April 1997

NEW YORK-In a most serious transaction notwithstanding its April 1 announcement date, SBC Communications Inc. became the proud parent of Pacific Telesis Group in a $16.5 billion merger said to …

Competition began in earnest last week in Singapore when the nation’s second operator launched service. To try to ensure even more competition, the government announced it expects to call for …

NEW YORK-“Why pay for cellular phone service if you only want it for emergency use?” That’s the advertising slogan and the business concept for SOS Wireless Communications Inc., an Irvine, …

Marketing may be everything. The technical properties of cellular and personal communications services-some similar, some different-balance out when vying for customers. How carriers decide to exploit technical advantages to win …

WASHINGTON-Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) has drafted spectrum auction legislation designed to rein in what has become a high-stakes wireless licensing process driven increasingly by budget forces, possibly …

PHILADELPHIA-Sprint Spectrum L.P. launched service in Philadelphia on April 3, now the 20th market in which the carrier offers service. The Philadelphia major trading area license actually is held by …

Bell Atlantic Nynex Mobile began integrating DSC Communications Corp.’s INfusion Signal Transfer Point W/2 into its cellular network. The INfusion STP W/2 provides packet switching of Signaling System 7 signaling …

NEW YORK-Start-up players in personal communications services are at an awkward and critical juncture where riding the accelerator is necessary to roll out service and riding the brake is required …

WASHINGTON-The Federal Communications Commission would be phased out over five years and spectrum management given over to a board with limited powers, under a new balanced budget proposal by a …

A Dallas-based company has focused its efforts on assisting smaller wireless providers by offering a combination of products and services to help them survive in the increasingly competitive wireless arena. …

CHARLOTTE, N.C.-Glenayre Technologies Inc. formed a dedicated Speech Recognition team as part of its roll out of speech recognition products for its Modular Voice Processing system. The team will work …

MONTVALE, N.J.-Geotek Communications Inc. said it plans to launch its Frequency Hopping Multiple Access network in the Tampa, Fla., market on April 30. Tampa will be Geotek’s ninth major metropolitan …

ALEXANDRIA, Va.-The Personal Communications Industry Association is holding a conference April 28 and 29 in Washington to address the strategic, financial and operational effects of the Federal Communications Commission’s Partitioning …

ENGLAND-Orange plc said it had 894,000 subscribers on its wireless network at the end of March, representing an increase of 109,000 during the first quarter. The company’s churn rate for …

CEDAR KNOLLS, N.J.-Omnipoint Communications Inc. will begin providing travel information to its customers, according to a contract with Official Airline Guide, a division of Reed Travel Group. Users that subscribe …

RCR inadvertantly ran an incorrect photograph on the front page of the March 31 issue. The person pictured was John Scanlan, executive vice president of Eatel. Jack Scanlon of Motorola …

SCHAUMBURG, Ill.-Cellular One of Chicago, operated by Southwestern Bell Mobile Systems, launched emergency 911 service for cellular phone users allowing callers to reach emergency assistance directly from the City of …

Avic Group International Inc. said it has formed a joint venture partnership with the Hebei Provincial Government in China to develop telecommunications projects in the province of Hebei. The joint …

MILAN, Italy-Olivetti Group and France Telecom Group approved terms of a joint venture agreement whereby France Telecom will gain an equity stake in Infostrada, which currently is owned 67 percent …

CHANDLER, Ariz.-IsoQuantic Technologies L.L.C. signed a product licensing agreement with an undisclosed telecommunications systems supplier to develop mobile switching center and base station controller software for mobile satellite communications. Under …

NEW YORK-International Telecommunication Data Systems, which provides billing and information management services to wireless, satellite and wireline telecommunications companies, plans an add-on stock sale of 2.1 million shares. ITDS, based …

MURRAY HILL, N.J.-Lucent Technologies Inc. said it expects to report a net income between $55 million and $65 million, or 9 cents to 10 cents per share, for its second …

Contactless smart cards are becoming hot business. Motorola Inc. announced last month its plans to be a leader in the business of contactless smart cards. Meanwhile, the France-based Gemplus Group …

Cellemetry Data Service has signed eight new contracts since it was launched almost a year ago, and now provides total coverage to 125 million pops in North America. The service …

NEW CANAAN, Conn.-Century Communications Corp. is redeeming the entire principal amount outstanding for its $204 million 11.88 percent senior subordinated debentures maturing 2003. Bank of Montreal Trust Co. is acting …