FORT WORTH, Texas-Motorola Inc.’s Advanced Messaging Group and Radiomensaje, an Argentina-based national and regional paging service provider, signed an agreement to expand Radiomensaje’s FLEX protocol-based infrastructure network.
The new channel will be launched this month in Argentina, Motorola said.
“The current Argentina paging subscriber base is approximately 130,000, which represents less than 1 percent penetration,” said Ariel Schapira, Radiomensaje’s general manager.
Inmarsat intros small satphones
LONDON-The International Mobile Satellite Organization is introducing a new family of small mobile satellite phones.
The portable satphone model is about the size of a laptop computer and weighs as little as two kilograms including battery.
Models start from about $3,000. All-inclusive call charges start from about $3 per minute to any destination worldwide, Inmarsat said.
The Inmarsat-phone provides voice, fax and 2.4 kilobits per second data communications.
It supports smart cards, and in the future, the phones will offer short message service and voice mail, Inmarsat said. The newest Inmarsat-phone voice services are the result of the September launch of Inmarsat’s second new satellite.
Bell Mobility buys INgage equipment
PHOENIX-Toronto-based Bell Mobility will purchase AG Communication Systems’ INgage Authorization and Call Routing Equipment to support its cellular cordless service Converto.
Bell Mobility’s Converto functions as a cordless phone within range of a personal base station and switches to a cellular system when out of range. The network initially will serve up to 25,000 Bell Mobility subscribers.
Russian operator chooses Ericsson to expand network
STOCKHOLM-Ericsson Radio Systems AB has won a contract from VimpelCom in Russia to expand the Digital Advanced Mobile Phone Service/AMPS network.
Ericsson said the $36 million contract will expand coverage to some nearby Moscow suburbs.
Initial equipment delivery is scheduled for December. By July, VimpelCom will have the ability to serve up to 120,000 subscribers, Ericsson said.
D-AMPS is a form of Time Division Multiple Access technology.
