Winter Olympian Elvis Stojko, the Canadian silver medalist in the men’s figure-skating event, is one of dozens of North Americans using GTE Telecommunications Services Inc.’s GlobalRoam technology in Nagano, Japan.
GTE TSI last month completed two-way functionality of its GlobalRoam service between North America and Japan in time for the Winter Olympics. Until then, the service only was available to Japanese cellular customers traveling to North America. NTT DoCoMo has the agreement with GTE TSI and is serving North American users.
North American users in Nagano must use Personal Digital Communications handsets, but they retain the phone number they use in North America. GTE TSI’s international gateway translates Interim Standard-41 messages into the PDC language, allowing the North American cellular carrier to bill the customer. Stojko and his entourage are using handsets supplied by Rent Express and service from BCE Mobile Communications Inc.-the carrier in Ontario and Quebec, Canada-which recently signed an agreement with GTE TSI. BCE Mobile is a sponsor of the Canadian Olympic Association.
“It makes roaming almost like domestic roaming,” said Wendy Zoe, product manager with GTE TSI. “All the GlobalRoam calls made in Japan are consolidated into home billing.”
“GlobalRoam service is not only a technological breakthrough, but enhanced communication technology between the United States and Japan represents a significant business enhancement for executives involved in Asian commerce,” said Paul Wilcock, GTE TSI assistant vice president of marketing.
For GlobalRoam, GTE TSI activates the mechanism that enables call delivery, validation and international call origination across international borders. The company maintains a database containing GlobalRoam subscriber information, provides clearing services and, if a carrier chooses, will handle all customer service.
GlobalRoam service has been offered since 1995 by GTE Wireless and T-Mobil, Deutsche Telekom AG’s wireless phone subsidiary. Zoe said BCE Mobile and other smaller North American carriers have signed agreements with GTE TSI as well. NTT has inter-standard roaming agreements with these carriers, representing doors into North America, Europe and other regions of the world. Through GTE Wireless, T-Mobil and their respective roaming partners, wireless operators in nearly 50 countries currently support GlobalRoam.
