President Bill Clinton signed into law late last month the federal Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act of 1998, which authorizes prison terms of up to three years and fines of up to $250,000 for such crimes. “The new … law will make it easier for the American justice system to find and punish those criminals who steal other people’s names and identification information in order to reap financial gain,” said Steve Berry, senior vice president for Congressional affairs for the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association, Washington, D.C.
Omnipoint Communications Inc. launched personal communications services in the Great Lakes region, including Detroit, Lansing, Grand Rapids and Flint, Mich.; and Toledo, Ohio. The Global System for Mobile communications carrier plans to open retail stores in Novi, Grand Rapids and St. Clair.
Telesystem International Wireless Inc. said its wholly owned subsidiary, Dolphin Telecom plc, has closed a $355 million senior bank financing to deploy its enhanced specialized mobile radio network in the United Kingdom. The financing is part of a previously announced borrowing capacity of more than $400 million to build out networks in the United Kingdom and France and comes from a syndicate of banks and financial institutions led by Chase Manhattan plc and CIBC Wood Gundy plc. The facility, in conjunction with the proceeds from the issue of senior discount notes in May, will enable Dolphin to fully fund the buildout of its network in the United Kingdom.
Cell-Loc Inc. said it received its first order for its Cellocate System from an undisclosed major North American wireless carrier. The $500,000 order came in the form of a letter of intent with signing of a contract to follow, said the company. The Cellocate System is a wireless location technology.
