Pacific Wireless launches iDEN network

(Telephony) Pacific Wireless has launched integrated wireless communications services throughout its 40,000-square-mile footprint in central and northern California.

A little over a year ago, Pacific Wireless signed a contract with Motorola, who agreed to supply the carrier with an iDEN network. Pacific Wireless now becomes the third wireless carrier to adopt the technology in the United States and the fifth carrier in North America.

"The advantage of iDEN is that it is an integrated technology that combines two-way radio and [voice] technology and also includes text messaging and paging on one handset," said Dan Kopp, vice president of marketing for Pacific Wireless.

While other carriers emphasize the cellular side of technology, Pacific Wireless has designed its system to accentuate the dispatch side, Kopp said. "We are oriented more toward the one-to-many capability," he said. The carrier offers services to businesses such as agriculture, construction, wholesale, trucking, distribution and government.

The carrier plans to add packet data and other capabilities to its network later in 2001, but is confident that iDEN can best meet its primary needs today, Kopp said.