Dear Friends and Industry Colleagues,

I am trying a different format this week. Instead of sending the complete newsletter by e-mail, I am sending a short summary with a link back here to the whole newsletter. There have been problems in the past with certain e-mail servers that rejected the newsletter for exceeding a size limitation. Please let me know if this works for you.

Welcome to all the new subscribers this week, and thanks to everyone who sent a copy to a friend or co-worker.

• Bill Collins chairman and CEO of Metrocall got fired
• US mobile phone penetration hit 53%
• Cingular/RIM announced a next-generation all-in-one Blackberry/GSM/GPRS device
• Motorola announced a new multimedia PDA
• More on the Microsoft/Rogers/AT&T Canada deal
• Ideas on how you can create new revenue streams using wireless in your business
• Lots of cool wireless products and services
• Another RIF at WebLink Wireless
• Notes on the IWCE trade show to be held in Las Vegas next month
• What parents should tell their kids when they are fired or get laid off

Metrocall Directors Fire Bill Collins

Thursday, February 6, 2003

William L. Collins III. . . has been ousted as chairman and chief executive of Metrocall Holdings Inc., the struggling Alexandria-based paging company.

Collins, who had headed the company since 1996, was fired by the board of directors during its meeting yesterday. Company officials declined to say why.

Metrocall named Vincent D. Kelly, the chief financial officer who has worked at the company since 1987, president and chief executive. Royce Yudkoff, one of Metrocall's independent board members and a managing partner at Abry Partners LLC, a Boston-based private investment firm, was appointed chairman.

Company officials would not say whether Collins will get severance pay. Last year, his salary was $530,000, plus $1.1 million in life insurance benefits and bonuses for staying with the company through its bankruptcy reorganization. If Collins was fired without cause, Metrocall would pay his salary and benefits through December 2004, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Metrocall, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last June and emerged four months later, has steadily lost customers. It has 3.7 million subscribers, roughly half what it had at its peak, in June 2001. Metrocall's main service is one-way paging, and it also resells service on devices that can both send and receive short text messages.

Stan Sech, Metrocall's former senior vice president of corporate and business development, was appointed chief operating officer.

Source: WASHINGTONPOST.COM

Congratulations and good luck Stan!

U.S. mobile penetration hits 53%

Feb. 10, 2003 12:47 PM EST

SAN FRANCISCO—U.S. mobile-phone penetration was at 53 percent at the end of 2002, according to Telephia Inc.

The markets with the highest penetration rates were Greenville, S.C., with 71 percent; St. Louis with 69 percent; Raleigh, N.C., with 65 percent; Orlando with 65 percent; Atlanta with 64 percent; Washington, D.C., with 64 percent; and Boston with 63 percent.

Telephia’s survey also showed one in four non-subscribers expect to sign up for mobile service in 2003, with the young adult and Hispanic segments likely to be high-growth segments.

Source: RCR Wireless News

Motorola combines Linux, Java in multimedia PDA

Feb. 13, 2003 12:53 PM EST

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill.—Motorola Inc. has unveiled what it describes as the world’s first handset that combines a Linux operating system and Java Technology, with multimedia PDA functionality.

The device, known as Motorola A760, features a digital camera, video player, MP3 player, speakerphone, advanced messaging, instant Internet access and Bluetooth wireless technology.

Source: RCR Wireless News

Cingular and RIM Provide Next Generation Wireless Path for BlackBerry Customers

Cingular Wireless and Research In Motion will showcase a new suite of BlackBerry handhelds and software for the Cingular GSM/GPRS high-speed voice and data network at Cingular's WAVE 2003 conference this week. Cingular will be introducing its new Xpress Mail with BlackBerry service for GSM/GPRS.

Together, the companies are providing customers with a broadening choice of devices, network service and functionality. The Java-based BlackBerry handhelds feature integrated email, phone, browser and organizer applications and BlackBerry Enterprise Server v3.5 goes beyond wireless email with secure corporate data access capabilities and advanced IT management features. The upcoming addition of BlackBerry Web Client will also allow users to access multiple email accounts (including POP3 and ISP accounts) from a single handheld. Other upcoming software enhancements will expand functionality with features such as cradle-free email synchronization, remote address lookup, integrated attachment viewing, secure intranet browsing and wireless IT controls.

Source: Wireless 3.0

More on the Microsoft Canada and Rogers AT&T Wireless deal

Microsoft's Pocket PC Phone Edition platform, combined with Microsoft's other server products, provides extraordinary wireless phone functionality, full wireless Internet access and integration with Microsoft Office, helping customers to synchronize their calendar, e-mail, contacts and notes on their Rogers AT&T Wireless device. With Pocket PC Phone Edition, customers can send, receive and view files created in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint(R) and other e-mail attachments on a Rogers AT&T Wireless device. The first Pocket PC Phone Edition device from Rogers AT&T Wireless will be the Siemens SX56 and is expected to be available in the next few weeks.

The Microsoft Windows(R)-based Smartphone enables Rogers AT&T Wireless customers to choose their preferred method of wireless communication - voice, e-mail, MSN Messenger or SMS - and enables them to access information and services at any time. In addition, Smartphone provides for easy and integrated wireless access to the customer's e-mail account in Microsoft Outlook(R) messaging and collaboration client and for full personalization options such as ring tones, colour schemes and home screens. The Smartphone also provides unique mobile access to the wireless Internet using Microsoft's Pocket Explorer web-browser.

The Rogers AT&T Wireless GSM/GPRS network reaches more than 93% of the Canadian population and is the largest, integrated, digital wireless voice and data network in Canada.

Source: Rogers AT&T Wireless News Release

Wireless Automation

These are absolutely the coolest wireless solutions. This is what I like. Please excuse my enthusiasm, but I believe the following four categories offer us so many potential business opportunities that it is hard to decide where to start. You don't have to be a ReFLEX carrier to offer any of these solutions to your customers. You can re-sell both the equipment and the on-going monthly service.

WebLink Wireless RIF

I am waiting for the dust to settle before reporting any more details, but the axe fell again at WebLink this week. The term RIF (reduction in force) sounds so innocent—so euphemistic—like saying that someone has "passed away" instead of saying someone has "died."

What RIF really means is that people's lives are being disrupted, families are being broken apart, hopes smashed, dreams destroyed, and careers ruined. Although not unique to our industry, we are certainly affected more than most of the others.

Sorry if this sounds too dramatic, but losing everything you have worked your whole life for is no joke. To keep things in perspective though, this suffering pales in comparison to what could happen if a major war breaks out. Let's hope it doesn't.

March 10 - 14, 2003
Las Vegas Convention Center
Las Vegas, Nevada

I hear that exhibit space in the "Paging Zone" section of the show is sold out. They expect to double the floor space dedicated to paging next year. I am planning to attend and have already bought my plane ticket. Come and join us. There will be over 350 exhibiting companies and over 10,000 attendees there.

For more information, please visit their web site.

Two-way Paging Network and Transmitter Controller

TGA Technologies believes that the future of the radio paging industry lies in the evolution of 2-way paging for both man and machine, based on the ReFLEX™ format. To that end, TGA has produced the SPARKGAP™ ReFLEX Network Manager. This device is fully ReFLEX 2.7.x compliant and will support campus, local, regional or national networks.  When used in conjunction with the TGA PRISM paging terminal, SPARKGAP offers a controlled path for growth in paging technology.

I completely agree with TGA's strategy. If you would like to have more information about the SPARKGAP™ click here.

TGA will have a working Sparkgap ReFLEX system in booth 9077, in the Paging Zone, at IWCE.  They will also have operating pagers and telemetry units and people who know about all aspects of this new step in our industry.

AAPC’s Mission Statement Defines Purpose

• Identifying issues of common concern to its members
• Providing an effective forum for the discussion and progression of issues relating to the industry
• Monitoring and addressing regulatory and legal matters as a unified organization
• Providing research into and development of our industry and its current and prospective markets
• Providing education and resources to address the challenges and trends affecting our operating environments
• Encouraging and maintaining high standards of ethics and services
• Championing the industry and representing paging carriers with a positive voice

Our industry must move forward together or perish individually. For more information, please click here.

CUSTOM APPLICATIONS

For All Popular Wireless Handhelds

For more information contact me directly, and please check out their web site at: www.outr.net.  CLICK

Wireless Messaging Software

InfoRad® Wireless Office (Windows 95, 98, ME, NT, 2000, XP) is designed for the professional who needs full-featured wireless messaging capabilities. Features include enhanced user interface,  message log with search function, scheduled paging,  group and individual message addresses, TAPI Smart™, multiple protocol SMS communication compatibility. AlphaCare™ support services available. With a 32-bit architecture, InfoRad Wireless Office is designed for compatibility with Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP. For more information on InfoRad Wireless Messaging software, and a free demo, please click on the logo.

  CLICK

I am a manufacturer representative (MR) for Vytek Wireless Products. (Formerly Sonik.) Please look at what they have to offer to the Paging and Wireless Messaging industry.

brad@braddye.com  CLICK TO MAIL

To let me know if you would like to receive a price quotation on any Vytek product, click on the link above. Vytek will be in booth 10082 at the IWCE show is Las Vegas next month. I will be hanging around there somewhere. If you are going to be there too, write down my cell phone number (972-523-8258) and give me a call from the exhibit floor so we can meet. I really enjoy meeting readers of my newsletter.

Nokia GSM Phones

I am able to offer up to 20,000 units (per month) brand-new Nokia GSM phones (model #3390) to anyone from outside of the USA. These phones are all ESN unlocked. All phones must be exported, and are in original-new boxes and have never been used. Price is very low and depends on quantity—heavy discounts are possible. Let's make a deal.

I also have some great deals on refurbished phones. They are Samsung, LG, and Motorola, refurbished CDMA phones.

brad@braddye.com  CLICK TO MAIL

Legacy Technology Solutions LLC  CLICK

Paging infrastructure repair with warranty. Please ask for Virgil Jarrard, President, and tell him Brad sent you. Toll-free voice: 1-877-436-8044 or voice: 972-436-8044, fax: 972-436-8944. They are located in the Dallas suburbs, and they sometimes have good deals on reconditioned paging equipment as well. Check with them for current product availability. You can send Virgil an e-mail by clicking on the Legacy Technology name above.

Would you like to put something in the newsletter?

If you have any wireless equipment that you would like to buy or sell, please let me know. Everything that is offered for sale in this newsletter is on the honor system. There is no charge for the listing, but if a sale is made, I ask the seller to send me a 10% commission, much the same as the voluntary payments that are requested on the Internet for shareware.

brad@braddye.com  CLICK TO MAIL

When Parents Lose a Job: Talking to Kids About Layoffs

Pink Slips and Blue Moods Affect Children

Stock market meltdowns, dot-com deflations, bull and bear markets—it’s all lost on kids. But as America’s long-running period of prosperity loses steam and reports of layoffs make headlines, the term “economic downturn” is literally brought home.

John Q. couldn't bear to tell his teenaged son about being fired. For days he got up, put on a suit, left the house, and drove around until after his son had left for school.

On the day Jennifer L. was laid off, she went home and made paper-bag puppets with her toddler and preschooler. Once the art supplies had been cleared away, the single mother found herself fighting back tears. Sitting alone at the kitchen table, she began scribbling numbers on the back of a puppet, looking for ways to cut household expenses.

When Catherine B.’s six-year-old son learned that she’d lost her job, he asked a friend in kindergarten if his family could move in to her house, "because we won’t have any money to live in our house anymore."

Source: FAMILYEDUCATION.COM

This is a very good, 5-page article, be sure to click on "next>" at the end of each page.