AT&T and Motorola Agree to Develop Wireless Messaging Service for Personal Communication Devices
LAS VEGAS, NV — January 6, 1994 — AT&T and Motorola today announced an agreement that will help bring the convenience of wireless communications to people who use personal communication devices, portable computers and other devices.
The new service will be sold under the name AT&T PersonaLink(sm) wireless service, and will provide simple and easy-to-use nationwide wireless connectivity to subscriber devices. AT&T PersonaLink wireless service will be an integral component of AT&T PersonaLink Services, a new enhanced network service that AT&T is building.
AT&T and Motorola will develop and deploy a gateway between AT&T PersonaLink Services and Motorola MNI (Mobile Networks Integration) for value-added wireless transport services. The PersonaLink wireless service will connect with Motorola MNI and a variety of wireless service providers for transporting messages and other information to and from subscriber devices and AT&T PersonaLink Services. Motorola MNI will interconnect with the ARDIS(sm), RAM and EMBARC(sm) wireless data networks to provide access to end-user devices.
For the initial AT&T offering, MNI will interconnect with the ARDIS wireless network to support a two-way personal wireless communication device from Motorola. Subscriber devices from a number of different manufacturers will be able to connect with AT&T PersonaLink Services via wireless and/or wireline means.
"Our customers have told us how important they feel it is to be able to communicate wirelessly," said Dan Rosen, vice president and general manager, AT&T PersonaLink Services. "Now, working closely with Motorola, we can satisfy that need in an innovative way."
"I am very pleased about this agreement with AT&T, as it confirms that the industry leaders are serious about contributing to the growth of wireless data communications," said Bob Growney, executive vice president of Motorola and general manager of the Paging and Wireless Data Group. "We have a distinguished group of companies here all committed to bringing end-users service and ubiquity."
Frank Wapole, president of ARDIS, noted, "The advent of AT&T PersonaLink wireless service marks a siginificant milestone in the development of wireless data communications, and we are pleased to be the first wireless service provider to help realize the potential of this technology."
MNI is based upon technology that Motorola announced earlier in 1993. The MNI technology is a set of products and technology initiatives that helps make interconnectivity practical between mobile computing devices and wireless service providers.
AT&T and Motorola are both founding members in the technology alliance announced by General Magic in February, 1993.
AT&T PersonaLink Services is being developed by PersonaLink Services, a unit of AT&T EasyLink Services that was formerly known as Consumer Messaging. AT&T EasyLink Services, the global messaging unit of AT&T, serves more than 160 countries with one of the broadest arrays of wireless and wireline electronic messaging services in the market, including electronic data interchange, gateways from LAN-based e-mail systems and telex, in addition to electronic mail, enhanced fax and information services.
Motorola's Paging and Wireless Data Group incorporates the company's business activities involved in the design, manufacturing and distribution of paging and wireless data communications products, systems, and services for computer companies, carriers and end-users. Motorola is one of the world's leading providers of wireless communications, semiconductors and advanced electronic systems and services.
ARDIS, a joint partnership of IBM and Motorola, provides wireless communications to thousands of customers throughout the U.S. and is known for its network availability and coverage, reaching the top 400 metropolitan areas and over 10,700 cities and towns.
EMBARC Communication Services, wholly owned by Motorola, is a nationwide one-way wireless information transmission service operating in more than 230 metropolitan areas.
RAM Mobile Data USA Limited Partnership, a business venture between RAM Broadcasting and BellSouth Enterprises, Inc., is a leading global wireless data network service provider.
PersonaLink is a service mark of AT&T. ARDIS is a service mark of ARDIS Company. EMBARC is a service mark of Motorola, Inc.
CONTACT:
Gail Silver – AT&T EasyLink Services
201-331-4132 (office)
08-218-0422 (home)
or
Mario Salvadori – Motorola, Paging and Wireless Data Group
708-576 7164 (office) or 1-800-Sky Page – 546 7741