BUSINESS BRIEFS

Teligent Inc. selected Architel Systems Corp.’s Automatic Service Activation Program to provide service activation and network configuration of its voice and data services, Architel said. The Vienna, Va.-based telecommunications company also engaged Architel to provide professional services related with the ASAP installation and integration.

AirTouch Communications Inc. and Cellular Technical Services Co. Inc. plan to expand AirTouch Cellular’s deployment of the Blackbird Platform and PreTect cellular cloning fraud prevention system into the Sacramento market, the companies said. AirTouch already uses the Blackbird system in other markets, including Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles and San Diego. “AirTouch has experienced about a 75 (percent) to 95 percent drop in home cloning in markets where Blackbird radio-frequency fingerprinting has been established,” said Jim Arnaout, managing director of fraud prevention for AirTouch Cellular.

L.M. Ericsson announced it estimates the number of cellular subscribers worldwide to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 27 percent, reaching 830 million by the end of 2003. At the end of 1997, there were nearly 207 million cellular subscribers, an increase of more than 70 million during last year alone, according to Ericsson.

The company’s new forecast expects the number to be close to 605 million by the end of 2001, 15 million more than it predicted in its February 1997 forecast. Ericsson expects Western Europe to exceed North America in its number of cellular subscribers during 1998, and expects the Asia-Pacific region to exceed Western Europe in 2002.

Brightpoint Inc. said it has completed its previously announced acquisition of the wireless accessories business of Wireless Stockroom, which is located in Corte Madera, Calif.

Motorola Inc. and ConSyGen Inc. signed an agreement allowing any of Motorola’s units or subsidiaries, which are in various stages of year-2000 compliance, to award year-2000 conversion contracts directly to ConSyGen and receive corporate pricing and other terms agreed upon by the companies.

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