AirTouch Cellular Launches Phase II of Powerband Digital Service in Portland.PORTLAND, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 21, 1997--AirTouch Cellular announced today that cellular customers will now experience the superior call clarity and voice quality made possible by Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) A method for transmitting simultaneous signals over a shared portion of the spectrum. The foremost application of CDMA is the digital cellular phone technology from QUALCOMM that operates in the 800 MHz band and 1.9 GHz PCS band. ) technology. This is the second of three phases in which AirTouch is introducing its Powerband Digital Service to consumers. In July, the company launched several digital features including voice mail with notification, paging and Caller ID A telephone company service that sends the caller's telephone number between the first and second ring of the call. If the calling number is not blocked, the calling number is displayed on the handset or base station of the called party. . "With today's launch, Powerband customers will add to that list of services, unsurpassed voice quality, call clarity and virtually nonexistent non·ex·is·tence n. 1. The condition of not existing. 2. Something that does not exist. non background noise," said Joe Dodson, vice president and area general manager for AirTouch Cellular in Oregon and Washington. "In addition to digital voice service, customers will benefit from the ironclad ironclad, mid-19th-century wooden warship protected from gunfire by iron armor. The success of the ironclad when first employed by the French in the Crimean War sparked a naval armor and armaments race between France and Great Britain. security inherent in CDMA technology and five full hours of talk-time on a single battery." Unlike most digital wireless services, Powerband CDMA phones will operate in both the digital and analog modes, giving customers the ability to use their digital cellular phones in 5,500 cities across the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . In order to enjoy the benefits of Powerband Digital Service and features, customers will need to use dual-mode CDMA/analog phones available at 38 locations through nine Portland-area retailers, including Alert Cellular, Arch Paging, Car Toys, Cellular Connection, Smart Wireless and the three AirTouch Cellular retail stores. Powerband is available on four retail consumer calling plans ranging from $27.95 for 75 minutes of airtime to $139.95 for 690 minutes of airtime. All plans include Caller ID, the first incoming minute free, call waiting, call forwarding call forwarding n. A telephone service that enables a customer to have an incoming call automatically rerouted to another extension. Noun 1. and three-way calling Noun 1. three-way calling - a way of adding a third party to your conversation without the assistance of a telephone operator conference call - a telephone call in which more than two people participate , and home rate roaming in Oregon and Washington, free of charge. The Easy 420 and Easy 690 plans also include Powerband Messaging as part of the monthly package. Customers also have the option to add 500 weekend and evening minutes to any Powerband consumer calling plan for an additional $10 per month. Additional Powerband calling plans also are available for small and large businesses. The Powerband phones cost $199, weigh a mere 8.9 ounces and use an easy menu to assist customers in navigating the various functions of the phone. "In the same way that Windows eliminated the need for function keys on PCs, the Powerband menu allows customers to scroll through services and with a push of a button select phone features they want to access," Dodson said. The third and final phase of digital service to be offered will occur prior to the end of the year when custom text messaging will be available. This feature allows customers to receive text messages on the display screen of their cellular phones. AirTouch Cellular is the brand name for U S West NewVector Group Inc. Based in Bellevue, Wash., NewVector has cellular operations in 12 midwestern, western and southwestern states and serves more than 2 million customers. The company is a part of Denver-based U S West Media Group (NYSE NYSE See: New York Stock Exchange :UMG UMG Universal Music Group UMG Universidad Mariano Gálvez de Guatemala (Mariano Galvez University of Guatemala) UMG Upgraded Metallurgical Grade (silicon) UMG Unlicensed Medical Graduate ), which is involved in domestic and international cable and wireless networks, directory publishing and interactive multimedia services. CONTACT: AirTouch Cellular Lisa Bowersock, 425/603-7427 |
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