Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!news.media.mit.edu!americast.com!usa-post Newsgroups: usa-today.telcom From: usa-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: usa-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: telcom Thu, Apr 2 1992 Date: Thu, 2 Apr 92 05:44:59 EST Message-ID: 04-02 0000 DECISIONLINE: Telecommunications USA TODAY Update April 2, 1992 Source: USA TODAY:Gannett National Information Network CENTEL SELLS OHIO OPERATION: Century Telephone Enterprises Inc. Wednesday it has completed the purchase of Central Telephone Company of Ohio from Centel Corp. Century purchased the Ohio company for $135 million, including $120 million in cash and $15 million in assumed debt. The new property has approximately 265 employees and serves 64,000 access lines in Lorain and nearby communities along Lake Erie west of Cleveland. PHILIPS, MOTOROLA MAKE DEAL: Philips Electronics N.V., of the Netherlands and Motorola Inc. of the USA have announced a cross-licensing agreement which includes patents for digital cellular radio communication systems. The agreement covers several standards, in particular European GSM (Group Special Mobile), PCN (Personal Communication Network) and US-TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) presently known as IS-54. DEAL WILL HELP FUEL EXPANSION: According to Motorola and Philips, the firms' new bilateral agreement will contribute to a rapid introduction of cellular mobile radio communication systems both in Europe and in North America. The patent agreements will help make it easier for system suppliers to implement an internationally standardized cellular system, the firms say. US WEST PROPOSES RATE REDUCTION: US West has proposed to reduce consumers' telephone bills in Montana by a total of $9.8 million in July or August due to the improved financial condition of the firm. The proposal will go before the a Public Service Commission public hearing on April 14. AT&T TO OFFER AIR MILES: AT&T is among the companies that plan to offer Air Miles, which allows people to earn free plane tickets by buying products or services from various firms. Customers will get 50 miles for enrolling in AT&T's Reach Out America calling plan and 10 miles for each of the first 12 months. There are no enrollment or membership fees. To sign up, call 1-800-547-2212. TELEDYNE TO PAY $1.8 MILLION: The Department of Justice announced Wednesday that Teledyne Avionics will pay $1.8 million to settle claims it failed to disclose or pass on to the government volume discounts Teledyne had received from its suppliers for the manufacture of transmitters installed in military aircraft. Teledyne Avionics, a division of Teledyne Industries Inc., will make the payment within 24 hours. BOARD TO ADD NEW FORUM: New York Personal Computer Users Group said it will add a IBM OS:2 Version 2.0 forum for end-user information exchange to its electronic bulletin board. Users may contact the NYPC bulletin board at 212-679-NYPC. The NYPC is the fourth largest computer users group in the nation with 60 special interest groups. The NYPC information line is 212-533-NYPC. GROUP TO HOLD PUBLIC MEETINGS: A citizens committee developing a plan to split the 313 area code in the Detroit area in early 1994 announced Wednesday that it will conduct 11 public meetings this month to gather comments. The group's preliminary plan would split the area into north and south regions. Michigan Bell enlisted the committee last fall because the existing area code quickly is running out of telephone numbers. MOBILNET ADDS VOICE MAIL: GTE Mobilnet said Wednesday it has introduced a new Octel Voice Mail messaging system for its customers. While voice messaging is not new to the cellular industry, GTE Mobilnet is the first company to offer a feature called MailShare. The feature will allow two different GTE Mobilnet cellular telephone numbers to share a single voice mailbox. GIGA-TRONICS MAKES PURCHASE: Giga-tronics Inc. Wednesday said it has signed a letter of intent to purchase the assets of Wavetek Corp.'s Microwave Division. The division makes microwave power measurement instruments. Giga-tronics makes and markets synthesized microwave signal sources, generators, sweepers and test sets for customers in the defense, telecommunications and transportation industries. US WEST TO FORM JOINT VENTURE: US West Cable Communications and Tele-Communications Inc. said Wednesday they plan to form a joint venture to explore European cable TV:telephony opportunities. The venture will include US West's interest in United Communications International (UCI). UCI, a partnership between US WEST and United International Holdings, owns interests in cable systems in Sweden, Norway, and Hungary. HELIOS UNVEILS FAX:MODEM: Helios Systems Wednesday announced the availability of HeliosCOM+FAX:MODEM. It is the industry's first internal SBus high-speed data modem, high-resolution fax communication board for Sun Microsystems SBus-based workstation users, the firm says. It is priced at $1,850 per unit. BRIDGES WORKING FOR SEA-LAND: Sea-Land, the first commercial firm to receive and install the Netronix TokenMaster 2000 and 4000 bridges, says the bridges have significantly decreased its network response rate. Sea-Land's worldwide network connects 80 ports around the globe, including sites in Europe and Asia. TokenMaster 2000 and 4000 are the first non-IBM bridges to use IBM's Token Ring mini-module. Telecommunications Editor: Ed Kelleher. (1-919-855-3491) Making copies of USA TODAY Update (Copyright, 1992) for further distribution violates federal law. This article is copyright 1992 Gannett News Service. Redistribution to other sites is not permitted except by arrangement with American Cybercasting Corporation. For more information, send-email to usa@AmeriCast.COM