Editor’s Note: RCR Wireless News goes all in for “Throwback Thursdays,” tapping into our archives to resuscitate the top headlines from the past. Fire up the time machine, put on the sepia-tinted shades, set the date for #TBT and enjoy the memories!
There were 20 million mobile subscribers in the entire U.S.
WASHINGTON-The number of people who use cellular telephones in the United States is nearing the 20 million mark, with more than 17,000 new cellular customers added daily. In its semi-annual survey of industry growth, the Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association said the number of subscribers in the first six months of 1994 grew by 3.3 million, its largest half-year increase ever. For the 12-month period from July 1993 to June 1994, the industry reported six million more subscribers, a 48 percent increase from the previous year. “Growth in the wireless telecommunications industry has been astounding,” said CTIA President Thomas Wheeler, noting that two out of every three new phone numbers go to wireless customers. “Wireless telecommunications enable people to communicate where and when they want. Increasingly, they also play an important role as a weapon against crime, saving lives and promoting public safety,” Wheeler continued. “Last year, more than a half million cellular phone calls per month were made to 911 and other emergency telephone numbers.” … Read more
Even back then, L.A. was a big market
LOS ANGELES-Unpredicted demand for wireless telephone numbers in the Los Angeles area has forced Pacific Bell to introduce an overlay area code. In September 1995, new cellular and paging customers in the 310 area code will be given area code 562. Pacific Bell said it hopes that existing wireless customers won’t have to change from 310 to 562. … The move will increase the incidence of 10-digit dialing for all customers, but that already is common in Southern California and expected to become even more prevalent, Bonniksen noted. Area codes contain about 8 million numbers. Area code 310 has only about 2 million numbers available. The company’s original forecasts of demand have been quickly outstripped by reality. Six years ago, wireless only accounted for about 12 percent of newly assigned telephone numbers in the Los Angeles area. Now, about 64 percent of new numbers are for cellular and paging customers-twice as many as predicted, the company states … Read more
In the days before Google and the Internet on your phone
BEDMINISTER, N.J.-Bell Atlantic Mobile customers traveling in the southwest can now dial 411 and reach Bell Atlantic’s new InfoAssist service, which provides regular directory assistance and more. InfoAssist offers a live operator who will do category searches for local events, movie theater schedules, hotels, sports teams and game locations, the nearest restaurants, towing service or other items. The operator connects the calls. Cost is an additional 75 cents. Bell Atlantic Mobile hopes to begin the service in its Washington/Baltimore market by the end of the year, and in northern New Jersey and Pittsburgh next year … Read more
Still, the problem of spectrum clearing is timeless
Death, taxes, and for potential PCS licensees, microwave relocation are issues no one wants to face. Yet, like the first two, the consequences of ignoring the issue could be devastating. Following the Federal Communications Commission auctions, winning bidders could find themselves having paid tens or hundreds of millions of dollars for access to spectrum they cannot use, potentially for up to five years. Those who are unprepared may discover they not only must pay millions more to clear the spectrum, but their hopes for early entry into the marketplace are replaced by the frustrations of protracted negotiations over the terms of the microwave relocations. As a percentage of the cost of building a new personal communications services system, the costs of relocating microwave systems may seem insignificant, even though estimates vary anywhere from $50,000 to more than $1 million per link, depending on the engineering and hardware costs and the level of incumbent cooperation during the relocation process. Perhaps more important, however, is that negotiations may require years, and the FCC has never concretely defined “comparable system,” a term that will eventually determine the system that a PCS licensee must provide to the incumbent … Read more
The car of the future!
A Boulder, Colo.-based company has teamed up with several North American cellular operators to develop standards that could lead to the development of so-called intelligent vehicle products. CellPort Labs Inc. plans to create, develop and license technology and products to expand wireless voice and data capabilities within vehicles, as well as in offices and homes. The company is working with GTE Mobilnet, Contel Cellular, Ameritech Cellular Services, AirTouch Cellular and Toronto-based Bell Mobility Cellular to devise common interfaces for applications for the car of the future. While many people use portable cellular phones in their vehicles, the car kits made by manufacturers that allow handsets to be used with the higher-power, car-mounted transceivers, are not compatible, according to CellPort. This can create problems when multiple cellular users share a car, or if a customer upgrades to a newer phone. In that case, the original car kit must be removed and replaced with one compatible with the new phone, or more than one car kit must be installed in the vehicle. CellPort, along with the five cellular operators, is working to develop a standard interface that will let handsets from multiple manufacturers be used with one transceiver. Not only does a common handset port make the kits more appealing to customers, it also opens the door for automobile manufacturers to put them in cars at the factory, and for car rental companies to use them to attract customers … Read more
A little bit of WIA (formerly PCIA) history
WASHINGTON-Jay Kitchen will head the new wireless trade group created by the anticipated merger of the National Association of Business and Educational Radio and the Personal Communications Industry Association. The boards of both associations are expected to approve the proposed merger this month. While Kitchen, president of NABER, would be president of the merged entity-to be named the Personal Communications Industry Association-the associations said acting PCIA President Mark Golden “would hold a key management role” in the new organization. Also, the incoming chairman of the PCIA board will assume the chairmanship of the wireless trade association. “We have agreed on proposals for a combined membership and governance which we believe will ensure the most effective representation of the interests of all wireless communications providers,” said John Schaaf, current PCIA chairman and chief executive officer of American Paging Inc. … Read more
Check out the RCR Wireless News’ Archives for more stories from the past.
