April 1997

Editor’s Note: As C-block winner Pocket Communications Inc. goes through its bankruptcy restructuring, RCR takes an in-depth look at how Congress, the FCC and Wall Street are addressing PCS auction …

WASHINGTON-Local government officials have lashed out at Federal Communications Commission Chairman Reed Hundt over letters he sent to them questioning antenna siting moratoria they have imposed. “It is extremely disconcerting …

CHICAGO-Aerial Communications Inc. unveiled its new marketing campaign of TV, print, radio and outdoor ads in Columbus, Ohio, the company’s first commercial personal communications services market. Aerial plans to launch …

Comsat Corp. said its offer to repurchase 8.13 percent debentures due April 1, 2004, was concluded April 9. The company repurchased $89.5 million of the $160 million in principal amount …

NEW YORK-Century Telephone Enterprises Inc., a Monroe, La., telecommunications firm, signed a letter of intent to purchase several cellular and personal communications services markets, primarily in the Midwest. The seller …

RIDGEFIELD PARK, N.J.-MobileMedia Corp. said it submitted to its lenders a business plan as required under its debtor-in-possession financing agreement with Chase Manhattan Bank. In separate news, the company’s symbol …

JACKSON, Miss.-SkyTel Corp. said it will introduce SkyWord Plus in the next few weeks, beginning at $25 per month for service and $10 per month to lease a Motorola Inc. …

HERNDON, Va.-Newbridge Networks won a contract to provide its MainStreetXpress 36170 Multiservices Switch for GTE Wireless’ Code Division Multiple Access network in the San Francisco Bay area. The switch provides …

CHICAGO-Wireless Alliance L.L.C., a joint venture of Aerial Communications Inc. and Rural Cellular Corp., won Federal Communications Commission approval to operate in portions of Aerial’s personal communications services spectrum. Aerial …

KIRKLAND, Wash.-Teledesic Corp. said it received approval for its low-earth-orbit satellite project from the Federal Communications Commission. The company plans to launch 840 LEO satellites to offer high-speed access to …

U S West Media Group and AirTouch Communications Inc. have signed a letter of intent that allows AirTouch to gain total ownership of U S West Media Group’s domestic cellular …

CHARLOTTE, N.C.-GTE Wireless selected Glenayre Technologies Inc.’s modular voice processing system for voice mail and enhanced services in GTE’s recently launched personal communications services networks in Cincinnati, Seattle and Spokane, …

RICHARDSON, Texas-Alcatel Telecom said it recently delivered and installed the first 1630 CSX compact digital cross connect for the personal communications services market. The 1630 CSX was installed in PrimeCo …

DENVER-American Digital Communications Inc. said it reached an agreement in principle allowing Intek Diversified Corp. to acquire its 23 constructed 220 MHz sites. American Digital calculated a potential value of …

Qualcomm Inc. signed a royalty bearing license agreement giving Kokusai Electric Co. Ltd. of Japan a patent and technical license to manufacture and sell Code Division Multiple Access subscriber equipment. …

NEW YORK-MCI Communications Corp. and NextWave Telecom Inc. signed a master services agreement under which MCI will provide carrier services and back-office support to NextWave. MCI then will have access …

NEW YORK-Paging, a veteran wireless player, has to go back to the trenches and prove itself anew to the investment community. The “credibility gap” has three components, Sharon Armbrust, senior …

ALASKA-Cellulink Wireless Services has teamed up with the State of Alaska and Phoenix Public Communications to provide cellular pay phones for use by passengers on Alaska’s Marine Highway System ferries. …

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CHICAGO-Ameritech Cellular Services said it recently deployed its Wireless Monitoring Solution to support real-time, on-line automated meter reading for Commonwealth Edison of Illinois. Approximately 1,600 meters have been equipped for …

ObjectSpace Inc. announced the alpha version of its Enhanced Services Platform for advanced messaging services, developed with PageMart Wireless Inc., is complete, and beta tests will begin later this year. …

MONTGOMERYVILLE, Pa.-Gemplus Group joined the PC/SC Workgroup, a group of technology companies formed to develop interoperability standards for smart cards, smart card readers and computers. The standards are designed to …

CHARLOTTE, N.C.-Glenayre Technologies Inc.’s InFLEXion voice paging system began commercial service for the first time with Paging Network Inc.’s launch of VoiceNow service in northern California and Nevada. The narrowband …

IRVINE, Calif.-AST Research Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. of Seoul, South Korea, announced they have signed a definitive merger agreement under which Samsung will acquire all of AST’s outstanding …

GOLDEN, Colo.-Superconducting Core Technologies Inc., together with Raychem Corp., finalized a supply agreement with E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Co. The three-year exclusive agreement gives SCT access to high-temperature superconducting …