Geotek Communications Inc. announced an 85 percent increase in subscribers during the third quarter, to almost 10,000. The company pointed to improvements in its 12 regional networks-consisting of 60 cities and counties-as well as coverage improvement and enhanced sales and marketing efforts. Geotek said it doubled its field organization, created regional account teams to serve larger customers and created alliances with award-winning software application developers.
Clearnet Communications Inc. formed a roaming agreement with Sprint Spectrum L.P., which will allow Clearnet PCS’ personal communications services customers to roam on the Sprint PCS network in the United States. Like Sprint, Clearnet’s network is being built using Code Division Multiple Access technology. Clearnet said the agreement with Sprint, combined with other roaming agreements, will allow its customers to roam throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Roaming will be available to Clearnet customers early next year, said the company.
General Magic Inc. signed a multiyear, exclusive licensing agreement with AcuVoice Inc., which developed a human-sounding, text-to-speech synthesizer. General Magic said it will use the technology in its upcoming network service. “We believe that with this exclusive license, our forthcoming network service will have tremendous advantages over any other service offering text-to-speech integration,” said Steve Markman, chairman, president and chief executive officer of General Magic. The network service, code named “Serengeti,” is scheduled to be launched by the middle of next year, said General Magic. Serengeti is a communications and information service that acts as a virtual executive assistant for mobile professionals by integrating voice mail, e-mail, faxes, address book and calendar.
Northern Telecom Ltd.’s board of directors announced a dividend on the company’s cumulative redeemable class A preferred shares series 4, amounting to $1,323 (Canadian dollars) per share. It will be payable Oct. 15 to all shareholders of record Oct. 14.
International Telecommunication Data Systems announced that Sygnet Communications extended a contract with it to last into 2000. The contract is for service bureau billing services that use the ITDS 10X integrated billing and customer management system. Canfield, Ohio-based Sygnet is a cellular carrier with nine markets in Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York under the CellularOne and Wilcom Cellular brands. International Telecommunication Data Systems provides transactional billing and management information solutions to wireless, long-distance and satellite telecom providers.
