MCI Communications Corp. kicked off networkMCI Interactive Paging two-way service, using the AccessLink pager by Wireless Access Inc. and SkyTel Corp.’s ReFLEX 50 network.
The complete service, with reply capability that ensures message delivery, is available in 16 markets. However, networkMCI Interactive Paging service is accessible through much of the nation, said MCI spokesman Paul Adams.
The service operates in the 900 MHz range of frequency designated for narrowband personal communications services. MCI purchases bulk network airtime from SkyTel’s parent, Mobile Telecommunication Technologies Corp.
Billing and customer service are handled by MCI.
“Mtel also is a major customer of ours,” noted Adams. “There’s a lot of commonality between our networks. They use all our toll-free services and some of our private line services,” he added. “Our situation with them is further along than a lot of their other arrangements for resale. Other companies are selling SkyTel-branded service.”
The two-way service is being marketed to mid- to large-sized businesses only, said Barry Zipp, director of personal business services, in MCI’s business sales and services division. Customers who use other networkMCI One voice and data services will benefit in price and receive a single bill for all networkMCI One services.
The MCI two-way service is priced at $35 per month including 6,000 free characters for reply messages. Billing per character is comparable to per-second billing of voice services, said Adams. Most other two-way services bill per message. Companies can qualify for up to a 24 percent discount in pricing by purchasing the new two-way service in bulk.
Through July 7, MCI will allow customers to exceed the 6,000 characters for free. Subsequently, each character after the allotted amount will cost a penny. Voice mail costs $7 per month and a personal toll-free number costs $4 per month. The AccessLink unit can be leased for $15 per month or purchased for $400.
Messages sent to networkMCI Interactive Paging customers can be composed via a toll-free dispatch center, an Internet-based e-mail system or networkMCI Paging PC-based software. The maximum message size is 500 characters. Users can reply via AccessLink’s virtual keyboard and initiate messages to other networkMCI customers the same way.
AccessLink allows users to send and receive e-mail and also functions as an organizer. The unit stores up to 450 messages and address book entries.
MCI’s two-way service, with ensured reply capability, is available in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas/Fort Worth, Detroit, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, San Francisco, St. Louis and Washington, D.C./Baltimore.
MCI also resells SkyTel one-way paging services.
