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

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 17, 1995--Continuing its nationwide paging expansion, AirTouch Communications (NYSE: ATI) today announced that it has agreed to acquire the assets of Message Center Beepers, a privately-held paging company with over 280,000 customers primarily in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

Financial terms were not disclosed. When the acquisition is complete, AirTouch Paging will have over two million units in service in 25 states.

"This acquisition is an excellent fit for us," said Charlie Jackson, president and chief executive officer of AirTouch Paging. "Message Center's strong presence in the northeastern United States will help us fill out our national footprint and continue expanding our customer base. This move will allow us to achieve the scale and national scope we need to maintain our leadership position in this fast-growing industry."

Eric Zachs, president and chief operating officer, Message Center Beepers, commented, "This is a logical acquisition for AirTouch. Message Center Beepers currently has over 700 transmitters in service nationwide, and we've more than doubled our customer base over the past two years. In the past year alone, we've added 100,000 paging units."

The acquisition marks the culmination of 35 years of industry growth for Message Center Beepers. "We are very pleased that such a highly regarded and growth-oriented company will be continuing in our place and bringing our customers the latest wireless services into the next century," added Zachs.

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. By acquiring Message Center Beepers, AirTouch can gain a foothold in the region more rapidly and begin establishing its presence before it starts offering two-way services. "Through this acquisition, we can enter a strategically important part of the country quickly and cost-effectively, allowing us to serve our national customers better," added Todd Parker, vice president of marketing for AirTouch Paging.

Message Center Beepers is AirTouch's first major paging acquisition. In the past, AirTouch has enjoyed high levels of growth by aggressively expanding its existing paging operations and starting up new markets. In July, the company announced start-up operations in Baltimore/Washington, D.C. and several other mid-Atlantic cities, and in January AirTouch began service in Denver, Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus, Ohio.

In the second quarter of 1995, AirTouch Paging experienced its best quarterly growth ever, adding 128,000 units in service. During 1994, the company added 358,000 units -- a 31 percent increase over the prior year.

The acquisition, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 1996.

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 11 other nations: Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, and Thailand. The company, which is based in San Francisco, serves over 4.2 million customers worldwide.

CONTACT: AirTouch Communications

Susan Rosenberg, 510/210-3910

or

O'Neal & Prelle

Carolyn Waesche, 203/527-3233