ATLANTA-BellSouth Corp. announced it has completed the acquisition of RAM Broadcasting Corp., and in doing so has assumed full operational control of Woodbridge, N.J.-based RAM Mobile Data USA Ltd., which it renamed BellSouth Wireless Data.
BellSouth Wireless Data will fall under control of BellSouth’s subsidiary, BellSouth Mobile Data.
“The name change to BellSouth Wireless Data reflects our strategy to provide leading-edge wireless data communications solutions that are backed by the strength of the BellSouth brand name,” said Michael Harrell, president of BellSouth Mobile Data. “The company will benefit immediately from the name change because the brand brings wide recognition throughout markets across the country.”
William Lenahan will be president and chief executive officer of the renamed company. “Our strategy is to provide coverage that is comparable with one-way local paging coverage nationwide,” he said. “BellSouth Wireless Data will finish its nationwide deployment of new technology by April 30 and will add more than 500 base stations in 1998.”
BellSouth first announced its intention to acquire RAM Broadcasting, its partner in RAM Mobile Data, last fall. The Federal Communications Commission approved the deal in December. Under the terms of the agreement, BellSouth also acquired ownership of RAM’s United Kingdom-based wireless data operation.
The BellSouth Wireless Data network covers more than 93 percent of the urban business population of the country, in 266 cities.
