Dear friends of Wireless Messaging and Paging,

We have a big issue this week with lots of comments from readers and a great article written by Vic Jackson about Wireless Directory Assistance. Please don't miss the feature article from Mountain Communications about their efforts to fight the heavy-handed actions of Quest (US West) and the FCC. These interconnect issues go far beyond Colorado and may affect the whole paging industry. You should be informed about the recent court decisions, and the good folks at Mountain Communications could certainly use our help with their battle.

Does anyone know about international page forwarding services? International paging networks was my specialty for several years, but I have a reader asking about third-party solutions for people traveling outside of their carrier's coverage.

Verizon is extending their text messaging services to 28 countries. I keep wondering why we couldn't make text messaging a big success in paging? We invented it, and now the cellphone companies are "eating our lunch." Text messaging is the most popular and fastest growing segment of wireless communications today. Where did we go wrong? It's not too late—"a rising tide lifts all boats." Send in your ideas for the good of the whole group.

One new advertiser got an important potential customer contact while the newsletter was still going out with the first ad. If you are interested in supporting this newsletter with advertising and getting your message out, click here.

After traveling for over a week, I am still behind on my correspondence. If you are waiting on a response from an e-mail, please send me a second request. I am sorry, but I have been really busy. I generally try to answer every message, but have not been able to do so lately.

Well, here we go with this week's news and views.

Promoting Wireless Messaging, Telemetry, and Paging.

A new issue of The Wireless Messaging 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. Unless otherwise requested, all correspondence addressed to me is subject to publication in the newsletter and on my website.

NOTE: This newsletter is best viewed at screen resolutions of 800x600 (good) or 1024x768 (better). Any current revision of web browser should work 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.)

Verizon Wireless' International TXT Messaging Service Expands Reach Across More Than 28 Countries

United States’ Leading Wireless Service Provider Adds Cross-Border TXT Messaging to Mexico

06/15/2004

BEDMINSTER, NJ — Verizon Wireless, the leading wireless service provider in the U.S., has expanded the reach of its International TXT Messaging service to include more than 28 countries and more than 400 million wireless users worldwide. With Verizon Wireless’ International TXT Messaging service, customers can send and receive inter-country TXT messages to and from customers of participating wireless companies around the globe, including the largest service provider in Mexico.

Verizon Wireless initially rolled out International TXT Messaging in 2002. Many of Verizon Wireless’ 40 million customers use TXT messaging to stay connected to friends and family living in the United States and abroad. In the first quarter of 2004 alone, Verizon Wireless customers sent and received more than 2.1 billion TXT messages.

“The worldwide demand for TXT messaging continues to grow and Verizon Wireless is staying ahead of this demand by enabling our customers to stay in touch with people worldwide,” said Jim Straight, vice president of Internet and Multimedia Services for Verizon Wireless. “Verizon Wireless customers can use TXT messaging as an easy and affordable means of communication with their colleagues, friends, and family in real-time despite the distance and borders between them.”

Verizon Wireless offers TXT messaging service internationally to customers of participating wireless carriers in Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Germany, Greece, Guam, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Saipan, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom and Venezuela. Verizon Wireless has selected Inphomatch, the leading provider of mobile messaging services and global messaging interoperability, to provide the company’s International TXT Messaging.

Verizon Wireless customers within the U.S. can send and receive TXT Messages with customers of participating carriers in Mexico, Puerto Rico and Canada for the same price as TXTing within the United States. Customers can pay as they go for TXT Messaging, which is just $0.02 for each message received and $0.10 for each message sent, or select from bundled plans for $2.99 per month for 100 messages, $4.99 per month for 250 messages and $9.99 per month for 1,000 messages sent or received. The rate for other International TXT messaging with customers of participating carriers is $.25 for each message sent and $0.02 for each message received. For more information, visit www.vtext.com.  

Verizon Wireless products and services are available in more than 1,200 Verizon Wireless Communications Stores, at participating RadioShack and Circuit City locations and on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com.  

About Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless is the nation’s leading provider of wireless communications. The company has the largest nationwide wireless voice and data network and 40 million customers. Headquartered in Bedminster, NJ, Verizon Wireless is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com. To receive broadcast-quality video footage of Verizon Wireless operations, log onto www.thenewsmarket.com/verizonwireless.  

####

Source: Verizon Wireless Press Release

Wireless Directory Assistance
Amazingly, cellular companies directory assistance does not maintain a list of their own wireless subscribers, but only lists the subscribers of their competitor landline phone companies!
June 18, 2004 Special Report to the Brad Dye Newsletter By Vic Jackson, Interconnection Services, Inc.

This situation has not been much of a problem as long as the telephone numbers used by either landline subscribers or wireless subscribers were assigned and controlled separately from each other by the telecommunications companies.

However, a new and untested dimension has been introduced to the idea of listing subscriber names and telephone numbers in a directory, as a result of the FCC’s telephone competition rules.

The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) local number portability rules went into effect on November 24, 2003 in the largest 100 wireless telephone markets in the USA and became effective in all areas of the USA on May 24, 2004. These new rules allow, “porting” of landline and cellular phone numbers between landline and wireless service providers.

Keep in mind the following statistics from the FCC, which were derived prior to the effective date of the agency’s number portability rules. The problem of directory listing of all telephone numbers, both landline and wireless may be a bigger quandary than people realize.

• There are approximately 188 million landline telephone subscribers in the USA currently but this number is decreasing daily.
• There are more than 160 million current wireless telephone subscribers in the USA and this number is increasing daily.
• As of the end of 2002, over 5.8 million people have turned in their landline telephone and replaced it with a wireless phone.

Based on these statistics, the USA is rapidly approaching the time when more than half of the telephones in the USA will be wireless.

These new local number portability rules give rise to some interesting questions with respect to telephone directory listings. For example, assume your landline telephone number is currently listed in the local telephone directory. If you “port” that number to your wireless phone will the number continue to be listed in the local directory? The answer seems to be no. Will the ported telephone number that was listed now become “unlisted” by default? The answer is likely yes. Let us further assume that you do want your name and number to continue be listed in local the telephone directory. Can the local landline telephone company refuse to list your number in their directory? The answer appears to be yes, they can refuse. Conversely, if you “port” your cell phone number to a landline phone will the number now be listed in the local telephone directory? The answer appears to be yes. Will you have to pay an extra monthly fee to have your former cell phone number continue to be “unlisted”? The answer is apparently yes.

Based on the current directory assistance, “rules of the road,” a landline telephone number in the USA that is “ported” to a wireless phone will no longer be “listed” in the local telephone directory. And a wireless phone number “ported” to a landline phone would now be “listed” in the local directory. But is this a fair and reasonable situation for all concerned in light of the FCC’s competition rules? Can or will the incumbent landline telephone companies hold businesses and consumers hostage by refusing a directory listing if the line is switched to wireless? The answer appears to be yes!

Some people want their name and telephone number, whether landline or wireless, “published” in a directory and some do not. The question now is what should be mandated by rule of law in this situation and what should be left up to the marketplace?

According to a spokesperson at the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, the PSCW does not regulate telephone directories, either landline or wireless. They apparently maintain a “hands off” policy on this issue. But there are some public service aspects of the new telephone number rules that may not be palatable to the public; especially those folks who want to step into the modern age of wireless communications yet maintain their availability to the public via their telephone. Some business people in rural areas who have traditionally listed their residence telephone number in the directory such as real estate, funeral directors, doctors, insurance and similar businesses need and want a directory listing no matter who the service provider might be. A publicly available telephone directory listing is as critical to their business as is using a wireless telephone.

In a related development, on November 25, 2003, a bill was introduced in the US Senate (S. 1973) (Wireless 411 Privacy Act) to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to protect the privacy rights of subscribers to wireless communications services by allowing wireless subscribers to elect, without charge, to not have their wireless telephone numbers disclosed in any form of directory service. Currently this bill has been referred to the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. A similar bill has also been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and has also been referred to the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. It is interesting to note that, contrary to the current practice in the landline industry, this legislation would prohibit wireless companies from charging a fee to not list a number in a telephone directory. But shouldn't any listing rules apply to all telephones, not just wireless phones?

However, this initiative does not address the more important aspect of people who want their existing landline number to continue to be listed when they port that number to a wireless phone as mentioned previously. Some people and most businesses, who port from landline to wireless, have an expectation that their name and number will continue to be available in the directory so they can be “found” by the general public.

According to a representative at Verizon, the landline regional Bell Company, they will not, even for a fee, publish a wireless number in their “white pages” directory. It seems this refusal to list a valid telephone number might be construed as a deliberate and calculated anti-competitive measure to discourage people from porting their phone numbers to wireless. Strangely, in contrast to the white pages policy, it appears that a person could “buy” a “Yellow Pages” advertisement that does list the wireless telephone number.

It is interesting to note that in the case of a landline telephone number, you must pay a monthly fee to not have the number listed in a directory. Based on the premise that the more people that are listed in the phone book, the more advertising dollars can be generated, one would think the landline companies would be eager to list wireless numbers in their directories. Apparently, there is more progressive thinking north of the border. In Prince Rupert, British Columbia, City Tel, the local cellular provider, will list your wireless phone number in the local directory for a $3.00 per month fee. Although charging a fee for listing someone in a local directory goes slightly against the grain of good business logic, at least in this Canadian city, you have the option, unlike in the USA, to list your cellular number and name in the local landline telephone directory.

This issue also extends to directory assistance. “Directory assistance,” when dialed from your cell phone is not quite what you may expect. Amazingly, the cellular companies directory assistance does not maintain a list of their own wireless subscribers, but only lists the subscribers of their competitor landline phone companies!

Currently, as an answer to this conundrum, there is a proposal by the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association to create a nationwide wireless telephone directory that actually lists wireless telephones. Amazingly, some wireless companies are not in agreement with this proposal citing privacy and unwanted caller concerns.

Obviously, the current directory assistance system needs an upgrade to be in concert with the new number portability rules between landline and wireless.

Listed below are some suggestions to improve on the current “system.”

• Treat all telephone numbers, whether landline or wireless with the same regulatory rules and requirements with respect to directory listings.
• Encourage the listing of all telephone numbers, whether landline or wireless in a common directory.
• Revise the current proposed legislation (Wireless 411 Privacy Act) regarding possible directory listings to include ALL telephone numbers, both landline and wireless. Re-name the bill as the “411 Privacy Act”.
• Require all service providers that assign number resources subject to Service Provider Local Number Portability from the North American Numbering Plan (NANP) to make publicly available, within 7 days of assignment, a list of all assigned numbers with a name and corresponding number, if the subscriber has not opted out of a directory listing. This policy would make directory listings of all telephone numbers a useful and reliable means of identifying those persons wishing to be listed as subscribers and the number through which they can be reached. This requirement is already in place with respect to 911 databases for all assigned numbers, it would simply allow public disclosure of those numbers, landline or wireless that wish to be listed in publicly available directories.

These suggestions would be easy to implement at minimum cost to the carriers and would greatly enhance the public service aspects of a public telephone directory, eliminate competitive concerns, and encourage commerce among all telephone users.

Source: Vic Jackson, Interconnection Services, Inc.

Maturity of Wireless by Frank Dijker

You wanted some of my feelings about paging and the growth of the large players and the decline of the industry.

The whole wireless industry needs to be re-invented and the model should be based on something that works.

Firstly you have to ask yourself:

1) Is one way data messaging dead? Is there a need.
2) Who wants paging to die?
2) What differentiates paging from other forms of messaging?
3) What other business models have worked in other industries?

My answers:

Question 1
The answer to the first question is that there will always be a need for one-way messaging. This could be one message going to one person or one message going to multiple persons or group of people. This would be analogous to saying that because we have e-mail that newspapers will die, either published electronically or on paper. It will never happen.

Question 2
Companies that have invested large $ in two way networks and sometimes have competing technologies in their own company. When they turn down their spectral efficient paging networks (100's of thousands of persons supported on a single frequency) they want to migrate them on the more expensive cellular SMS systems / CDPD / 1X technologies. This way they can increase their ROI. So they make paging seem like a dead issue to further their cause. I mean they make more money on cellular so why spend any time on paging at all.

Question 3
Paging strengths have never been properly exploited. A pager has a selectable address. This can be an individual address or a group address. SMS can take the place of the individual address but never can do what information services can effectively do in paging. Information services, when properly handled, can fit a niche but people/companies have to work together to get some economies of scale. Microsoft is trying to capture this market while the paging industry is trying to get more customers. I have a saying and it is "ITMS" (It's The Message Stupid). Persons that carry devices do not care about what network they are on, what device they are carrying but rather want to be assured that they get messages that are sent to them. Companies that own networks want them to carry their device even though it may not be the right device for the job because they are looking for customers, or market share.

Question 4
The industry is still very immature with the way that is has evolved. Take the Transportation Industry. Transportation companies use any mode of transportation to get the goods to their destination, however they do not own the roads that get the goods there. Transportation companies need fuel. However they do not drill for their own oil. They have trucks but they do not build them themselves. They deliver packages but do not own the contents nor even the boxes. They carry goods for most everyone wishing to use them or not. They charge customers based on how much the package weighs or how big it is and where it is going to. They even use freight forwarders to get the job done.

In the wireless industry I want to get a message from point A to point B but now I am told which device to use, what number I have to use, and what network I must be part of, to get this message. The industry thinks that the user cares about the technology but they really do not, they want to get the message. The Network should be like the highway, that is anyone should be able to use the highway as long as they have a licence to do so. The user should be able to use whatever device they want as long as the highway can support this kind of device. The vehicle they use should meet their needs and the user should not be told that they have to use a three-ton truck when what they really need is a four-door sedan. The fuel is the number of messages sent. The more that you drive or the more messages you send, the more it costs you. If you drive nowhere you should have no cost. The package that you send is the message and you should be able to send as big a package as is able to be handled by the courier. Sometimes you might need a large truck to handle the shipment, and sometimes an envelope will do.

However the wireless industry tells us which roads we have to drive on, how big the package can be, and what kind of vehicle WE HAVE TO USE. They also do not really care how satisfied all of the drivers are but much rather how many vehicles there are on the road. They also own all of the service stations along the way as well so when you want fuel they can charge you whatever they want. If you want to use another vehicle or a different type of fuel then you also have to travel on a different highway. Not only that but dealers trying to put vehicles on the highway for the highway owners are continually competing with the highway owners themselves, as they too want to get into the transportation game.

Anyway, in my mind, it is the networks that really have to grow up and governments have to break the industry apart. The networks should be one entity and anyone should be able to buy bulk airtime and use whatever facilities they want from the carrier (numbers, voice-mail SMS etc.,). The agent should have the ability and the right to offer anyone whichever price they want not the price dictated by the carrier. If the carrier wants to compete with the independent agents then they must do so at arms length. Until this happens we will be dictated to by fewer and fewer carriers and they will tell us what type of products will flourish and which one will die.

With the model described above, Paging is due for failure as the large carriers say so. And Paging carriers are fighting against each other trying to gain market share. Innovation, not price, will keep the wireless industry going. Networks should be networks and leave the selling to smaller companies that have the customer's best interest—not that carrier's interest—in mind.

Anyway there is my diatribe for today.

Frank Dijker <frank@multipath.com>

Due to a lack of activity, our Yahoo group for Refarming will expire shortly unless a post is made.  Here is an update from Ken Harman. 

"Alan, everything is on hold until the FCC rules on the petitions for reconsideration of the narrow banding rules, including the paging industry's request for an exemption from the narrowband requirements.  Last December, the FCC stayed the effective date of its narrow banding requirements until it rules on the petitions, which means that everything remains status quo until that happens.  Lloyd Coward, Deputy Chief of the Mobility Division of the FCC's Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, reported at SCA last week that the Commission is projecting its ruling on the petitions sometime later this fall."

Alan W. Carle
Dir. Engineering
NEP, LLC d/b/a Northeast Paging & UCOM Paging
Office: 207-856-1276 x272
Pager: 207-580-0150
Cell: 207-318-0580

Brad,

You may wish to make your readers aware of a nice service for 2-way pagers at www.meta-wireless.net. If you register at that site you can send Emails with attachments to their service (such as a Word document) and they will return an Email with the attachment back in text format. Or, if you want a hard copy of a message on your pager, you can send it to another address and include the number of a fax machine on the subject line and it will print a hard copy of your Email on that fax machine. The service is currently free. It has been very handy.

Another free service is at www.hz.com. This has been around for years providing all sorts of good information to 2-way devices. Stock quotes, FedEx tracking, airline info, etc. The recently upgraded their service to a set of new servers and actually cut back on the list of features they were offering. But I am certain with time they will all return. If nothing else, the quote service is very handy.

Jay Moskowitz Wireless Marvels Inc. Chief Wizard 310 Carnation Drive Farmingdale, NY 11735-7014 (516) 249-6900 (office) (516) 249-6001 (fax) (516) 445-8724 (cell) (888) 619-5275 (Voice Mail with Pager Alert) Web Site: www.wirelessmarvels.com Email Address: jay@wirelessmarvels.com Alternate Email: jay@skymsg.com Instant Messenger Username: jayatrts

Brad:

Thought this Associated Press article would be of interest to you as you wear your editor hat. It raised a question in my mind (as an outsider to the paging world) of how privacy issues (not HIPAA security or CALEA surveillance) vary between the world of paging and SMS:

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/business/2613101

I think the "proof-of-concept" virus for Symbian-based handsets that appeared this week is waking up some folks in the wireless phone industry. The wireless phone industry seems to have serious security issues on many, many levels.

Something tells me no one is going to write a "worm" for a pager. Between that and the scourge of wireless spam, advantage -> paging industry. (If the paging industry takes advantage of the opportunity.) This article confirms what I have been hearing through the grapevine:

http://www.wirelessweek.com/index.asp?layout=documentPrint&doc_id=134004

This one offers some other useful links:

http://tinyurl.com/2llyq

Brian

Brian D. Gilmore
Fallon Communications

713-468-4123 voice
713-468-6191 fax
Sixth Floor North
908 Town and Country Blvd
Houston, Texas 77024

Research on cellular telephone signal strength levels in hospitals

This is a link to the web site of Dr. Christopher Trueman. There is a link to the paper "Specifying Zones for Cellular Telephone Operation in Hospital Hallways". Have a look at the "GO 3D Users Guide" as well it has more detail.

http://www.ece.concordia.ca/~trueman/GO_3D/index.htm

Regards,
Ron Mercer
Global Fax Network Services Inc.
217 First Street
East Northport, NY 11731
Tel: (631) 266-2604
Cell Phone: (631) 786-9359

Hi, my name is Kurt, I have spent the last 17 yrs in the paging business, working for Ram Broadcasting Corp. as well as others, and been on my own as a consultant for about 7 yrs. now, and work with most of the carriers. I was wondering if you could spread the word that I am looking for a handful of old pagers, that most people have disposed of. The PMR 2000 with voice, on 150 MHZ. Any help would be appreciated, IM using them with the printer as a fixed data recorder/voice receiving station, and function well in their application.

Regards,

Kurt Jackson
Hampden Communications Corp.
Worcester, Mass.
508-735-4213 Cell
Hampdencom@aol.com CLICK HERE TO E-MAIL

Building on its long success story in 1-way paging, Advantra International has become the expert in designing and manufacturing the most advanced and lowest cost ReFLEX™ radio modems for 2-way data-communication. The company also focuses on offering total telemetry solutions.

Advantra thanks its solid reputation to its world-renowned development team, state-of-the-art manufacturing, excellent customer service and its proven track-record.

USED MOTOROLA PAGING EQUIPMENT AND INSTALLATION ACCESORIES
(931 MHZ)

Nucleus - Unipage - ASC Controllers - Antennas - Filters - Power Supplies - Connectors - Pagers - etc.

Arturo@ubicar.com.ar

Quintron / Glenayre QT-7795 any vintage parts or chassis Universal exciters and freq. TXC-TCC controllers. UHF link receivers

Angie: 1-800-842-1950

Ext: 6411

Motorola Introduces Two New Pagers Ideal for Health Care, Hospitality, Manufacturing, and Utilities Markets

Motorola's newest one-way pagers—the Advisor II pager and the LS355 pager—are ideal for users in demanding business environments who need a convenient and cost effective way to stay in touch.

Both the Advisor II pager and the LS355 pager were developed for use in hospitals and medical facilities, manufacturing environments, utilities, hospitality applications, campus settings, and for businesses that own and operate their own paging systems.

The Advisor II pager's alphanumeric four-line display and expanded functionality incorporate many of the most advanced paging features available. A major advantage of the Advisor II pager is that it is synthesized which enables the user to program the pager to a specific frequency in the field. Other features of the Advisor II pager include:

• Displays up to four lines of text and 80 characters per line
• Zooms in on two lines for larger view
• Optimax® EL Electra Light for optimum readability
• 52 message slots for storing multiple pages
• Two notebook areas, including a personal notebook and a mail drop notebook

The LS355 numeric pager enables users to receive a "call-back" number that can be returned at the user's convenience. This pager has a one-button design for ease of use. Features of the new LS355 pager include:

• 16 message slots for storing multiple pages
• Six individual addresses to allow the user to receive individual or group pages
• 4 icons including Message Preview, Unread Message Indication, Alert Mode, and Out of Range Indication
• Saves messages when off or when the battery is being changed and offers the time and date when on standby
• RS232 programmable to allow for programming changes in the field

Both the Advisor II pager and the LS355 pager are available in POCSAG, UHF or VHF models and ship with a one-year standard warranty. As part of the continued support of these pagers, Motorola offers a two-year Express Service Plus program. This feature provides hardware repair coverage for two years beyond the standard one-year warranty for a total of three years of pager repair coverage. Both pagers are available through Motorola Authorized Resellers.

MOTOROLA and the Stylized M Logo are registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. © Motorola, Inc. 2003.

Complete Technical Services For The
Communications and Electronics Industries
Design • Installation • Maintenance • Training

Ira Wiesenfeld, P.E.
Consulting Engineer
Registered Professional Engineer

Advertise Here

Your company's logo and product promotion can appear right here for 6 months. It only costs $500 for a full-size ad in 26 issues—that's $19.23 an issue. (6 month minimum run.)

Details about the various advertising plans can be read here.  CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

Authentium's COMMAND Antivirus™
COMMAND Antivirus™ is used by leading education institutions, Fortune 500 companies and government agencies for one simple reason—it works. Based on the proven F-Prot engine and developed continuously over a period of more than ten years, COMMAND Antivirus™ deploys more easily, detects more viruses (and potential viruses), handles more file extensions, and returns fewer false positives than competing antivirus products.

Authentium's representative in Mexico:

Enrique Llaca
Llacom, SA de CV
Mexico City
Telephone: 011 52 55 53734241

Enrique Llaca CLICK HERE TO E-MAIL

two tone pager
QUATTRINO RE529

• Reliable operation
• Flexible programming
• Weather resistant

A fast and reliable alarming system is an indisputable prerequisite for emergency fire and rescue services to respond successfully and efficiently. State-of-the-art paging enables groups as well as individuals to be alerted.

The Quattrino Voice and Memo two tone pagers are suitable for everyone, even for those working in an emergency during severe weather conditions. Continual further development of previous popular models has resulted in a practical, reliable and user-friendly device, innovatively housed with ergonomic operating controls. Design elements include a very long standby function and weather proofing to the European IP54 specifications.

I am an authorized Manufacturer Representative for Swissphone. Please contact me directly for any additional information. CLICK

CALL CENTER

Please click on the image above for more information.

WANTED

900 MHz PageThru™

From Antenna Specialists/Andrew or equivalent model from another company. Please e-mail Brad Dye if you have one for sale. I have a customer who needs one ASAP.

The Electronic Entities Group

www.EEonTheWeb.com

Remember that old word “Residuals”?

The EE Group is actively seeking Dealers with sales/ service/installation capabilities to promote the latest wireless AVL, SCADA and data products from Telegauge Systems, Inc. This innovative program requires NO inventory and NO billing by your facility; you just sell it and sign up the end user to collect the commissions.

Now the real reason to choose the EE Group and Telegauge over the host of others; we pay you permanent residual income every month on your airtime sales forever.

Airtime commissions range up to 12% per month based on prior sales and you buy all equipment direct from the factory at 2-tiered wholesale prices as well for great margins. 

Telegauge builds fully 2-way overt and covert (hidden) GPS based Automatic Vehicle Location, SCADA, remote management, telemetry and data systems routed via cellular and satellite that are delivered to the end user via the Internet or direct to the desktop. Applications are both ‘canned’ and custom depending upon the customers needs. We even have full dispatch systems including credit card swipe and billing if needed.

Finally, the prices on the product are guaranteed to be the LOWEST in the industry at under $600 retail for the equipment and from $6 to $30 on the monthly airtime with most customers in the $15 range. Note too that the price is the same for cellular OR satellite world wide coverage and no one else has this exclusive capability.

Telegauge provides the product, software, airtime, billing and final information from a single source and you can be a BIG part of it. You stock NOTHING, just collect the checks.

We are paid by the manufacturer to support YOU and unlike other factories; we never bid against you, restrict you or take your deal. We help you with demo equipment, brochures, information, sales assistance, web advertising and user name/passwords for the website so that you don’t even need to buy anything to start up fast.

Contact us for a no-obligation CD of all the presentation and training material, price spreadsheets and information at: EEGroup@EEonTheWeb.com or for fast action call for a link to the Dealers Only page: 310-534-4456 and mention that you found out about it via Brad Dye’s Newsletter. You have nothing to lose and some great residual income to gain. Call or e-mail NOW.

Wireless Telemetry

Data Communications	Level 1	A basic ReFLEX transceiver, sending and receiving serial RS-232 ASCII data.
Telemetry Remote Monitoring and Control	Level 2	An enhanced ReFLEX transceiver, monitoring alarms from a remote site, and sending commands to the remote site.
Asset or Fleet Tracking	Level 3	An enhanced ReFLEX transceiver, with the addition of a GPS module for the reporting of accurate locations to enable tracking.
Field Force Automation	Level 4	An enhanced ReFLEX transceiver, with the addition of a GPS module and a handheld computer terminal for full automation of field service activities all the way from the customer's location back to the service company's back office.
We can generally turn a specification into a prototype in two to four weeks. If you have an interesting application in mind, please give me a call so we can talk about it. ()

Thank you to all of Brad's readers who provided equipment and leads for my last want list. I continue to search out and recreate early wireless e-mail systems from the 80s and 90s and am looking to acquire the following:

• CE Software's QuickMail Server from, or prior to 1995 on any OS c/w documentation.
• MobileVision server plug-in for QuickMail server c/w documentation.
• Working MOTOROLA MARCO with MobileVision client c/w user guide documentation.
• Motorola AirMobile software. Both client and server apps.
• Working NEC D4 or D7 alphas on any band. RS232/Printer interface. Any user manuals or brochures.
• Early Motorola ADVISOR PrintPals c/w Version 1.0 PC software and documentation for reading the Advisor.
• Complete IBM KDT based DCS terminals, documentation, user manuals, anything associated with the IBM KDT based DCS system.
• MOTOROLA PAGER CARD the PCMCIA pager card from Motorola on any frequency. Also looking for any documentation and software for the pager card.

If you have any of the above or a lead on same please contact us.

Cassel & Associates
E-mail: paul@ve3sy.com
Phone: 519-634-5139

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 we will perish individually. If you want to get involved, please click here. Come and join us! The AAPC "newsroom" is a great source of information. The AAPC also hosts the Paging Technical Committee site. There is a lot of good paging industry information here.

Click on the logo above to get a membership application.

Zetron Simulcast System

High-speed simulcast paging with protocols such as POCSAG and FLEX™ requires microsecond accuracy to synchronize the transmission of digital paging signals.

Zetron's Simulcast System uses GPS timing information to ensure that the broadcasted transmissions between the nodes of the Simulcast System and associated transmitters are synchronized to very tight tolerances.

This system is ideal for public or private paging system operators that use multiple transmitters and wish to create new paging systems or to build out existing systems into new regions. For more information about Zetron's High Speed Simulcast Paging System, the Model 600 and Model 620, go to:

www.zetron.com/paging. CLICK HERE

CONTACT

Zetron, Inc. P.O. Box 97004 Redmond, WA 98073-9704 USA

Tel: 425-820-6363 Fax: 425-820-7031 E-mail: zetron@zetron.com CLICK

Prism Message Gateway Systems
Modular and Configurable

Your Choice of Options

• Radio Paging Terminals
• Voicemail Systems
• Email and Network Text Messaging Systems
• Digital Trunk Switching Systems
• Digital Trunk and Voicemail Concentrators
• Remote Network Encoders
• TNPP Network Routers

Popular Choice for Domestic and International

• Commercial Paging Carriers
• Private Paging Systems
• Hospitals
• Public Safety
• Federal, State and Local Government
• Industrial Paging
• Energy Companies – Load Management

Logical Choice

• Replace Outdated, UNLICENSED Paging Terminals
• Eliminate Outrageously High Support Costs
• Add New Paging System with ALL THE FEATURES
• Provide Your Customers With Features They Want
• Designed and Supported by Industry Experts

Go ahead… be choosy… choose Prism Systems International

MAXPage
It's like a Motorola PeopleFinder™ on Steroids!

More information

Commtech Wireless introduces MAXPage, a desktop paging terminal packed with features.

Alpha, Numeric, Tone, & Voice
MAXPage, from Commtech Wireless, is the ideal replacement for the Motorola PeopleFinder™. With its advanced features, it can be used with Alphanumeric, Numeric, Tone only, Coaster pagers as well as 2-tone voice pagers in countless applications.

Serial Interface
With the inclusion of a serial interface, MAXPage can interface with Comp, TAP, Scope™, Waveware & Tekk systems as well as Commtech's Wireless Callpoints.

Telephone Interface
Anyone can be given easy access to the MAXPage system through its telephone interface. Once the system is connected to a telephone port, anyone can pick up a telephone, dial the MAXPage unit and use the keypad on their phone to send messages to pagers. The telephone can also be used to transmit voice messages to 2-tone voice pagers.

Alarm Inputs
A powerful feature of MAXPage is its onboard alarms. The four, dry contact closure, onboard alarm inputs will automatically dispatch messages to pagers or groups when activated. Alarms not cleared within a configured time frame can activate a repeat message (escalation) to either the same pager/group or to an alternative pager/group.

Features*

• 1000 Pager capacity
• Selectable 2 or 4 watt transmitter
• Reminder messages
• Dual mode function keys - one touch messaging
• 2-tone voice paging - from on-board mic or telephone
• 4 alarm inputs
• Voice prompted telephone paging
• QWERTY keyboard interface (PS2)
• Windows® interface for advanced features
• Serial interface for Comp/TAP/Scope™/Waveware/Tekk
• Coaster paging management system

*Some of the features listed are optional and are not supplied as standard

For more information, simply fill out the feedback form or contact us on the details below.

Download Mr. Mercer's resumé. CLICK HERE

• ISO 9001 - 2000 certified manufacturing facility.
• THE High-Quality RF design and Contract Manufacturer of choice.
• Do you have a product or product component that you would like to have manufactured?
• Would you like to have us design and manufacture a product just for you?
• Would you like to know firsthand that your contract manufacturer is one of the leading providers of service with the highest degree of quality in mind?

Daviscomms USA Inc. is your direct connection to Daviscomms (S) Pte Ltd., the leading pager manufacturer in the world with many years experience in Engineering, Design, and Manufacturing of highly-reliable, premium-quality FLEX and POCSAG Alphanumeric and Numeric pagers. Daviscomms offers unparalleled quality, features and functions. We perform our own stringent quality testing as well as certification by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) to meet all of their standards. All of our paging products meet FCC and IC Standards for use in the USA and Canada.

Our manufacturing facility, located in Malaysia, is a 40,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility. Customers, globally, choose Daviscomms for our QUALITY, RELIABILITY, ON-TIME DELIVERY, COMPETITIVE PRICING and our TOTAL COMMITMENT to providing the best value for their needs.

TMR w/BNC Telemetry	We offer full product support (ODM/OEM) for our worldwide customers, including a complete design center, research facilities, proto-typing, field services, contract manufacturing, commodity sourcing, and distribution.
In addition to both Numeric and Alphanumeric pagers, we have designed, engineered and manufactured 1-way Telemetry devices, paging receivers, 2-way paging (ReFLEX) telemetry devices, DECT phones/devices and PDA accessories.	Bravo 800 Alphanumeric

At Daviscomms, we are proud to provide our customers with end-to-end manufacturing solutions while delivering superior quality and support. Daviscomms is at the forefront of the industry with its commitment to leading-edge technology, cost-effective manufacturing and the highest degree of customer service.

Daviscomms delivers low cost, high volume manufacturing solutions to our customers. We help maximize time-to-market objectives while minimizing procurement, materials management, and manufacturing costs.

For information about our contract manufacturing services or our Bravo-branded line of numeric and alphanumeric pagers, please call Bob Popow, our Director of Operations for the Americas, 480-515-2344. (Scottsdale, Arizona) or visit our website www.daviscommsusa.com.

Programming Concepts, Inc. Since 1979

RTS Wireless ADVX System
Support and Enhancements

Programming Concepts, Inc. provides authorized RTS ADVX Wireless Gateway Support & Enhancements. Our RTS lab includes source code control, development tools, and test beds for all deployed RTS systems. Call now to sign-up for our first class support of your aging RTS system. More info ...

PCI (www.programmingconcepts.com) has been in business for 24 years providing custom application programming for medium to large businesses. PCI's primary business segments include web enabled application development, financial industry systems, telephony (IVR, CTI, and Wireless), Secure Enterprise Instant Messaging System, Microsoft Customer Relationship Management (MS-CRM) Applications, and a wide variety of commercial applications.

Contact Sales sales@programmingconcepts.com
or 631-563-3800 x220.

DX Radio Systems, Inc. manufactures high quality, high specification type communications products. The following is a list of products that DX Radio Systems, Inc. manufactures or supplies as a single supplied product and can be included as part of a turnkey system:

• Repeaters
• Repeater Systems
• Paging Transmitters
• Paging Systems
• LTR & MPT1327 Trunking Systems
• MPT1327 Trunking Repeaters
• SmarTrunk II Trunking Repeaters
• Complete Trunking Systems
• Airport Ground to Air Base Radios
• Airport Ground to Air Systems
• Rural Radiotelephone Link Systems
• Antenna Systems
• Combining Systems
• Complete Turnkey Systems
• Engineering & Installation of All Systems

Performance that is tough to find anywhere at a price you can afford.

CONTACT

DX Radio Systems, Inc. 10941 Pendleton Street Sun Valley, California 91352-1522 USA

Telephone: 818-252-6700 Fax: 818-252-6711 E-mail: Info@DXRadioSystems.com CLICK Web: www.dxradiosystems.com CLICK

Good Morning Brad,

I enjoyed meeting you last week at the SCA conference. As I said, I have read your material for years and very much appreciate your sharing of information to all the industry. You have helped many of us learn about the business and technical aspects. The advertisers have received orders from us. All a good cause.

I found the SCA very interesting and worth the time spent. It re-enforced my knowledge and commitment. I also was able to meet many of the folks that I have talked with on the phone. The networking is always the most important benefit from a conference.

You had asked to resource information on Mountain Communications' battle with USWC/Qwest, and I very much appreciate your request. This of course has been a long, expensive and important battle. I have great respect for my attorneys, Mike Higgs who started the fight, Ben Aron that has successfully won the battle, and the wild Bob Schwaninger that has stood behind me and supported this fight with plenty of time and $$$. Many like or hate him, but he has stood the ground and put his $$$ where his mouth is. No small accomplishment.

I invite you to visit our web site www.mtncomm.com and download the basic fight info, my request for help letters, and any of the resource documents. They attempt to state the info. Attached is the pdf of the small tri-fold that I gave out at the SCA.

Interesting points:

Dozens of carriers have called for help and knowledge when they were confronted with higher rates, or outrageous demands from their LEC's. Our guys need to know that the damning 'Mountain Order' has been nullified by the DC Court of Appeals. I got another call this week from a carrier that was faced with their LEC hitting them over the check book with the 'Mountain Order'. Its been 6 months since it was remanded.

Most of these carriers that are calling with problems are NOT in Qwest's territory. Some have said that this is just my problem, just a Qwest territory problem, no so - we are all effected. Each LEC uses the gains of the other LEC's to extinguish our industry.

Qwest has lost many orders for me, but never refuses to take an order. DEX, not now Qwest, ya right, dropped me from northern CO phone books (white and yellow), just don't know how that can happen. Other carriers have had the same problem. On the PageMe! advertising orders, there are references on every page to Mountain, even though they are two distinctly separate corporations.

As I mentioned, I started PageMe! Inc. for two reasons. One, could not get services for Mountain; and two, was consolidating 3 or 4 small UHF carriers in CO and needed a new identity.

Filing a formal FCC complaint is a nightmare. It is not for the weak at heart or pocket. The costs are endless. The garp from the attorneys is endless. It is not designed for the common business guy to succeed.

I am proud to fight this battle. We started this with a sword in our hand, strong support from Schwaninger, SBT, many small carriers, and 6 large carriers, as it is not restricted to paging guys, it involves the two-way guys and the cell guys. As the industry has shrunk, many scratching to survive, others of course not surviving, it is now just about down to Ben and I. The cash has been very slim. Some carriers, even one at the SCA, came up to me and still have one of my support request letters in their drawer. They got it a 'bad time' in cash flow and have always intended to pull it out and put a check with it . . .

Some have asked why I can't get support from the interveners? Well they have staff lawyers. They all thank us for winning the appeal. Great Job! Want us to share the cost - no way. If you go broke, out of business, die or dry up; oh well. We will just re-file, doesn't cost us any more, the guys have to work on something. Of course they have run up the bill drinking coffee and working on the common language for the briefs. Qwest has stated to others that they will just wait for us to give up. It is not going to happen.

Qwest will not agree on any of our points in the formal compliant wit the EB. Qwest will not refund the payments made to the bogus bills. She has not stopped billing me, and all the others, for the bills that are stacking up. Qwest will not provide us with the Type 1 or Type 2 lines, numbers, facilities as required. They will not drop their absurd demand for transit traffic (about 26% of the billing they are not suppose to bill me). Now their attorneys will drop transit billing, by providing us with the source billing info. That does us no good, as we can't collect from the sources. Let alone the battle we decided not to fight - recip payments.

Hope that helps. Sorry I am long winded, but my soapbox just pops out. Please ask for any other info you require. I do hope you will help us get the word out. Honestly, this is a business problem for each of us, all of us. I must keep fighting the battle, but we got to find more cash.

Thanks,

Dave

David Balsick
Cell - 719-240-1554
PageMe! Inc.
2520 N Freeway; Pueblo, CO 81003-2445
P O Box 8868, Pueblo, CO 81008-8868
In Pueblo - 719.253.7762 ofc; 719.253.7767 fax
Toll Free 800-748-0212
1816 Heath Pkwy, Suite A; Ft. Collins, CO 80524
In Ft Collins - 970.221.3908 ofc; 970.484.7128 fax
dbalsick@pageme.net
www.pageme.net
Mountain Communications, Inc.
dbalsick@mtncomm.com
www.mtncomm.com

To download a "pdf" copy of the brochure above, please click here.

Paging Technician

Mark Hood mehood@cox.net

Telephone: 757-588-0537

Paging Field Engineer/Electronic technician in the Hampton Roads, Virginia area.

Download resumé here. CLICK

I’m continuing the topic of marketing suggestions to increase your sales of pagers (and more important, the monthly service!)

One of customers called recently asking for a way to remotely secure phone line access to one of his remote-controlled devices. “Easy!” I cried. He now has a paging activated phone line. One call to his pager number and his equipment is connected. Another call to his pager number, and his equipment is disconnected. My customer is really happy . . . and so is my boss, having sold some equipment and another monthly service.

How am I doing? Are these tips helpful? Send comments or tips to share to me at: jsimmons@rogerstwoway.com

John

GTES is the only Glenayre authorized software support provider to the paging industry.

The GTES team consists of highly qualified and seasoned associates who were formerly a part of Glenayre's paging infrastructure support and engineering operations. We are poised and ready to "Partner" with you to ensure the viability of your network, reduce your long-term cost of ownership, and to provide future solutions for profitability. GTES will offer product sales, maintenance services, software development and product development to the wireless industry.

GTES SUITE OF PRODUCTS

GTES Partner Program
Software and/or Hardware Support Programs

Product Sales
Software and Hardware Sales

On-Site Services
Upgrades, Relocations, Repairs, Consolidations

Software Development
New features, application development

Product Training
GL3000, GL3100, GL3200, GL3300, N2000, C2000

CALL US TODAY FOR YOUR SUPPORT NEEDS

Intelligent Paging & Mobile Data Hardware & Software

Selective is a developer and manufacturer of highly innovative paging receiver/decoders and mobile data equipment. The PDT2000 Paging Data Terminal is THE MOST INTELLIGENT PAGING RECEIVER IN THE MARKET. The PDT2000 is a large display pager designed for desktop or in-vehicle mounting and is widely used by emergency services and in onsite paging systems for forklift dispatch etc. All of the following capabilities are standard features of the PDT2000 and of our other paging data receivers:

• FLEX and POCSAG decoding
• POCSAG encoding and transmitter control
• Parallel printer output
• Serial inputs & outputs
• Relay control (1-256 or more)
• PC interfacing and message management
• Message interception & logging
• Remote control
• Cross band repeating & paging coverage infill
• LED sign control
• Remote printing etc.

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, GPRS & CDMA cellular, Mobitex etc. Automatic Vehicle Location (AVL) and GPS solutions, Dispatch & Messaging software.   We offer mobile communications dealers and systems integrators a "fast to market" job dispatch and job management capability.

Specialised local area paging systems, paging interception and message reprocessing software, field force automation and mobile dispatch solutions. We export worldwide.

CONTACT
Postal Address:	Selective Communications Group PO Box 8798 Symonds St. Auckland, New Zealand
Street Address:	3/2 Haultain St. Eden Tce Auckland, New Zealand
Web site: E-mail:	www.selective.co.nz CLICK info@selective.co.nz CLICK
Phone: Fax:	+64-9-3021142 +64-9-3021148
SECOND TERM SUPPORTER

I am an authorized Manufacturer Representative for Selective Communications. Please contact me directly for any additional information. CLICK HERE

Specially designed course for sales, marketing, and administration personnel. Engineers will only be admitted with a note signed by their mothers, promising that they will just listen and not disrupt the class. (This is supposed to be funny!)

This is a one-day training course on paging that can be conducted at your place of business. Please take a look at the course outline to see if you think this might be beneficial in your employees: Paging training course outline. I would be happy to customize the content to meet your specific requirements.

Although it touches on several "technical" topics, it is definitely not a technical course. I used to teach the sales and marketing people at Motorola Paging and they appreciated an atmosphere where they could ask technical questions without being made to feel like a dummy and without getting a long convoluted overly-technical answer that left them more confused than before. A good learning environment is one that is non-threatening.

Let me know if you would like to receive a quotation, or if you would like to have any additional information. CLICK

EXECUTIVE AVAILABLE

Industry executive looking for new position.

Many people in this industry know Bob Spillar. Please read his impressive resumé here.

Satellite Uplinking Service
Affordable and Reliable

• Own and operate our own satellite uplink
• Provide the same reliable services to several other paging carriers with room for more
• Lower than average industry costs
• Completely redundant hardware
• Access to knowledgeable technical staff 24/7

Glenayre Technical Support
Paging Terminals & Transmitters

• Paging terminal upgrades, relocations, troubleshooting, emergency repair & training
• Transmitter installation & maintenance
• Experienced industry technicians and engineers
• Satisfaction Guaranteed

Call or write today to learn more Alan Carle, Dir of Engineering 888-854-2697 ext. 272 or

acarle@ucom.com

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: "Business Development in Mobile Data"

Please call me so we can discuss your need or your idea. Or contact me by e-mail for additional information. CLICK

Intel, Proxim Team For WiMAX

June 17, 2004

Intel continues to move full speed ahead in its quest to broaden the acceptance of WiMAX technology. The latest: The chipmaker says it is aligning with Proxim to deliver WiMAX products for the fixed and portable broadband wireless access market.

WiMAX (or 802.16) technology is seen as a last-mile alternative to DSL and cable modem access and more specifically, as a means to create a wireless metropolitan area network connecting Wi-Fi hot spots that use 802.11 technology. WiMax equipment is expected to have a 30-mile range and optimum data rates of 70 Mbps.

The partnership between Intel and Proxim will result in the delivery of base station and subscriber unit access points. The companies also will work together to co-develop a reference design for WiMAX customer premise equipment, with the base station architecture coming from Intel. Proxim plans to market a WiMAX base station under the Proxim Tsunami MP.16.

Just last week, Intel announced two WiMAX deals in China with the governments of Dalian and Chengdu. As part of the agreements, Intel said it will deliver network infrastructure using WiMAX technology.

In April, the chipmaker said it was teaming with Alcatel to jointly develop WiMAX equipment as a means of accelerating acceptance of WiMAX technology. Initial products resulting from the alliance are expected by the second half of 2005.

Intel is a board member of the WiMAX Forum, which was formed to promote the adoption IEEE 802.16-complaint equipment by operators of broadband wireless access systems.

The fixed broadband wireless market is expected to grow from $430 million at the end of 2003 to more than $1.6 billion by the end of 2008, according to a recent market study from Maravedis. The market research firm predicts that although WiMAX will not solve all the problems facing service providers, the technology will help reduce equipment and component costs through integration and economies of scale.

Source: Wireless Week

Many thanks to all the readers who have sent in comments, news, and articles. This is how the newsletter becomes a wireless-messaging-community forum. We all have opinions, and here is a place where we can express them. Especially helpful is assistance for other readers with sales, marketing, and technical issues. I hope to hear from you soon.

With best regards,	Brad Dye WIRELESS DATA CONSULTANT		WIRELESS DATA
	Voice:
	Fax:
	E–mail:	brad@braddye.com
	Web:	Consulting and Job search page MAY I HELP YOU?
	Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less.
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