220 MHz operator US MobilComm Inc. said the conversion to digital technology by Nextel Communications Inc. is offering MobilComm a tremendous opportunity to capture customers.
US MobilComm recently rolled out 220 MHz specialized mobile radio service over 50 channels in the Washington, D.C.-Baltimore, Md., market. Initial systems are located in Baltimore, Chester, Silver Spring, Md., Washington and Arlington, Va. The company also operates systems in Boston, Hartford, Conn., New York City, Philadelphia, Miami, Houston, Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis and Sacramento, Calif.
“Nextel currently serves about 1 million users, or about 50 percent of the total SMR universe,” said US MobilComm President David W. Elkin. The majority of Nextel’s users will be moving to the new digital system over the next one to three years, but not everyone will want to go, Elkin said.
“Our service generally costs 50 percent to 75 percent less than Nextel’s and provides the wide area fleet communications that most dispatch users value most,” Elkin said.
US MobilComm uses exclusive agents and established dealers to distribute service. Communications Electronics is the exclusive sales agent for the business in Washington/Baltimore.
“We’ll be able to load every channel we can get our hands on,” said Roger Cassell, president of Communication Electronics. “This market is in a starvation mode for capacity for dispatch.”
Equipment for US MobilComm’s 220 MHz customers is provided by SEA Inc., based in Mountlake, Wash.
“Our customers are making a more studied purchase,” said Elkin of the new 220 MHz equipment. “Our users need to look past the allure of low, up-front equipment cost and introductory, entry level pricing to understand what their communications needs really are, and what the monthly charges of alternative services really will be.”
US MobilComm said its network provides a good platform from which to migrate into enhanced data service. The operator is installing packet based data services for some large potential customers in the northeast. Initial systems will be used primarily for automatic vehicle location, status messaging and free text messaging, Elkin said.
Next year, US MobilComm intends to offer automated dispatch, on-site billing, credit card verification, bar code readers and wireless e-mail, which will be offered to current voice users and others.
The company said it intends to participate in any future auction of 220 MHz spectrum by the Federal Communications Commission.
