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� where he or she is, and Facilitating a call diroubh the nearest service operator and cell site. �i An here . i call routin and ori ination also kn ' � Y�' g g , own as seamlcss roarnm�, �s dcpendent upon all PCS o�crato�s . , . r , cooperating in providing subscnber informat�on to each other and in establishing agreements to support each other's ' customers. Many cellular service providers presently have iimited interoperability agreements for roamino within tlie , US. internationally, a recent agreement between GTE Personal Communications Services and Deutsche Telekom Mobilfunk promises to provide roaming in 31 countries. j In many cases, celluiar telephone service has become the model for PCS. At least initially, it is very likely that PCS I will be a competitive service similar to cellular telepl�one service. Yet, sorne of tl�e large companies like AT��CT and Sprint, Pacific Telesis, and others wl�o }�ave recently participated in the PCS broadband auctions look at PCS as a means to get into wireiess telephony to bypass local wired telephone service providers. Od�ers like the consortium of I regionai Bell operating companies (EZI30Cs)called PCS Primeco seek simply to protect existing markcts a►id expand where possible. Companies who i�ave existing cellular operations need additional licenses in areas not covered by d�eir cellular systems to establish a nationa( "footprint". A national footprint is valuable because it generates revenucs direcdy to tlie Frm and cuts out middlemen in reciprocal service agreements. AT&T's strategy is an example of tliis. Otl�er telecommunications companies, including competitive access providers (CAPs), look at PCS as an alternate means to get into local telephone service. CAPs are companies who want to provide competitive locai telepl�one service,rather than long-distance. Local telephone service is still protected as a monopoly in many states, but this is changing rapidly. PCS systems are being designed tl�at facilitate lower-cost fixed radio access as an alternative to wired local telephone systems. There is strong potential in tliis market given tl�e consumer dissatisfaction witli current local telephone service providers. Pacific Telesis is a regional telephone company for Califomia. As tlie long-term impacts of PCS are likely to E�ull customers away from wired telephone systems, Paciftc'['elesis has a vested interest in retaining and protectirig its existing base of customers. Company president and CEO, Lyn Daniels, even went so far as to publicly promise to outbid any PCS auction participant for iicenses in California and Nevada, states in which it l�as wired operations. Many ceilular operators recognize PCS as a competitive technology. Witl� tl�e first ful(-fledged operationnl I'CS system not expected until mid-1996,cellular carriers are►noving now to lower dieir mond�l�charges to ctistomers and to improve their technology. Today, cellular telephone syste►ns use t(ie analog Advanced Mobile Pl�one System (AMPS) radio interface standard. Many like AT&T Wireless (formerly McCaw Communications)I�ave begun promoting digital AMPS,or D-AMPS, and odiers are e:cploring Code Division Multiple Access(CDNin). Since there are no other comparabie services like PCS, past cellular telephone industry trends have becorne tl�e basis for projecting PCS future trends. This is done even in some cases where tl�e service provided is significaritly different from existing cellular telepf�one service. Most business proposals include reference to t}ie l�istorical penetration rate of cellular, which is approximately 7 percent after 10 years. In spite of all die references to cellular, PCS sl�ould be considered distinctly different. PCS must be viewed in terms of what it offers in vision and in technology diat cellular cant�ot. --.._. _._. __..__... _.._ . . _...._........----._......._.___ .._ _ -- - The Benefits of PCS Over Cellular PCS has several advantages over existing cellular telephone service. They ir�clude better service quality tl�rougli use of digital technology, more compact radio interface equipment, increased mobility, enhanced service feflttires, and price. All of these are discussed bclow. First, PCS will utilize d�e Iatest digital technology. Digital radio interface equipment will facilitate cleaner voice quality but, more importantly,clean data communication. In fact, a PCS customer will be able to commut�icate through voice and data simultaneously using the same handset without interference to either activity. Digitul technology also facilitates greater compression and higher data transfer rates. So, computer users operating remotely will be ab(e to run applications and retrieve data faster. Tl�is has important implications to certnin businesses that support field operations. Consider a plumbing business that not only sends work orders to pl�irnbers in the field but enables Joe Plumber under a sink to check inventory for pipe fittings. A second importflnt aspect of PCS is die improvement in equipment. PCS will �itilize smaller antennas and rtiore advanced telecommunications technology that, in effect, will be cl�eaper. Advances in tecltnology I�ave even liad some manufacturers claim that they can put up radio interface equipment for PCS d�at is a fraction of tl�e cost of RODIGY �D P1eb Hrowsers Specific Information on PCS (http://www.cyberpeak.com/PC3/PCS_�pec.litm) PTqr � . . , .,.T � . .. . . . . ........ .