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| THURSDAY - SEPTEMBER 25, 2003 - ISSUE NO. 77 | ||
Dear Friends and Industry Colleagues, Well hurricane Isabel came to Virginia as expected. I decided to stay here and not make a run to the West. My electric power went out just before noon on last Thursday and is still out—along with 380,575 other residents here in the state of Virginia. The damage was extensive! Thousands of beautiful trees were knocked down by the strong winds. Many of them fell on houses and cars. It is sad. The Salvation Army is dishing out free meals in the park across the street from where I live. I don't have access to the Internet from my home/office, so I am sending you this week's newsletter from my youngest daughter's house in a nearby town. My sincere apologies to everyone who has tried to contact me by e-mail, fax, or telephone over the last week. I hope to have electricity and access to the Internet in a few more days and will get in touch with everyone as soon as possible. My telephone is working but the answering machine is not. If you need to talk to me, please keep trying. I am OK, but getting tired of eating sardines and crackers and taking cold showers. Rumors have been circulating for months that Chris Galvin was a falling star at Motorola, so it was no big surprise when he announced his retirement late last week. Almost everyone in the Wireless Industry has had some experience with Motorola over the years. I worked for them twice over a 21-year period. Several news clips and a copy of an e-mail from Galvin follow. His grandfather founded the company. |
A new issue of the Paging and Wireless Data Newsletter gets posted on the web each week. A notification goes out by e-mail to subscribers on most Fridays around noon Eastern US time. The notification message has a link to the actual newsletter on the Internet. That way it doesn't fill up your incoming e-mail account. There is no charge for subscription and there are no membership restrictions. Readers are a very select group of wireless industry professionals, and include the senior managers of many of the world's major paging and wireless data companies. There is an even mix of operations managers, marketing people, and engineers, so I try to include items of interest to all three groups. It's all about staying up-to-date with business trends and technology. I regularly get reader's comments, so this newsletter has become a community forum for the paging, and wireless data communities. You are welcome to contribute your ideas and opinions. NOTE: This newsletter is best viewed at screen resolutions of 800x600 (good) or 1024x768 (better). Any current revision of web browser should work just fine. Please notify me of any problems with viewing. This site is compliant with XHTML 1.0 transitional coding for easy access from wireless devices. (XML 1.0 / ISO 8859-1) | |
| NEWS AND COMMENTS FROM READERS | ||
Regional Paging Company Is Still Available A US paging company is being offered for sale. Their main coverage areas include San Antonio and Houston. They hold exclusive frequencies in Texas, Louisiana, Southern Mississippi, Southern Alabama, and the panhandle of Florida up to and including Jacksonville. They also hold licenses in Kentucky and Southern Indiana. I have prepared a page with more information about the company and their assets. Please note that this information is not completely up to date and that it is being presented as "typical" and "planned" only. Please get in touch with me if you are interested. None of this information is warranted as being totally correct and current. Part of a potential buyers "due diligence" would be to inspect and verify the company and its assets before purchase. This is a unique opportunity for someone. Please click here for more information and then call me. Correction/Clarification By Vic
Jackson, President September 23, 2003In last weeks (September 17, 2003) Newsletter, I contributed an article titled “The FCC’s 8/21/2003 UNE Order”. Ken Hardman (the good-looking Washington DC attorney) has pointed out to me that one of my statements in that article regarding the pricing of interconnection facilities for CMRS carriers (Cellular and Paging) is not accurate. What I said was:
This statement is misleading and I apologize for any misunderstandings. According to the Telecommunications Act of 1996 and the FCC’s rules, CMRS carriers are entitled to pricing of “interconnection” at the “forward looking economic cost” to the Local Exchange Carrier (LEC) providing the facilities. State commissions are required to set the rates that LEC’s can charge for “interconnection” facilities based on the FCC rules. As a practical matter, the FCC’s August 21st Order only said that “entrance facilities” were not Unbundled Network Elements (UNE’s) but did not otherwise preclude the pricing of “interconnection” facilities according to their other rules. The FCC’s Order however, did not address the issue of whether entrance facilities are considered “interconnection” under their rules. This issue has yet to be decided by the FCC. In essence, the FCC’s UNE Order has no effect on the ability of wireless carriers to demand cost based pricing of “interconnection”. My article statement was made only in the context that the FCC’s UNE Order would not affect wireless interconnection agreements that have been voluntarily negotiated with LEC’s, which specify that special access tariff prices will apply for any leased facilities, including “interconnection” facilities. Brad Dye Newsletter Notes By Vic
Jackson Paging companies may see some new business because germs have taken a liking to cell phones. It seems mobile phones used by healthcare personnel in hospitals can spread dangerous infectious agents, according to investigators in Israel. Dr. Abraham Borer, of Soroka University Medical Center in Beer-Sheva reported recently on his research during the annual Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy in Chicago, that 12 percent of healthcare providers' cell phones were contaminated with the bug, Acinetobacter baumannii, a common source of in-hospital infections. The use of mobile phones by medical personnel while they're caring for patients is no longer permitted at his institution. Before this study was conducted, cell phones had completely replaced the traditional pagers among physicians and nurses. "We are now exploring the possibility of using pagers again or some type of device that can be worn on the wrist that doesn't require hand contact," Borer said. Based on a 9/17/03 report By Deborah Mitchell |
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| PAGING AND WIRELESS DATA NEWS CLIPS FROM THE WEB | ||
Motorola Soars Despite Management Change September 22, 2003 Although news of Christopher Galvin's retirement from Motorola came as a shock to many analysts, the Street is putting its support behind a need for change at the handset maker. Motorola shares were surging 9.5 percent in mid-day trading, fueled in part by Motorola's confirmation of its third-quarter guidance. News of Galvin's retirement came after the bell on Friday. In a prepared statement, Galvin said: "While I have achieved substantial results, the board and I do not share the same view of the company's pace, strategy and progress at this stage of the turnaround. Accordingly, it is time for me to pass the baton to new leadership." Galvin joined Motorola in 1967 and plans to stay on in his current role until a successor is named. " This is an end of an era at Motorola because Galvin's history with the company," wireless analyst Jeff Kagan said. "But maybe a new attitude and thinking is just what they need." Lehman Brothers analyst Tim Luke echoed that sentiment. "It would appear that the appointment of a new CEO could accelerate the pace of change at one of the world's largest communications equipment companies." Motorola also reaffirmed its third-quarter guidance, curtailing fears that Galvin's exit may be linked to poor financial performance. As of 12:13 p.m. Eastern time, Motorola shares were up 9.57 percent to $12.15, just 10 cents off its 52-week high of $12.25. When Edward Breen exited Motorola in July 2002, the company's stock slipped 5 percent. Today's stock price boost is a sign of confidence in the company to move forward, but the uptick in value could be short lived if Motorola fails to name a successor quickly. Mike Zafirovski, Motorola's current COO, is said to be the leading contender for the spot as CEO. Source: Wireless Week Chris Galvin's e-mail about his retirement 19 September 2003 TO: All Motorolans FR: Chris Galvin RE: My Retirement from Motorola From creating the most innovative technologies and services in our industry today to developing the unparalleled strength of our worldwide brand, I am immensely proud of all that we have accomplished together over the past seven years. Our ability to innovate and lead in the numerous high-technology industries that we have created or joined over 75 years has generated value for Motorola shareholders and customers and changed the lives of people around the world. We have accomplished much of this in the face of severe economic challenges and adverse market conditions, particularly over the past few years. Many of these serious challenges were industry-wide and macroeconomic in nature - such as the Asian currency crisis, the telecom sector's boom and bust and the semiconductor industry's sharp downturn. As a result, it was beyond the scope of any single company's abilities to resolve these challenges immediately. Nevertheless, together, we have made considerable progress on our five-point turnaround plan, including a significantly strengthened balance sheet, positive cash flow, a break-even cost level reduced by more than 25 percent, iconic products, a new MOTO brand image, $19 billion in acquisitions and $7 billion in dispositions, global ethics training, global software centers, improved intellectual property management, leadership supply and much more. I believe that Motorola possesses a broad set of technical competences and business platforms that host a potential to shape the next big thing in the future. While we have achieved substantial progress on our five-point turnaround plan, the board and I do not share the same view of the company's pace, strategy and progress. It is time for me to pass the baton to new leadership. As a result, I have informed the board of my decision to retire in a way that provides the greatest continuity for new leadership. The directors have agreed with my decision. I will continue to serve as chairman and CEO until a successor is identified, and I will work closely with the board's search committee in that process. To ensure a seamless transition, I will assist my successor in understanding the many positive changes we have made already and appreciating the great global team that he or she will have the privilege to lead. My only desire is for Motorola and all of you and our shareholders to WIN. Our strengths today in areas such as balance sheet management, leadership supply and more that we have built over the last three years constitute the legacy that I leave behind. And it is a legacy that I can look back on with satisfaction and that positions the company for long-term success, even in challenging times. I am grateful to the board for its appreciation and acknowledgement of all that has been accomplished in my time at the helm of our company. In particular, I appreciate the gracious public acknowledgement by John Pepper Jr., one of our two presiding directors: "Chris Galvin has led Motorola through one of the most challenging periods in its history and in the world economy, including the Asian currency crisis, the telecom boom and bust and a coincident semiconductor down cycle. Throughout this period, he restructured the company to position it to return to steady growth. Under his leadership and restructuring initiatives, the company has significantly strengthened its balance sheet, generated positive cash flow for 10 consecutive quarters, returned to profitability, strengthened the Motorola brand throughout the world and put in place a strong, new management team to lead the company forward." Central to the success of both this leadership transition and our company's ongoing progress is our continuing focus on our business. We have successfully executed a number of plans and strategies designed to grow our business, build our brand and increase our shareholder value. I ask you to concentrate on doing your part to drive Motorola's profitable growth. Finally, on a personal note, I am proud to be one of your associates. All of the achievements acknowledged by John and the board were truly a team effort. I will work tirelessly for you and our shareholders during this transition -- as I have since beginning my summer jobs with Motorola in 1967. I will take an interest in the company's success in all the years to come. And more important to me than anything will be that I have had the privilege to cultivate a personal relationship with many of you that will last forever. So let's do everything we possibly can—as a team—to continue to strengthen our performance. My best, Chris NOTE: All inquiries on this subject from outside the company, including the media and analysts, must be forwarded to Corporate Communications & Public Affairs - Jennifer Weyrauch, 847-435-5320 or mailto: jennifer.weyrauch@motorola.com. What Took Motorola So Long? CHICAGO—The surprising part about Motorola Chief Executive Christopher B. Galvin 's decision late Friday to quit is why the 53-year-old grandson of the company founder wasn't booted out sooner. Wall Street lost confidence three years ago in Motorola (nyse: MOT -news -people ) and Galvin's ability to solve the telecommunications giant's problems, issues Galvin has been either incapable or unwilling to tackle. . . . In May, shareholders lambasted Galvin at the company's annual meeting for accepting a $1.5 million bonus in 2002, a year when the company's stock lost more than 40% of its value. What's Galvin have to say? Not much. During the past six months, he has gone underground. He's refused interviews. On Friday, Galvin's response to put out a press release after the market closed. Source: Forbes.com Galvin resignation signals new path for Motorola Sept. 22, 2003 1:26 PM EST Having cast his shadow over the company for more than half a decade, the surprise resignation of Christopher Galvin as chief executive officer of Motorola Inc. has foisted on the company the challenge of what path to follow. The appointment of a replacement will not only require a new vision but also a decision of what parts of the company will hang on and what parts will be displayed for poaching companies to buy. Will the company become unrecognizable in a few years, the way Lucent Technologies Inc. has broken into its current numerous parts? What will it do to its image as a wireless titan? Galvin leaves the number two cell-phone maker with no prosperous division, with its infrastructure and semiconductor divisions limping and bleeding, and fueling endless speculation about which companies want to buy them. Source:
RCR
Wireless News Paging: One-way or Another, It Hopes to Survive In 1998, analysts valued Skytel's Mexico operations at close to $150 million, with sales growing at more than 40 percent annually over the previous three years. In Latin America's wireless market, that was a lifetime ago. Since the market peaked in 1999, Skytel's customer base has dropped by half, margins have shrunk, and today the company's one-way paging business would fetch no more than $20 million ... if they could sell it. El que llama paga … y pega The decline of one-way paging is a global phenomenon but it has been most dramatic in Brazil and Mexico where "caller pays" cell phone service has overwhelmed the paging industry. The introduction of "el que llama paga" mobile telephony allows consumers to own a cell phone but incur no air-time costs as long as they keep their cell phone turned on but never make a call—the equivalent of free one-way paging. Trunking phone service, dominated by Nextel, also competes directly with one-way paging, once considered the cheapest way to communicate. Brazil's creation of a highly competitive cell phone market in 1998 accelerated the demise of one-way paging. Mexico's caller pays cell phone program got started in 1999, the same year that one-way paging peaked. A dramatic drop in the price of a new fixed line in Brazil, combined with shorter waiting times for installations in both countries, also attracted customers who had previously used paging as an alternative to a traditional phone line. Source:
InfoAmericas.com | ||
| FEATURED ADVERTISERS SUPPORTING THE NEWSLETTER | ||||||||
 AAPC’s Mission Statement Defines Purpose
Our industry must move forward together or perish individually. If you want to get involved, please click here. Come and join us! Their "newsroom" is a great source of information. They also host the Paging Technical Committee site. There is a lot of good paging-industry information here. Click on the logo above to find out about joining. |
Sophisticated And Affordable
The Zetron 2000 Series Paging Terminals are designed for the paging operator needing a flexible, modular approach to system operation, with the capacity to expand to a region-wide or national network. The terminals are incrementally expandable in both capacity and options. The 2000 Series can act as the hub of an integrated communications system and are suitable for the larger private paging system. The terminals are incrementally expandable in both capacity and options, so a system can start small and grow as required. The terminals are available with advanced features such as PageSaver voice messaging. They connect with a wide range of PBX or PSTN equipment and can be integrated with security systems, monitoring and control systems, nurse call, product control, building management systems etc. www.zetron.com/paging. | |||||||
 ISC Technologies is the industry leader in the pre-owned Paging equipment marketplace. We specialize in purchasing, reconditioning, reconfiguring and sales of quality paging infrastructure. We can customize and configure equipment at a fraction of the cost of new. All equipment carries a standard warranty to insure your trouble free operation. At ISC Technologies we service what we sell and more. Our factory-trained technicians repair most Quintron, Glenayre, Motorola, and Skydata equipment. All of our repairs are done on a Time and Material basis, saving you money over flat rate repair. From vacuum tubes to surface mount equipment, we are ready to handle your repair needs quickly and cost effectively.
Web: www.4isctech.com | 
Wireless Communication Solutions Hark Systems has provided the wireless industry with innovative products for over 20 years. The Omega family of products continues that tradition. The Omega Gateway performs the function of a TAP Concentrator, a TNPP Router, and an Internet Paging Gateway. This allows the paging operator with TAP and TNPP connections to their paging network to offer email and Internet based paging services. Any message coming in via any supported protocol (SMTP, SNPP, TAP, TNPP, HTTP) can be converted to another protocol and sent. Pages can also be sent to email boxes for safe keeping. Subscribers can log on with a web browser and view stored alpha messages. The TNPP router function has the most extensive routing and filtering capabilities in the market today. The Internet Gateway also has extensive anti-SPAM and other selective filtering options to protect your system. The Gateway is available as a turnkey system or software only. The Omega Unified Messaging Platform gives you the competitive edge by offering the ability to bundle a variety of services that can include Voicemail, FAXmail and email as part of customized subscriber packages. Subscribers can view faxes, listen to voicemails, and modify features using a common browser. System administration can also be performed remotely as well as locally. This robust set of features allows the system operator to build a profit center with low initial expense and expand as needed
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 ProfitPlus by Netflow—the software that streamlines pager billing and system maintenance. ProfitPlus interfaces to your Zetron terminals allowing easy changes to pager settings and billable services. Zetron Interface: Multiple Zetron Series 2000 terminals supported. Default pager settings. Terminal/phone number association. Future activation/deactivation dates. Easy group maintenance. Automatic Billing Records: Point of Sale transaction automatically enters pager airtime into monthly billing cycle. Contract pricing. Recurring and one-time billing capabilities. Tracking: Agent commissions. Phone number inventory/analysis. Product inventory transfer from stockroom to sales locations to customer. Capcode usage reports. Duplicate capcode detection.
Contact Netflow, Inc at: 800-236-5861 | 
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Supports both current and future radio paging network needs. Offers both analog (2-tone, 5/6-tone, Quick-Call I and II) formats with voice and digital (Golay, POCSAG and FLEX™) paging formats. Can be tailored to meet special operating requirements of your organization. Features redundant AC and DC power supplies, plug-in hard disk drives, standard MS Windows 2000 operating system, voice prompts, caller password screening, direct connection to your dispatch console and more. You can use common time source for logging. Supports PURC transmitter control or can be connected to existing transmitter control system. Redundancy option with geographic separation is available to provide additional protection for critical message control points. Let us discuss your specific needs. Other PMG models are available with more features and capacities. Also inquire about TGA’s Special Network Application Platform (SNAP)* featuring e-mail messaging inbound and outbound with Web Site Hosting, and don't forget:
* TGA SNAP is a trademark of TGA Technologies, Inc. |
Developers and Manufacturers of Paging and Mobile Data Equipment Selective is a developer and manufacturer of intelligent paging receiver/decoders and mobile data equipment. The PDT2000 Paging Data Terminal is a large display pager designed for desktop or in-vehicle mounting and it, along with our range of other Paging Data Receivers provide a significant message processing capability. The PDT and PDR range have multiple uses and capabilities including:
Our mobile data equipment includes a range of Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs) which may be interfaced to a variety of wireless networks including trunked and conventional radio, paging, GPRS & CDMA cellular, Mobitex etc. Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) and GPS solutions, Dispatch & Messaging software. Local area paging systems, paging interception and message reprocessing software, field force automation and mobile dispatch solutions. We export worldwide.
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Coming soon.
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Coming soon.
|  TRANSMITTERS AND RECEIVERS Salcom's synthesized UHF and VHF transmitters, receivers and transceivers are utilized in many areas of the telecommunications industry, often in conjunction with Salcom signalling products. To realize additional market segments for the RF products, specialized OEM products have been developed utilizing the standard core technology. Most of these products are utilized in third party telecommunications and telemetry systems. PAGING EQUIPMENT EMERGENCY TRANSCEIVER SEA AIR AND LAND COMMUNICATIONS LTD | |||||||
Coming soon. | ||||||||
Your company's logo and product promotion can appear right here for 6 months. It only costs $400 for 26 issues—that's $15.38 an issue. | Would You Like To Advertise Here? If you have any wireless equipment that you would like to buy or sell, please let me know. I don't charge individuals for listing something for sale. If a sale is made through this newsletter, 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. It's on the honor system. There is no cost to the buyer. There is a small charge for companies wanting to put their products in the newsletter and on my web site. There is no obligation for payment of a commission for this kind of basic advertising. I would be very pleased, however, to get involved in the sales process as a manufacturer representative—for quality wireless products and reputable companies. It's only $15.38 per issue for the basic advertising package. ($400 for 6 months or 26 issues.) Details about the advertising plans can be read here. | |||||||
| OTHER PAGING AND WIRELESS DATA PRODUCTS AND SERVICES | ||||||||||||||||
Two-way Radio Products
| Radio Paging Transmitters
VHF PAGING TRANSMITTER
To request pricing and delivery information for the PTX-150, please click here. You can check out their paging products here. | |||||||||||||||
| Wireless Automation & Telemetry Check out the following four categories of two-way wireless data communications. We have the ability to customize solutions to meet your (or your customer's) needs.
To visit their web site for more information, click here. |
CUSTOM APPLICATIONS
If you see someone in the field (like salespeople, technicians, and delivery people) using paper forms, their company could probably save a pile of money, and get much better timeliness, accuracy and efficiency, by using converting to Outr.Net's Wireless Forms. Custom applications for as little as $995, delivered in just a few days. Outr.Net has a web page on Wireless Forms for Timeports at: http://www.outr.net/overnight_pw.htm Their latest newsletter is: "Crossing the Chasm" with Mobile Data http://www.outr.net/newsletter_chasm.htm Please call me so we can discuss your need or your idea. | |||||||||||||||
Unication Co., Ltd. Introducing the new line of 802.11b products Quantity—1,000 minimum each item—per order
These are wholesale, direct-from-the-factory products. To send me an e-mail for pricing information please click here. | Sea Air & Land Communications Ltd. Designers and Manufacturers of Communications Systems You can check out their web site here. | |||||||||||||||
Legacy Technology Solutions LLC
Paging infrastructure repair with warranty. Please ask for Virgil Jarrard, President, and tell him Brad Dye sent you. They are located in the Dallas suburbs, and they occasionally have some good deals on reconditioned paging equipment as well. Check with them for current product availability. You can send Virgil an e-mail by clicking here. | ||||||||||||||||
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.
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Used Pagers For Sale
Motorola Bravo Plus (numeric) units:
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| UNTIL NEXT WEEK | ||||||||||||||||
Please let me know if you have a friend or co-worker who would like to receive this newsletter without charge or obligation. Any pertinent wireless news that you would like to share would be appreciated as well.
FLEX, ReFLEX, FLEXsuite, and InFLEXion, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola, Inc. | |||||||||||||
| THE PAGING INFORMATION RESOURCE | |||||||||||||
READ
THE REST OF THE STORY HERE
TWO-WAY PAGING
For over 55 years, RELM has manufactured and marketed two-way FM business-band radios as well as high-specification public safety mobile and portable radios, repeaters and accessories, base station components and subsystems. Products are manufactured and distributed worldwide under RELM Communications, Uniden PRC and BK Radio brand names. 
Distribution agreements for Dealers and Stocking Distributors are available in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe. 
If you have the ability to sell and service two-way radio equipment and would like to represent Uniden PRC, BK Radio, and RELM Wireless, please let me know as soon as possible. This is a unique opportunity. Requests for other countries will also be considered. Please call me today. 
