Sprint tying into wireless global net; investing in Motorola's satellite system

Article Abstract:

Sprint Corp invests $40 million in Motorola Inc's $3.4 billion Iridium project, which will blanket the earth with a low-orbit satellite network to support world-wide cellular telephone communications to and from even the most remote corners of the globe. Motorola announces a total of $800 million in start-up international financing for the project, despite critics' predictions that few would invest in a system that the expanding conventional cellular telephone network might render unnecessary. Motorola counters that the proliferation of incompatible cellular standards in different countries will leave Iridium the only universal standard, attracting a solid base of elite international customers to the service when it debuts in 1998. Sprint's investment buys the company almost exclusive access to Iridium customers in North America, shutting out rivals AT&T and MCI Communications. Sprint will also help build the gateway between Iridium and the conventional telephone network in North America.

Semiconductors and related devices, Radio & TV communications equipment, Holding companies, not elsewhere classified, Finance, Cellular telephones, Wireless telephones, Investments, Sprint Corp., Joint ventures, Capital investments, Product development, Motorola Inc., MOT, Satellite industry, Communications satellites, Systems development, System Development, Capital Investment, Cellular Radio, Start-Up Financing

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Flirting with a coinless pay phone

Article Abstract:

New York Telephone Co, which experiences an ongoing problem with theft and vandalism, is experimenting with a pay telephone that uses cards instead of coins. The company currently spends about $10 million annually maintaining and repairing its 58,000 public phones. It has tried deploying strengthened, armour-plated public telephones, but thieves and vandals continued to damage them and break into them. The problem involves more than money; the city's 911 emergency system is not reliably maintained under such circumstances. New York Telephone now is testing a telephone technology from a Swiss company, Landis & Gyr. The technology uses plastic cards, called 'change cards,' that use infrared light in ways that create unique signatures. The cards are used with special 'ruggedized' telephones. If the coinless telephones work out in New York City, there is a large potential market for them in the rest of the US.

Instruments to measure electricity, Environmental controls, Innovations, Product information, Telephone companies, New York, New York, Pay telephones, Pay telephone, Telephone Company, New York, New York Telephone Co., Landis and Gyr Inc.

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