SecurFone America Inc., a company specializing in prepaid communications, said it plans a major market expansion of its Buy-the-Minute prepaid cellular handset solution. Bill Stueber, president and chief executive officer of SecurFone, said the company during the next 45 days plans to add markets including Los Angeles, Dallas, Denver, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Memphis and Nashville, Tenn.
Wireless 911 legislation that was scheduled to be reviewed by the California Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities and Communications was not heard because the committee meeting was canceled. Assembly Bill 909, authored by Helen Thomson and George Runner, would establish a coordinated, selective routing process to allow wireless 911 calls to go directly to the appropriate state or local agency. The bill also would facilitate the rapid deployment of technologies that will enhance wireless 911 service. The California Highway Patrol last year received all 3 million wireless 911 calls throughout the state. Many of those calls were put on hold or delayed.
Cellular One’s Washington, D.C./Baltimore market, which is operated by SBC Communications Inc., showed a reduction in fraud on its network between February 1997 and May 1998, said the company. Cellular One attributed the reduction to technological advancements including radio-frequency fingerprinting, authentication and other early fraud detection measures.
Personal communications services provider PrimeCo Personal Communications L.P. unveiled a new strategy for site acquisition and tower placement. The company said the new two-part strategy includes offering about 1,000 wireless towers for potential collocation with other wireless and paging companies and emergency service providers. PrimeCo also plans to sign build-to-suit agreements with third-party vendors for new towers on which it would be the anchor tenant.
Spyglass Inc. and Unwired Planet Inc. joined Lucent Technologies Inc.’s alliance program, called “Cooperative Innovations,” which aims to offer wireless carriers a variety of applications for their networks. The two new alliance members provide Internet-based information services, said Lucent.
