructure equipment, as well as messaging technology for use on Ameritech’s narrowband PCS network.
In late August, Motorola and PCS Development Corp. said PCSD planned to develop its narrowband network using InFLEXion technology. PCSD won licenses in each of the five regional auction territories.
Plans call for Motorola to build PCSD’s beta system early next year in a major metropolitan area and PCSD intends to begin narrowband PCS service mid-1996, with voice services expected commercially operational in 1997, said Greenville, S.C.-based PCSD.
