UWCC Takes Position on Intellectual Property Rights Issues.

BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 19, 1999-- The Universal Wireless Communication Consortium (UWCC) and other chief proponents of UWC-136 are addressing the issues surrounding Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) disclosures related to certain family members of IMT-2000.

As supporters of multiple standards, the UWCC Board of Governors feels that it is possible to proceed with IMT-2000 work without having the IPR issues settled at this time. The UWCC will hold this position as long as the International Telecommunications Union (ITU)'s targeted final completion date is not jeopardized.

Paul S. Meche, Chairman of the UWCC Global TDMA Forum (GTF), reports that to formalize the Board of Governors' position, GTF has adopted the following position on the IPR problems facing ITU: "CDMA IPR problems cannot be allowed to impact UWC-136 or IMT-2000 schedules nor the publication of ITU IMT-2000 Recommendations." UWCC has also represented this same position to the Telecommunications Industry Association.

"We understand that the ITU is in a difficult position and we hope that our flexible position on the IPR issue will help ITU address this difficult topic so that a `Family of RF interfaces' can be standardized for IMT-2000," said Meche.

UWCC to Hold Press Conference at CTIA Wireless '99 in New Orleans 

UWCC will issue an update on TDMA and its progress at a press conference to be held on Monday, February 8, 1999, at 2:30 am in Room 252 of the Ernest N. Morial Conference Center in New Orleans, LA. To RSVP, please contact Kerri Keil of pr.com(tm) at 425/739-2030 or email [e-mail].

UWCC Hosts Global Summit April 19-21

The Universal Wireless Communications Consortium (UWCC) will host its third annual Global Summit on April 19-21, 1999. Carriers and vendors supporting TDMA and the Wireless Intelligent Network (WIN) will meet in Miami, Florida, at the Sheraton Bal Harbour. For more information, and to register for the event, please visit the UWCC Web site at www.uwcc.org or call UWCC at 425/372-8922.

"The conference brings together the key players in wireless technology and business to address issues and opportunities around global TDMA convergence between TDMA-based technologies, including GSM, TDMA 136, and PDC," said Gregory G. Williams, vice president-wireless systems with SBC Communications, Inc. and Chairman of the UWCC.

"Sessions will give insight into convergence between second and third generation evolutions, as well as ways that different global TDMA standards can stimulate convergence in different industry sectors, such as voice, data, and internet," said Chris Pearson, VP of marketing for UWCC.

Williams Unanimously Re-elected Chairman of UWCC

In a unanimous vote, Gregory G. Williams was re-elected chairman of the board of directors of UWCC.

"Greg Williams' leadership of UWCC in 1998 was oustanding, and critical to the growth of TDMA in the market," said Leo Nikkari, VP of Strategy and Programs for UWCC.

"I offer my thanks to all members of the UWCC for supporting my efforts to maintain the strong momentum of TDMA," said Williams. "I look forward to continuing these efforts."

Ericsson Signs Major TDMA Contract with CTC Startel in Chile

Ericsson has signed a contract with CTC-Startel, Chile's largest wireless network operator, for expansions of their TDMA (IS-136) network. The contract, valued at US$35.5 million is CTC-Startel's fifth expansion order in the past 12 months for a total value of US$114.2 million.

The contract is for the expansion of both capacity and coverage of the network and is in response to the rapid subscriber growth experienced during 1998, doubling the number of subscribers to over 500,000. With the introduction this quarter of Calling Party Pays legislation in Chile the high subscriber growth is expected to continue. After the elimination of the double tariffing system, requiring both the receivers and callers to pay, other countries have experienced a very rapid subscriber growth and increased phone usage.

The order includes the latest Ericsson dual-mode (analog/digital) RBS 884 radio base stations. The order also includes two new high-capacity Ericsson MSC 2000 mobile switching centers, which are based on the new generation AXE 10 hardware platform. CTC-Startel became the world's first operator to implement this new type of MSC in 1998.

Nortel Networks To Accelerate Streamlining of Business Processes

Nortel Networks announced the acceleration of its operations strategy designed to better meet the rapidly changing needs and values of its customers worldwide. The strategy will simplify and streamline Nortel Networks' businesses and operations processes, including the company's order-entry and fulfillment, delivery, service and manufacturing systems over the next three years.

A key element of the company's strategy is the transition from vertical integration -- making and assembling most of its products and systems -- to virtual integration, acting as a systems house linking customers, design centers, internal production centers, contract manufacturers and other resources. This transition better aligns Nortel Networks to focus on customers' changing requirements for software technology and higher value added integrated systems and networks -- Unified Networks.

"This strategy will enable Nortel Networks to create an operational framework to be faster and more agile in responding to customer, technology and marketplace growth opportunities," said John Roth, vice chairman and chief executive officer, Nortel Networks. "We'll be unparalleled in our ability to assemble and deliver Unified Network solutions to our customers in record time."

Ericsson to Digitize Sri Lanka Network with TDMA

Ericsson has signed a contract with operator Mobitel, a consortium owned 60% by Australia-based Telstra and 40% by Sri Lanka Telecom, to digitize the nationwide AMPS wireless network in Sri Lanka. The upgrade contract is valued at USD 20 million. Currently there are 60,000 subscribers in Mobitel's AMPS network who will be migrated to the digital network during the first quarter of 1999.

The selection of the TDMA (IS-136) technology was based on the smooth and cost-effective digital migration capability; the versatility of the network for customization of services and the future-proof platform that TDMA provides for third-generation wireless services.

Lucent Technologies and SignalSoft Corporation to Offer Wireless

Location Services

Lucent Technologies and SignalSoft Corporation announced an agreement to integrate SignalSoft's suite of Wireless Location Services(tm) with Lucent's Wireless Intelligent Network (WIN) platform. SignalSoft's software products will broaden the range of WIN services in Lucent's platform, ultimately allowing carriers to streamline operations, while offering enhanced user services and maximizing the revenue potential of their wireless networks.

"Strategic arrangements with leading-edge companies like SignalSoft enable Lucent to fulfill our customers' increasingly diverse requirements for end-to-end WIN solutions," said Curtis Holmes, intelligent network vice president for Lucent's Communications Software Group. "This also demonstrates our commitment to open interfaces that enables third-party vendors to develop applications based on our WIN platform."

SignalSoft's Wireless Location Services(tm) include local.info(tm), Wireless 9-1-1 and Location Sensitive Billing.

"SignalSoft is pleased to extend its relationship with Lucent. This brings tremendous new deployment options to our customers through Lucent's worldwide organization," said David Hose, SignalSoft President. "Together we have set the stage for unique and targeted opportunities for location services in the global wireless marketplace."

The first application from the SignalSoft/Lucent agreement is scheduled to be introduced in the second quarter of 1999.

COMCEL Launches State-of-the-Art Technology: Voice Over IP

COMCEL, an important Colombian cellular operator, launched a new value added service called Voice over IP (Internet Protocol) for its closed user group. Through a third party Internet Service Provider, COMCEL's clients are able to communicate world-wide using their cellular phones.

This new service is based on the most advanced IP technology, and is considered to be the first mass consumer service that utilizes the internet to transport calls to mobile cellular phones. It offers significantly reduced rates; COMCEL customers can call any time, any day and anywhere in the world for a flat rate of US$0.57 per minute.

This service does not require the calling or receiving parties to have internet access or a computer. Thanks to Least Cost Routing Network design, the call travels only a short distance through a public switched telephone network, offering the possibility of very inexpensive service.

COMCEL is offering this service in Colombia before any other Latin American country.

Rogers Cantel Subscriber Numbers Up

Rogers Cantel Mobile Communications Inc. announced preliminary subscriber results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 1998. The company added 201,000 gross cellular subscribers, up 55,300 or 38.0%, from the prior year's fourth quarter. The average monthly disconnect or "churn" rate was 2.1%, versus 1.83% in the fourth quarter of 1997. At December 31, 1998, Rogers Cantel had a total of 1,737,600 cellular subscribers, an increase of 103,300 since September 30, 1998 and 185,500 or 12.0% since the end of 1997. At the end of the quarter, approximately 500,000 subscribers were on Digital PCS, representing approximately 29% of Rogers Cantel's total cellular subscriber base and 120,400 subscribers were on the prepaid cellular service, Pay As You Go.

SignalSoft Corp. Opens London Office; Expands Internationally

SignalSoft Corp., a leading international software developer of Wireless Location Services(tm), has opened a London office to address the rapidly evolving European cellular market which reached 67 million subscribers as of March, 1998, and is growing at 63% per annum.

SignalSoft recognizes that network operators throughout Europe are seeking new ways to increase subscribers and generate new revenue. By deploying the Company's suite of Wireless Location Services(tm), network operators can offer their subscribers a broad range of new personalized and localized services that are instantly available through a wireless device.

SignalSoft established its first international operation along the M3/Camberly high technology corridor in Surrey, England. Robert Blair has been appointed Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Sales and Marketing Director. In this newly created position, Blair will handle EMEA sales efforts including managing SignalSoft's customer relationships and coordination with the Company's distribution partners.

David Hose, SignalSoft president, stated: "Wireless communication is a rapidly growing global industry, and the market growth for location services in Europe warranted SignalSoft's presence in London."

New Brazilian Carrier ATL Goes Live with Synacom's CloneSafe(tm)

System

Synacom Technology, Inc. today announced that Algar Telecom Leste S.A. (ATL), Brazil's newest B-band digital service provider covering the states of Rio de Janeiro and Espirito Santo, launched their new TDMA network in Rio de Janeiro with Synacom's CloneSafe Secure Authentication Key Management System (SAMS(tm)) fully operating to generate, distribute and store authentication keys (A-keys) for ATL's new subscribers. Retail outlets and handset distributors have been equipped with CloneSafe Validator(tm) A-key programming devices to automatically enter A-keys into handsets on-site.

"Cloning prevention was a high priority even from the initial stages of planning," said Keith McMahon, IT program manager for ATL. "We chose Synacom's solution because we wanted to ensure that our subscribers' A-keys would never become available to fraudsters."

"With the rapid growth of the Brazilian wireless market, we are seeing that carriers like ATL are taking precautions so fraud does not debase their service," said David Paulson, Synacom's vice president of worldwide sales and marketing.

Synacom's SAMS generates new A-keys for each subscriber and through encrypted modem communication to the Validator, the A-keys are programmed into subscriber handsets, eliminating the need for A-keys to ever be visible.

Synacom CloneSafe Validators(tm) Program 150,000 A-keys for ATL's

First Five Days of Service

Synacom Technology, Inc. announced that their CloneSafe Validators(tm) programmed an estimated 150,000 authentication keys (A-keys) into handsets that were activated by Algar Telecom Leste S.A. (ATL) during their first five days of service.

ATL set a record with their rapid activation of 150,000 new subscribers. Synacom's Validators helped ATL accelerate the activation process by automating A-key entry, thereby eliminating the need for retail clerks to manually enter A-keys into handsets.

At the retail point-of-sale, Validators communicate through a modem connection to the Synacom Secure A-key Management System (SAMS(tm)), which generates a new A-key for each subscriber. The SAMS is a highly secure administrative system that sits off of ATL's network to generate, store and maintain A-keys.

"We purchased CloneSafe Validators to provide A-key security, and were pleased that they also contributed to our success in getting such an extreme number of subscribers activated quickly," said Keith McMahon, IT program manager for ATL.

"ATL deployed effective fraud tools at the inception of their service, allowing them to be extremely aggressive in markets that formerly posed the threat of fraud," said David Paulson, Synacom's vice president of worldwide sales and marketing.