Wireless Solutions to Use Telemac Prepaid Program

San Franciso, CA-based Wireless Solutions LLP plans to launch prepaid wireless services in San Francisco, Sacramento, and Salt Lake City using technology licensed from Telemac Corp. The program will be initially offered under Wireless Solution's resale agreements with AT&T Wireless Services and Cellular One. Later this year, Wireless Solutions also intends to launch digital prepaid services, also using Telemac prepaid technology. Wireless Solutions intends to introduce its new prepaid program through its division, Xizzix International.

Wireless Solutions will implement and manage its prepaid programs using Telemac's handset-based prepaid solution. The technology reduces prepaid program cost by eliminating most hardware and software and eliminating the traffic and call center loads associated with requests for updated information experienced with most network-based prepaid solutions. The prepaid technology offers multiple tariffs and roaming capabilities.

"We believe that the highest growth rate in wireless services will be the growth of prepaid services," said J. S. Peterson, Wireless Solutions chairman and CEO. "By beginning now with an analog program and then transitioning in 2000 to a digital program, Wireless Solutions will be able to meet and exceed its customers' needs while also delivering superior returns to our investors.''

The system bills in real time and supports all digital and analog formats. It includes patented IMA-Modules that reside in the handset and patented DAS software licensed to wireless service providers. The technology permits direct communication between the carrier and each handset to augment account balances and change rates and supports real-time handset display of account balances, roaming, and multiple tariffs for complex calling categories, such as local, long distance, international, incoming, operator assisted, and roaming.

Edited by Ellen Jensen