Dear Friends and Industry Colleagues,

Lots of interesting news this week:

• Glenayre reports first quarter financial results
• Call for papers from the PTC
• Paging industry jointly opposes FCC fee increase
• Bush signs 'Amber Alert' bill
• AT&T gets more aggressive with wireless data
• Nextel reports record first quarter financial results
• Great two-way radio business opportunity
• Tech tips: Antenna troubleshooting
• Wireless data products and services

Glenayre Announces First Quarter 2003 Results

Atlanta, GA—April 28, 2003—Glenayre Technologies, Inc., today reported revenue of $13.3 million for the first quarter of 2003 compared to $11.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2002, and $23.4 million for the first quarter of 2002.

As of March 31, 2003, Glenayre reported a total cash and short-term investments balance of $97.8 million, compared to $108.2 million at December 31, 2002. The Company also reported that it had received an income tax refund of $2.7 million subsequent to March 31, 2003.

The accompanying schedules include a table showing the reconciliation of income (loss) from continuing operations, as determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, to 1) Income (loss) from continuing operations before certain one-time gains and charges, and 2) EBITDA from continuing operations before certain one-time gains and charges. 

The following discussion of operating results from continuing operations excludes certain one-time gains and charges for all comparable periods mentioned.

Glenayre reported a loss from continuing operations of ($5.8) million, or ($0.09) per share, for the first quarter of 2003, compared to a loss of ($7.4) million, or ($0.11) per share, for the fourth quarter of 2002 and income of $0.5 million, or $0.01 per share, for the first quarter of 2002. EBITDA for the first quarter of 2003 was negative ($6.1) million, compared to negative ($5.6) million for the fourth quarter of 2002 and positive $2.3 million for the first quarter of 2002.

Gross margins from continuing operations were 53 percent for the first quarter of 2003 compared to 41 percent for the fourth quarter of 2002 and 63 percent for the first quarter of 2002. The Company attributed the improvement in gross margins during the first quarter of 2003, compared to the fourth quarter of 2002, to both a higher volume of revenue as well as to the product mix.

The following discussion of operating results includes all one-time gains and charges for all comparable periods mentioned.

With one-time gains and charges included for each of the comparable periods, Glenayre reported a loss from continuing operations of ($5.8) million for the first quarter of 2003, or ($0.09) per share, which compares to a loss of ($28.7) million, or ($0.44) per share, for the fourth quarter of 2002 and income of $3.0 million, or $0.04 per share, for the first quarter of 2002.

Source: Glenayre web site

Call for Papers

The Roadmap of Paging Technology
PTC Protocol Working Group
Sponsored by: United Communications Corp
Date: June 03, 2003
Time: 02:30pm ~ 04:30 p.m. ET
Location: Myrtle Beach, SC

Motivation: The recent evolution, successful deployment, and market challenges of Paging Technology worldwide has paved the way to more intense standardization and R&D activities, that target even more sophisticated, advanced, and integrated systems. Standardization activities within the PTC Protocol Working Group are already underway for evolving newer standards in several aspects, including security. With the matured RXP standard, the paging industry is positioned to enter innovative integration with traditional one-way networks. WCTP enables application developer to take advantage of the strengths of our technology. FLEXsuite™ is being actively improved by Protocol Working Group to meet the customer and industry needs. Next generation community is actively looking in the future protocols and technologies. All the above activities combined with market forecasts, which report that ReFLEX has positive outlook in the coming years, demonstrate that paging technologies will play a significant role in the future and will considerably impact our business and personal life styles. However, several issues still need to be efficiently addressed, including seamless application routing, interworking, QoS, security, co-existence with other technologies, etc.

Scope: In response to the above motivation, protocol working group is providing a forum to discuss the roadmap of paging technology including key technical challenges associated with paging technology. In this context, papers are solicited reporting on representative topics, such as:

• Other technology integration (like ReFLEX and Wi-Fi)
• Seamless application routing
• Campus deployments
• Comparing ReFLEX with other technologies (like GSM/GPRS)
• Association oriented protocol for ReFLEX network
• WEM2
• New applications
• Security in ReFLEX
• QoS in ReFLEX

There are eight 15 minute slots. I have commitments for four slots. If you are interested in making a paper presentation, then e-mail me gagan.puranik@mci.com the topic by 05/15/03. In addition, I will need brief summary of your presentation by 05/29/03.

Regards,

Gagan Puranik
Chair, Protocol Working Group
Phone: 601-944-7380
Pager: 888-944-7380

Paging Industry Opposes Regulatory Fee Increase

In a filing unprecedented in the paging industry in recent years, AAPC and other representatives of the paging industry jointly opposed the FCC's proposal to boost 2003 regulatory fees from $0.08 to $0.11 per pager. AAPC, Arch Wireless Operating Company, Allied National Paging Association, Metrocall Holdings and WebLink Wireless submitted joint comments to the FCC late last week contending that the FCC's proposal to increase regulatory fees for 2003 to $0.11 per pager "violates Section 9 of the Communications Act" and "will negatively impact the ability of the [paging] industry to conduct its business".

The joint comments pointed out that, contrary to the statutory requirements, the FCC "does not utilize any cost-accounting methodology to apportion regulatory fee revenue requirements among the various industry segments, and has not done so since 1999." The comments further noted that it "takes no amount of analysis to immediately realize that the [FCC] has radically reduced the resources it expends on regulating the [paging] industry while contemporaneously redirecting significant resources to regulate just about every other industry segment subject to regulatory fees." Nonetheless, for 2003 the FCC proposes to increase the regulatory fee for paging from $0.08 to $0.11 per pager—a 37.5% increase from 2002, the comments pointed out, which in turn was a 60% increase over 2001. In fact, the comments stated, since 1999 (the year the FCC discontinued its previous cost accounting), the per unit has increased 175%, from $0.04 per pager to $0.11 per pager.

The comments requested that the FCC recompute the regulatory fee for paging utilizing a proper cost accounting methodology, or, alternatively, that the aggregate CMRS regulatory fee revenue requirement be allocated among the industry segments on the basis of gross industry revenues.

Reply comments are due to be filed by May 5, 2003, and a decision is expected to be issued during the summer.

Source: Courtesy of the AAPC

Bush signs 'Amber Alert' bill

WASHINGTON, April 30—With Elizabeth Smart and her parents looking on, President Bush on Wednesday signed a far-reaching child protection bill that creates a nationwide system to help find kidnapped children and imposes tougher penalties on child abusers, kidnappers and pornographers.

"No family should ever have to endure the nightmare of losing a child," Bush said. "Our nation will fight threats against our children." The package of child safety laws needed cajoling by the families of kidnapped children to make it through Congress, but when it came time to vote, both houses overwhelmingly approved the bill.Bush signed the package into law in the Rose Garden, surrounded by children who had been rescued from kidnappers.

The legislation’s centerpiece is expanding nationwide a voluntary rapid-response network to help find kidnapped children. Many, but not all, state and local jurisdictions have such "Amber Alert" networks. Attorney General John Ashcroft told NBC’s "Today" show that a key value in a national network is its ability to "coordinate responses in different states so that they work well together." Noting how easy it is to move across cities and states, Ashcroft added that "having the right coordination between jurisdictions (is) very important."

The electronic notifications named after 9-year-old Amber Hagerman of Arlington, Texas—kidnapped and murdered in 1996—now speed information over radio and television and electronic highway signs in several states. The legislation provides federal matching grants to states and communities for equipment and training to create a national network

Source: MSNBC News

My comments: I love it when there is an opportunity to do business and help people at the same time. Using my Wheel of Fortune presentation, for several years I have been promoting the use of Paging Data Receivers (PDRs) with electronic signs to display information to the public—now called "electronic notification." Think of it as a "giant pager" or an "electronic billboard" being fed wireless data over a paging system. The Vytek PL-900 Paging Data Receiver as described in the product section below, is the key component in making this type of notification work. Call me on the telephone and I will tell you more.

AT&T Goes After Motient, Mobitex Subs

May 1, 2003

In case higher speed data alone isn't enough of an incentive, AT&T Wireless has launched a trade-in program to entice Research In Motion BlackBerry users on slower speed networks such as Motient or Mobitex to switch to the company's GSM/GPRS network.

The program lets customers from other networks trade in their older device and purchase or lease a Blackberry 6210 or 6710 from AT&T Wireless and receive an 'aggressive' trade-in credit of $40 to $200. The trade-in allowance varies dependent upon BlackBerry model and the type of price plan the customer chooses. For example, a subscriber with a Blackberry 957 will receive a trade-in credit of $200 if they sign up for a $44.99 unlimited data plan and a $39.99 or higher voice plan. However, if they only sign up for a data plan of $49.99, they will just receive a $100 trade-in allowance.

Business subscribers can lease devices for 24, 30, or 36-month terms and will pay between $10 and $36.25 per month depending upon their contract. Leasing customers also will get an optional technology upgrade during the term of their lease.

The new BlackBerry devices, the 6210 and 6217, offer integrated voice and data services, international roaming capabilities, text messaging, Web browsing, increased memory and connectivity to AT&T's GSM/GPRS network.

Source: Wireless Week

Nextel Reports Record First Quarter 2003 Results

Income of $208 million, or $0.21 per share EBITDA of $906 million and Margin of 41% Subscriber Additions of 480,000; 11.1 million Total Subscribers Debt and Preferred Retirements of $568 million; $3.8 billion since Q2 2002

RESTON, Va., Apr 23, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE)—Nextel Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: NXTL), today announced record financial and operating results for the first quarter of 2003. Income was $208 million, or $0.21 per share, a considerable improvement over the loss of $654 million, or ($0.82) per share, for the same period last year. Revenue was $2.4 billion, a 21% increase over last year's first quarter. Operating income before depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) was $906 million, increasing by 64% over the $551 million for the first quarter of 2002. Nextel retired approximately $568 million in debt and preferred stock during the first quarter, bringing total debt and preferred stock retirements to $3.8 billion over the last year. Nextel added approximately 480,000 subscribers during the first quarter, finishing the quarter with approximately 11.1 million subscribers.

"Strong customer demand for Nextel's differentiated wireless services coupled with our focused growth strategies led to improved subscriber quality and our fourth consecutive quarter of positive earnings," said Tim Donahue, Nextel's president and CEO. "During the first quarter, Nextel posted 21 cents in earnings per share and $201 million in free cash flow, putting Nextel solidly on track to meet or exceed our financial and operating goals for 2003. We are very excited about the rollout of Nationwide Direct Connect(R), which is already underway, and new handsets with increased battery life, incorporating the new 6-to-1 voice coder, a software solution that will enable Nextel to nearly double the cellular calling capacity of our wireless network."

Nextel's average monthly revenue per subscriber for the first quarter was $67, significantly higher than other national wireless carriers and down $1 from the $68 reported in the first quarter of 2002. Customer churn was approximately 1.9% during the first quarter, a significant improvement over recent quarters and the lowest level in the last four years.

Source: Nextel Communications

My comments: News about Nextel's continued success is very comforting. The public needs wireless communications and when offered a service that meets their needs, and works well, they are willing to pay for it. The decline in some sectors of wireless merely reflects the changing needs and attitudes of the public, it does not indicate that the whole idea of wireless communications is in trouble. Just look at Nextel's results:

• 480,000 new subscribers in the first quarter
• ARPU $67 per month
• EBITDA margin 41%
• first quarter free cash flow $201 million
• churn 1.9%
• a total base of 11.1 million subscribers

Wow, I didn't go to Harvard Business School, but I think these results are the envy of the business world! I had a radio old-timer tell me once that he made his first million dollars during the great depression selling two-way radio equipment. He said that when times get tough, business people look for ways to become more efficient, to save money, and to take better care of their customers—in other words—ways to stay in business. The tried-and-proven approach in selling two-way radio systems, is to simply show a potential customer that a two-way radio system can do all of these things. (For example, reducing unnecessary trips back to the office and coordinating the activities of employees.)

Nextel's service is basically a trunked radio system with telephone interconnect and some fancy features. Trunking is just a system of inter-connected radio repeaters. The tremendous popularity of "push-to-talk" is nothing new—it has just been recently re-discovered. Lots of people thought that cell phones would kill off two-way radio but it turns out that the ability to talk instantly to co-workers and employees is more important in everyday business than telephone calls. This is what trunking does—it allows users to talk to one or a whole group of co-workers instantly. When using trunking radios you can also make telephone calls. Now the cell phone companies are trying to figure out how they can offer "push-to-talk" as well. We have come full circle in the radio business. Push-to-talk is how it was all done in the beginning.

If you live in Latin America, the Caribbean, or in Europe, the following new business opportunity may be of interest to you. If you would like to distribute some good lines of conventional two-way and trunking radio equipment in your country, please call me or send me an e-mail about the opportunity explained in the next section entitled: NEW BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES.

Land Mobile and Aircraft Radio Communications products

	BENDIX/KING Radios Airborne FM Transceivers Base Stations & Repeaters APCO Project 25 base stations Conventional FM portable radios Digital Portable Radios Synthesized FM Mobile Radios
	Uniden Private Radio Communications Mobiles Portables Base Stations Repeaters ESAS Trunking Switch (compatible with LTR & ESAS) Exclusive supplier/manufacturer, under license, for Uniden trunking products for North and South America
	Commercial and Industrial Radio Mobiles Portables Base Stations Repeaters Personal Tracking Systems

Users of RELM and BK Radio products will also be able to take advantage of a unique product called EarthLoc that offers positioning and tracking capabilities. EarthLoc is a compact global positioning-based system for monitoring the location of individual radio users and assets. The design of the system allows for instant "plug and play" operation in RELM and BK Radio products.  For emergency situations, field units are equipped with a one-touch button for instant notification to the dispatcher. Emergency notification is presented with a flashing red display and an audio alarm indicating which unit sent the signal and the location from which the signal was generated.

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. The company maintains its headquarters in West Melbourne, Florida.

Distribution agreements for Dealers and Stocking Distributors are available in selected countries in the following areas:

• Latin America
• The Caribbean
• 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. New territories are being assigned daily. This is a unique opportunity. Requests for other countries will also be considered.

By Ira Wiesenfeld, and Robert Smith

What is the quickest and most efficient way to determine the root cause of a failed transmission system? In most failure conditions, after determining that the transmitter or receiver itself is operating correctly, the technician or engineer must then attempt to diagnose the antenna and associated cabling. Is the failure due to an RF jumper, a connector, a defect in the cable, a resonant filter cavity, a lightning protector, or the antenna itself? Making these determinations is one of the most difficult and potentially expensive parts of troubleshooting and repairing any failure.

To read the complete article go to: Mobile Radio Technology, Apr 1, 2003  CLICK HERE

PTX-150

VHF PAGING TRANSMITTER

To request pricing and delivery information for the PTX-150, please click here.

Wireless Data

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

To download the product brochure for the PL-900 Paging Data Receiver, please click here.

brad@braddye.com  CLICK FOR MORE INFO

To let me know if you would like to receive a price quotation on any Vytek product, click on the link above.

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. If you want to get involved, please click here. Come and join us!

Legacy Technology Solutions LLC

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 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. CLICK

Don't forget to tell him who sent you.

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 also discusses Wireless Forms:

http://www.outr.net/newsletter_wireless_forms.htm

Please call me so we can discuss your need or your idea. This is really a great way to increase your effectiveness.

PTX-150

The PTX-150 VHF Direct Digital Paging Transmitter is designed to meet the paging industry’s latest standards for high-speed FLEX and simulcast operation. It operates with a wide range of standard network interfaces, and is ideal for both new systems as well as upgrading of existing paging networks.

This Direct Digital Paging Transmitter is designed to generate all modern paging formats including POCSAG, FLEX and ERMES. Standard output power is 100 watts continuous (adjustable 25-100 Watts). Optional amplifiers are available with 250 and 500 Watts output. Up to sixteen channels can be preset for multichannel operation over the 138-174 MHz frequency range.

The PTX-150 is ultra-efficient in operation and incorporates a built-in universal 115/230 VAC power supply (auto select) 50/60 Hz. It is supplied in a compact 4 RU high rack mounted case and includes internal front to back cooling optimized to maintain low PA junction temperatures. The unit is rated for 100% continuous duty at up to 60° C ambient temperature.

Ask me about the availability of 450 and 900 MHz paging transmitters—they are coming—soon!

VYTEK's PL-900 Paging Data Receiver

Wireless Data—breathing new life into the paging industry. The Daviscomms TMR (Telemetry Messaging Receiver) is a one-way FLEX™ telemetry device and is being manufactured by Daviscomms in Singapore. It is being stocked and distributed in the Americas by Vytek Wireless Products as the PageLink™ PDR (Paging Data Receiver). The PL-900 provides a solution for customers looking for a CreataLink™ one-way receiver replacement. THIS IS A HOT PRODUCT. Use it with an LED sign for wireless "electronic notification." Call me for more ideas.

Do you have a product or service that you would like to promote in this newsletter?

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. 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.

brad@braddye.com  CLICK FOR MORE INFO

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 HERE

Wireless Automation

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.

Comments and contributions to this newsletter are always welcome. Have a great weekend and please keep in touch!

With best regards,	Brad Dye WIRELESS DATA CONSULTANT
	Voice:
	Fax:
	E–mail:	brad@braddye.com
	Web:	Consulting and Job search page CLICK HERE

FLEX, ReFLEX, FLEXsuite, and InFLEXion, are trademarks or registered trademarks of Motorola, Inc.
CreataLink is a trademark of SmartSynch Communications Corp.
The product and trademark were formerly owned by Motorola Inc.
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