Metricom thinks there's no wireless place like home; Richochet service spurns road warriors, targets students, workaday engineers

Article Abstract:

Metricom Inc is employing a unique strategy for marketing its Ricochet wireless communications service; the company is targeting customers its larger competitors are ignoring. Ricochet enables laptop users to access their company databases, check their E-mail or access the Internet without connecting to a telephone line. The larger services, like Ram and Ardis are designed for people who travel frequently and need wireless communications from almost any location. Ricochet is designed for use within relatively small metropolitan areas. It is currently available in the San Francisco area and in Seattle, as well as come college campuses in Oregon and Texas. The service will be available in Washington, DC in Oct 1996 and soon in Los Angeles and New York. Metricom plans to eventually offer the service in 30 metropolitan areas. The monthly fee for Ricochet is $30, plus a $10 modem rental charge.

Company services, Mobile communication systems, Metricom Inc., MCOM, Wireless local area networks (Computer networks)

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Wireless wagers; big companies are pouring big money into PCS; can it live up to the hype?

Article Abstract:

Personal communications services (PCS) will be available by the end of 1997. Telecommunications companies have paid $18 billion to license the bandwidth necessary for the services, which will compete with cellular services. PCS technology is digital and is expected to provide new features as well as more secure communications. The PCS is expected to be crowded, with many telecommunications giants offering services and cable TV companies entering the market. Some major metropolitan areas in the US will have as many as four PCS companies. The cellular providers are expected to eventually offer PCS, as well as the regional Bell operating companies (RBOC). PCS faces a variety of technical and legal problems before implementation and competition between three digital standards may also delay the service.

Cellular Mobile Radio Services, Cellular telephone services, Personal communications services, Market Trend Market Analysis

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Speaking of Wireless; Craig McCaw trumpets his own strategy - and dismisses those of many others

Article Abstract:

Craig McCaw believes that there are limitless ways to make money in the wireless market. Creating software that can effective protect users from assaults by hackers is one example. McCaw puts forth that money makers are creativity and intellectual property, which is why Microsoft is worth more than Exxon. Nextel has differentiated itself by helping people work better and providing value to its consumers. It provides a different type of service than its competitors and is less expensive. McCaw believes that a wireless cable that can carry video, data and telephony on a single, cellular type of network will not have any niches until after the satellite, cellular and wireline markets have been established.

Communications industry, Interview, Design and construction, Technology overview, Wireless communication systems, McCaw, Craig O.

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