New Alliance Gives Mci Entry Into Wireless Communications

Sun., Jan. 8, 1995

Taking its first plunge into the fast-growing wireless communications business, MCI entered into an alliance last week with two leading paging companies to provide messaging, mobile faxes and other services.

MCI had been searching for a wireless partner since a deal with Rutherford, N.J.-based Nextel collapsed last summer.

Under the alliance, Paging Network Inc., the nation’s largest paging company, and SkyTel Corp. will provide wireless services. MCI will market them and handle billing.

MCI will pay the companies for their services, said MCI’s Mark Schweitzer, director of consumer advanced services.

People don’t have to be longdistance customers of MCI to obtain the services, Schweitzer said. Consumers can purchase them now. They will be available to businesses on Jan. 31.

The consumer price is $12.95 a month for equipment and unlimited local paging or messaging. Customers will be charged a discounted rate for long-distance charges.

Business fees may start as low as $12.50 a month, depending on the size of the company, said MCI spokesman Kevin Inda.

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New Alliance Gives Mci Entry Into Wireless Communications

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