AirTouch Acquires Message Center Beepers Paging Assets; Company Expands into Northeast to Build Nationwide Presence.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 19, 1995--Establishing a strong foothold in the northeast, AirTouch Communications (NYSE:ATI) has acquired the assets of Message Center Beepers, a privately-held paging company with over 345,000 customers primarily in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

This is AirTouch Paging's first major acquisition. Financial terms were not disclosed. AirTouch is one of the nation's largest paging companies, with over 2.2 million units in service in the District of Columbia and 26 states after the acquisition.

AirTouch announced its plan to acquire the Message Center assets in August, subject to regulatory approvals.

"Through this acquisition, we've added over 345,000 customers in a strategically important part of the country," said Charlie Jackson, president and chief executive officer of AirTouch Paging. "By acquiring the Message Center properties, we can serve our national customers better, while achieving the scale and scope we need to succeed in this fast-growing industry."

"Expanding our national footprint through this acquisition will allow us to cover more retail store fronts on the east coast, a key element of our distribution strategy," said Todd Parker, AirTouch Paging vice president of marketing and business development. "We're confident that the Message Center team will help us continue providing superior service and building our customer base in the retail channels."

Last year AirTouch Paging successfully bid for nationwide and regional narrowband PCS licenses that will enable it to provide enhanced two-way paging services in the northeast. Through this acquisition, AirTouch gains a foothold in the region more rapidly to begin establishing its presence before it starts offering two-way services.

"After 35 years in business, Message Center Beepers has become one of the largest privately-held paging carriers in the country, growing more than 60 percent in 1995 alone," explained Eric Zachs, the company's former president and chief operating officer. "We know our customers will be very pleased with the quality and range of innovative services offered by AirTouch Paging."

Over the years, AirTouch Paging has successfully expanded into new markets, increasing its customer base while maintaining its profitability. In 1995, the company has started operations in Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Denver, El Paso, Indianapolis, and the Washington D.C/Baltimore area. For the first nine months of 1995, AirTouch Paging's operating income was $23 million, and the company added 350,000 units in service.

AirTouch Paging, based in Dallas, Texas, is a subsidiary of AirTouch Communications. AirTouch Communications is a global wireless communications company, with interests in cellular, paging, personal communications services, the Globalstar satellite system, and other operations in the United States and 12 other nations: Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Sweden and Thailand. The company, based in San Francisco, serves over 4.5 million customers worldwide.

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CONTACT: AirTouch Communications

Susan Rosenberg, 510/210-3910