DALLAS-PCS PrimeCo L.P. announced it has made the world’s first wireless phone call on a carrier-based personal communications services system using Code Division Multiple Access digital technology at 1900 MHz.
The company said the calls, which were made in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, are technologically significant because the CDMA systems in both cities demonstrated a soft handoff between radio towers.
Nationwide connectivity was demonstrated with wireless calls originating from Dallas and Houston PCS systems to wireline networks in San Francisco and Arlington, Va.
The Dallas calls were completed using three of Motorola’s new SC 4800 base stations and an EMX 2500 switch, PrimeCo said. In Houston, PrimeCo used AT&T Corp.’s PCS CDMA minicells connected to an AT&T 5ESS-2000 switch. Handsets were provided by Qualcomm Inc. and Motorola.
PrimeCo leased antenna space on three cell sites in Mesquite, Texas, from Texas Utilities Co. by using existing high-capacity electric transmission towers. Texas Utilities owns a 20 percent interest in PrimeCo’s Texas business.
PrimeCo, a partnership of AirTouch Communications Inc., Bell Atlantic Corp., Nynex Corp. and U S West Inc., said it plans to offer PCS services to consumers during the second half of next year in 11 U.S. markets and ultimately deliver seamless wireless services nationwide.
