Nextel Introduces Worldwide Service

Expanding its reach by allying itself with the GSM community, Reston, VA-based Nextel Communications has introduced its Nextel Worldwide service. The service provides dual-mode iDEN/GSM digital wireless service in the United States and in more than 65 countries including 18 of the world's largest 25 cities.

Customers now can make and receive wireless calls throughout Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, Middle East and North, and South America on an all-digital wireless network. In Asia and Europe, digital GSM coverage delivers ubiquitous access. In North and South America, Nextel's iDEN network delivers coverage in major cities in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and Peru, as well as in 96 of the largest 100 markets in the United States.

Pricing
The service offer callers simplified flat rate per minute pricing based on the country from which they are calling. Rates range from $0.99 for most of Europe; $1.99 per minute for Asia, South America, and the Mideast; and $2.99 – $4.99 per minute for select countries in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia. For this service customers will pay $5.00 per month in addition to a Nextel domestic service plan, but the carrier is permanently waiving the $5.00 fee for all customers who sign up before June 30, 2000.

Nextel Worldwide customers will access the service through Schaumburg, IL-based Motorola's i2000 dualmode iDEN/GSM digital phone. The phone is priced at $349, except during initial promotion, when it's priced at $249.

Benefits
The phone offers all of the advanced features that other Nextel phones deliver. It also displays multiple languages—English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. Continuous customer care is available without charge by dialing from the phone.

A survey conducted by Wirthlin Worldwide (McLean, VA) on behalf of Nextel found that most business travelers do not use cell phones when they travel abroad. The majority (73%) make calls from their hotel or use a calling card (53%). Although business customers can call out, 37% of survey respondents said they're frustrated because colleagues can't reach them. The same survey found that although callers can dial out, 34% experience a number of problems such as not being able to find a phone, purchase a calling card, or secure a clear connection.

With the service, customers press and hold '0' to get international access, then dial the phone number they need. This development is consistent with Nextel's participation in the GSM Association's Global Roaming Forum to enable seamless inter-standard roaming between GSM networks and operators of difference technical standards.

Edited by Ellen Jensen