CINCINNATI-GTE Mobilnet Inc. initiated the first call on its personal communications services network to Cincinnati Mayor Roxanne Qualls in her office at Cincinnati City Hall.
The inaugural call represented the first use of Code Division Multiple Access technology in the Cincinnati market, said GTE. The company’s PCS network is almost completed and will provide service in greater Cincinnati and northern Kentucky.
GTE said it also is building PCS networks in the Seattle and Spokane, Wash., markets with plans to launch commercial service in all markets early next year.
GTE purchased its Spokane market from Poka Lambro Telephone Cooperative Inc. in January and sold its Denver and Atlanta market to Western Wireless Corp. and InterCel Inc. earlier this year.
“The greater Cincinnati and northern Kentucky area will be one of the first markets in the country to benefit from some of the most advanced wireless communications available,” said Kevin Thigpen, GTE Wireless general manager for those markets. “We have a great opportunity to launch some new communications choices to local residents.”
Phones are provided by joint venture between Qualcomm Inc. and Sony Corp.