Cellcom Israel completed a trial using Nortel Networks’ multi-beam antenna and array processing technology aimed at reducing the per-subscriber cost of mobile radio access infrastructure by increasing base station capacity. The carrier, which operates a TDMA IS-136 network from Nortel, conducted the trial in the city of Haifa, a dense urban environment with difficult radiowave propagation conditions, said Nortel. “This technology will allow us to service more customers with roughly the same amount of base stations that we have in our network today,” said Tzvi Shechori, director-radio engineering for Cellcom. “Since the real estate accounts for some 50 percent of the cost of our radio sites, this development should improve our competitiveness and allow us to provide superior service.”
Cellular phone operator Tele2000 in Peru is trying out a new payment option for its subscribers in partnership with Western Union. To combat nonpayment and loss of revenues for wireless companies, Tele2000 is offering a payment option called Quick Pay, which allows an instant payment capability for subscribers without bank accounts and who normally would have to get a bank wire or money order to pay their monthly bill, according to Western Union. With Quick Pay, a customer takes cash to a Western Union agent to make the payment; Western Union tacks on a fixed fee for the transfer. A payment confirmation is printed out at the Tele2000 office within 15 minutes, and the funds are direct-deposited into the carrier’s bank account the next day.
Motorola Inc. and BMW North America Inc. introduced in the United States the BMW Mayday cellular phone, which merges wireless communications and global-positioning satellite technologies to offer drivers 24-hour roadside assistance, emergency response, stolen vehicle notification and remote door unlocking via the BMW Response Center. The new telematics system was scheduled to be introduced as an add-on feature for all BMW models in late 1998 in the United States. The system already is available for some cars in Europe, including Renault models, according to a Motorola spokeswoman. At Global Wireless press time, Motorola also announced a telematics system called TeleAid that will be built into all 2000 model Mercedes-Benz S-class sedans in North America.
