Skytel Corp. and AT&T Work Together to Provide Mobile Wireless Communications
LAS VEGAS — January 6, 1994 — SkyTel Corp., the country's leading provider of nationwide paging and one-way wireless messaging services, announced Thursday that it is working with AT&T PersonaLink Services, in conjunction with General Magic Inc., to incorporate wireless communication as a basic, easy-to-use function of personal communicators and portable computers.
The companies plan to provide mobile users with a simple means of tapping into the broad range of services available through The SkyTel System to greatly enhance the utility of new portable devices.
"The ability to communicate and recieve information quickly and easily on the move is a fundamental component of success today, and must be a fundamental element of the new generation of portable computers and communicators," said David W. Garrison, president of SkyTel Corp. "We believe our collaboration with AT&T PersonaLink and General Magic will result in more versatile, flexible and productive mobile computing and communicating devices," Garrison added. According to initial plans, portable computers and communicators equipped with General Magic's Magic Cap software and small slip-in SkyTel service receivers, will receive wireless AT&T PersonaLink Mail messages, transmitted via the SkyTel system.
Users will have access to a variety of "smart" messaging features, including filtering based on a subject or sender and rules-based delivery that allows customized delivery of messages and mail alerts. The companies also plan to work together to bring other enhanced messaging features to the market.
"We believe the combination of PersonaLink and SkyTel's services will give customers more control over how they manage their messages and communications," said Gordon Bridge, president of AT&T EasyLink Services.
General Magic Inc. was founded in 1990. Its mission is to create personal intelligent communication products and services by developing and licensing technology to equipment manufacturers, network and information providers and software and entertainment companies. General Magic has teamed with standard-setters in the entertainment, information and communications fields to ensure that its technologies reach the widest possible audience.
AT&T Easylink Services, the global messaging unit of AT&T, is headquartered in Parsippany, N.J. It offers one of the broadest arrays of electronic messaging services in the market, including electronic mail, enhanced fax and information services, telex, electronic data interchange, and gateways from LAN-based E-mail systems. Skytel Corp., based in Washington, D.C., is the principal subsidiary of Mobile Telecommunication Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ: MTEL) and the leading nationwide wireless messaging company with 284,700 subscribers in the United States, as of Dec. 31, 1993. Presently, The SkyTel System covers the most traveled destinations in the U.S. including all 50 states, 11,000 cities and towns, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. International coverage includes Mexico, Canada, Bermuda, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Mtel, headquartered in Jackson, Miss., is engaged in businesses which include nationwide paging and voice messaging services in the United States provided by SkyTel Corp.; international messaging services provided through Mtel International; and a proposed, advanced two-way Nationwide Wireless Network (NWN). Mtel had 346,200 units in service worldwide as of Dec. 31, 1993. SkyTel(R) is a registered trademark of SkyTel Corp. PersonaLink is a service mark of AT&T. Magic Cap(TM) is a trademark of General Magic.
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